Valero Alamo Bowl
Baylor Bears vs. Washington Huskies
Dec. 29, 9:00 pm EST
Alamo Dome (San Antonio, Texas)
Website: http://www.alamobowl.com
TV: ESPN
Line: Baylor -8.5
If offensive shootouts are your thing, you’ve come to the right place. Baylor and Washington boast high-powered attacks led by dynamic quarterbacks and little to speak of in the way of defense.
Obviously, Heisman winner Robert Griffin III may be playing his final college game, which is the big selling point for this match-up. Don’t sleep on Washington’s salty dual-threat QB Keith Price, though, who can make plays with his feet and his arm.
Making This All Possible
Based in San Antonio, Valero Energy Corp. is the world’s largest independent petroleum refiner and marketer.
Get to Know: Baylor
Of all the high-flying offenses to come out of the Big 12, Baylor has arguably the most diverse combination of offensive skill.
RG3 gets the hype, but the Bears are loaded with offensive playmakers. Speedy Kendall Wright, a consensus first-team All-Big 12 pick, can stretch the field with the best of them. Running back Terrance Ganaway and RG3 run the zone read to perfection, giving Baylor a weapon to take advantage of defenses cheating back to stop the pass.
On offense, it’s a case of picking your poison. Defense, on the other hand, is Baylor’s poison. The Bears ranked 114th nationally in total D, surrendering 477.5 yards per game.
Get to Know: Washington
The Huskies were expected to drop off following the departure of QB Jake Locker to the NFL. Price, however, stepped in and capably filled Locker’s shoes. He teams with RB Chris Polk to give head coach and offensive guru Steve Sarkisian an effective one-two punch.
And, what do you know, UW’s D stinks too. The Huskies ranked 94th nationally in total defense, giving up 426.3 yards per game.
You Should Know
Hoping to get a taste of the down-home ice cream confections served up so capably at the Alamo Freeze by Dillon Panther Matt Saracen on Friday Night Lights? You won’t find one in the entire state of Texas.
If You’re Going
OK, so no Alamo Freeze, but will the real Alamo suffice?
Take a tour of Texas’ most famous landmark between the hours of 9:00 am and 5:30 pm. After all that touring, go satisfy your Texas-sized hunger at one of the numerous dining establishments at the RiverWalk.
If You’re Watching At Home
Make it a Lone Star State affair with some steak fajitas and a Shiner Bock.
Prediction
Comparing these teams’ resumes, Baylor has put together a far stronger body of work. The Bears beat a number of quality opponents in their nine wins this season, including TCU and Oklahoma. Washington’s best win, on the other hand, was either California or Utah. It’s worth noting that the Huskies got blasted by their best opponents this year, Oregon, USC and Stanford.
Don’t count on either of these teams getting many stops, and Baylor’s porous defense clearly gives UW a shot at pulling off the upset.
Still, with Baylor’s historically inept program enjoying arguably its best season in history, look for the Bears to come out focused. On the Alamo Dome’s fast track, the Huskies will have a hard time keeping up.
Baylor 45, Washington 31
