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Baylor Stays Perfect With Triple OT Win at TCU; National Title Odds Now +6600

Chris Amberley

by Chris Amberley in College Football

Updated Jan 6, 2023 · 3:06 AM PST

Baylor Bears football
Baylor is now a top-10 National Championship contender after its win over TCU. Photo by Djyueng (Wiki Commons)
  • #12 Baylor Bears’ National Championship odds have been shortened to +6600
  • Baylor is fresh off a triple overtime victory at TCU
  • The Bears are the lone undefeated team in the Big 12 (9-0, 6-0 Big 12)

#12 Baylor is still undefeated (9-0, 6-0 Big 12) after narrowly escaping a road date at TCU with a triple overtime win. The victory keeps the Bears a game ahead of #9 Oklahoma in the Big 12, but if their last two games are any indication, it’s unlikely that they’re a serious National Title contender.

2020 CFP National Championship Odds

Team Odds
Ohio State Buckeyes +200
LSU Tigers +250
Clemson Tigers +300
Georgia Bulldogs +900
Alabama Crimson Tide +1000
Oklahoma Sooners +1600
Oregon Ducks +2500
Utah Utes +4000
Minnesota Golden Gophers +5000
Baylor Bears +6600
Penn State Nittany Lions +10000

Odds taken on Nov. 10

Their National Championship odds have been shortened to +6600, but that’s still behind plenty of teams including the aforementioned Sooners. Baylor and Oklahoma will square off this Saturday in Waco, Texas, and the Bears will need to improve their offensive efficiency if they have any chance of keeping their perfect season alive.

Offensively Challenged

A week after scoring 17 points against West Virginia, Baylor’s offensive looked anemic again versus the Horned Frogs for most of regulation. They were held scoreless in the first half and needed a 51-yard field goal in the final minute just to force overtime.

Baylor managed just 204 yards of offense in regulation and have now come from behind to win four conference games this year. They’ve been held scoreless in the first quarter in four of six Big 12 contests, and are only still undefeated because of their dominant defense.

Shut Down D

The Bears rank first in the Big 12 in points allowed, rushing yards allowed and fourth in passing yards allowed. They held TCU scoreless in the second half and picked off Max Duggan in triple OT to seal the game.

They limited the Horned Frogs to 308 yards on offense, while recording three turnovers and three sacks. With the offense struggling, the defense will need to excel if they want to keep their Title hopes alive. One loss will almost certainly crush any shot at the College Football Playoff, and the defense will face by far its stiffest test when Oklahoma comes to town.

The Sooners rank first in the conference in passing yards, total yards and points per game, and hung 66 points on the Bears in 2018.

Reality Will Hit Baylor Hard in Week 12

Baylor is a nice story but they’re about to get hit with a cold dose of reality on Saturday. No one has been able to slow down Oklahoma all season and there’s no reason to think the Bears will be able to despite their strong defensive play.


Baylor is 3-24 all-time versus the Sooners and they just don’t have the firepower to keep pace with the four-time defending Big 12 champs. Avoid the urge to back the Bears due to their perfect record and seek value elsewhere on the board.

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