Illinois Illini @ Baylor Bears Texas Bowl Pick & Preview

Illinois Illini @ Baylor Bears Texas Bowl Pick & Preview: This one comes down to upside. I know the Illini can score points, and I fully expect them to in the Texas Bowl. Baylor gives up just a bean under 30 points per game, allowing 42 or more in each of their last 3 games. However, if it comes down to a shootout, I fully expect the Baylor Bears to finish on top. They just have more firepower to rely on.

Illinois can really run the ball, and that should keep Baylor’s explosive offense off the field a little more than usual. The Illini hae been out-rushed just once in their last 10 games (Ohio State) despite going up against some tough-running Big 10 football teams like Michigan. The Illini gave the Buckeyes all they could handle and beat a very good Northern Illinois team earlier in the season. They give Missouri trouble early and beat the snot out of Northwestern in late November. They do some good things, mostly on the ground, so I kind of expect the Bears to be ready for that option-read look.

Both teams were 1-3 in their last 4 ball games, but I must say I respect the Bears’ losses a lot more than what Illinois did. The Illini lost 65-67 to Michigan in a multiple-overtime game, dropped a game to Minnesota and lost to Fresno State to end the season. They gave up 67 and 38 in those back to back losses to Michigan and the Gophers, and I’m just not impressed with either of those teams.
The Bears, like I said, gave up a ton of points over their last 3 games, but Oklahoma State, Texas A&M, and Oklahoma are three teams nobody in the country would feel good about in 3 straight contests. Baylor played A&M tough, and they still showed an ability to really run the ball against Oklahoma. If Robert Griffin III can have success through the air, the Illini defense will end up giving up a too many points to compete.

Illinois Illini @ Baylor Bears (-1)