The Dec. twenty-nine Texas Bowl in in between Illinois as well as Baylor would substantially be a many improved basketball matchup than a football clash, yet I’m certain both schools have been happy to be roving to Houston’s Reliant Stadium.
Both schools stumbled down a stretch.
Illinois (6-6) mislaid 3 of a last 4 games yet is in a postseason for a initial time given removing dejected in a 2008 Rose Bowl.
Baylor (7-5) had a initial winning deteriorate given 1995 as well as warranted a fool around bid for a initial time given a 1994 Alamo Bowl.
This could be a really high-scoring diversion as Baylor authorised 150 points in a last 3 games whilst a Illini authorised 157 in a last four.
Illinois as well as Baylor both have a single of a many appropriate players in their particular conferences.
For a Illini it’s using behind Mikel Leshoure, who led Big Ten using backs (Michigan QB Denard Robinson was a usually player with some-more yards rushing than Leshoure) in rushing with 1,522 yards, which is roughly 400 some-more yards than any alternative discussion using back.
He had a 330-yard diversion opposite Northwestern during Wrigley Field, a top sum of any FBS player this season. Leshoure is scored equally with Oregon’s LaMichael James as well as Hawaii’s Alex Green for a many runs of thirty or some-more yards this deteriorate with 11.
Quarterback Nathan Scheelhaase is solid, carrying thrown for 1,583 yards as well as seventeen scores as well as is a second-leading rusher upon a group with 815 yards upon a ground.
The Illinois offense exploded in a second half of a season, averaging 42.8 points as well as 435.8 sum yards over a last 6 games.
The Bears have been led by a Denard Robinson-type (and a Illini know all about him) in sophomore quarterback Robert Griffin. He has bounced behind easily from a knee damage which finished his deteriorate after 3 games a year ago. Griffin is seventh in a nation in sum offense during 315.5 yards per diversion as well as finished 66.3 percent of his passes for 3,195 yards as well as twenty-one touchdowns with 8 interceptions. He additionally rushed for 591 yards as well as 8 touchdowns.
Griffin is assimilated in a backfield by comparison using behind Jay Finley, who has rushed for 1,153 yards as well as eleven touchdowns this season.
The Bears have been additionally a single of usually 3 Division we FBS schools to have 5 receivers with 35+ receptions. They have been a single of usually 3 FBS teams in between a nation’s Top twenty-five in both flitting offense as well as rushing offense, fasten Boise State as well as Tulsa.
Illinois ranks 29th nationally opposite a run (131.3 ypg), yet patently slipped in a last 4 games after permitting 17.2 points per diversion in October. Look for star linebacker Martez Wilson, an All-Big Ten preference who leads Illinois in tackles (105), tackles for detriment (10.5) as well as forced fumbles (3), to be Griffin’s shade for a game. Baylor is ranked 98th in sum invulnerability (73rd opposite a rush) as well as authorised during slightest 40 points 6 times this season.
Baylor Head Coach Art Briles is 0-3 all-time as a conduct manager in bowls, with all 3 entrance whilst he was during Houston. These dual schools have met usually once, a Baylor feat in 1976. There is no usual competition from this year even yet Illinois did fool around (and remove to) a Big 12′s Missouri.
Texas Bowl – Illinois vs. Baylor Odds
Baylor is now a one-point a a single preferred upon college football spreads with a sum during 62.5. The Bears have been removing a 65 percent gaunt upon a side. The line has changed in in between a half-point as well as a indicate down from a opening during many books as well as a sum has risen a point. Illinois was 8-4 ATS this deteriorate whilst Baylor was 5-7.
Texas Bowl – Illinois vs. Baylor Betting Trends
Illinois is 3-13 ATS in a past sixteen non-conference games.
Baylor is 5-0 ATS in a past 5 as a a a single preferred of 0.5-3.0.
The ‘over’ is 5-1 ATS in a Illini’s past 6 games.
The ‘over’ is 7-1 ATS in Baylor’s past 8 games.
Texas Bowl Predictions – Illinois vs. Baylor Betting Picks
Clearly Baylor should have a outrageous air blower value with a diversion being hold in a Lone State State. Michigan’s dual-threat Robinson shredded a Illini progressing this deteriorate as well as Baylor’s Griffin is a improved passer than Robinson (but not utterly a runner). Griffin is a disproportion here. Take Baylor as well as a “over.”
Doc Moseman is a single of a pioneers of college football handicapping industry. Check out his Web site for up-to-the-minute college football contingency as well as his important winning college football picks.
