Texas vs. Baylor: Live Stream, Watch Online, TV Channel, Prediction, Choice, Spread, Football Match Odds

Two in-state rivals from the Lone Star State will battle it out on Saturday with the conference championship fallout at stake when number 16 Baylor hosts the Texas Longhorns in Waco, Texas. After going 2-7 in coach Dave Aranda’s first season, the Bears start off with a 6-1 start after beating No. 25 BYU 38-24 behind 188 yards and three touchdowns by running back Abram Smith.

The Longhorns started the season 4-1 but have lost two consecutive games due to double-digit blown leads. Against No. 4 Oklahoma, the Horns squandered a 21-point lead, the Red River Showdown’s biggest deficit in the rivalry’s history. A week later against No. 15 Oklahoma State, the Longhorns took a 14-point lead in the second quarter before being defeated 29-7 for the remainder of the game. Texas is 1-3 against ranked opponents with the lone win against then-No. 23 Louisiana in the opener.

Texas has a record of 79-27-4 in the historic matchup dating back to the earliest days of the Southwest Conference. The Longhorns have won five of the six games against the Bears, but Baylor has won three of the last five games in Waco. A loss to both teams could officially mean they are eliminated from the Big 12 title fight.

Texas vs. Baylor: must know

Declining battle: Texas running back Bijan Robinson was the first half of college football with a 924 yards rush and 10 touchdowns in seven games. However, Baylor running back Abram Smith has quietly followed close behind, rushing for 785 yards and 10 touchdowns on 40 fewer carries. Robinson is a more powerful runner, but Smith’s fearlessness is a perfect match for Baylor’s wide zone system, which helped the Bears jump from No. 123 to No. 9 nationally in a hasty attack.

Wasted leads: Texas has moved up double digits in each of the last two games, only to negate those advantages. The Longhorns were up 21 points against No. 4 Oklahoma in the Red River Showdown before relinquishing the biggest lead in the history of the rivalry. Two weeks ago against defense first No. 15 Oklahoma State, Texas blew a 14-point lead and was defeated 19-7 in the second half. The only Power Five opponent to beat Texas in the second half is Texas Tech – and even that was only by a 28-21 margin.

Defensive Margin: Baylor coach Dave Aranda is one of the best defensive minds in college football, but the defensive gap between these two teams is wide. The Bears allow more than 100 yards per game and 1.2 yards less per game than the Longhorns, who have given away more than 30 points in four of the five Power Five games this season. Texas is particularly sensitive to the run, allowing over 200 yards per game and 5.2 yards per carry. The Longhorns defense will have to step up if it hopes to stem one of the most efficient offenses in college football.

How Texas vs. Baylor live

Date: Saturday 30 Oct. | Time: 12 noon ET
Venue: McLane Stadium — Waco, Texas
TV: ABC | Live Stream: fuboTV (Try for free)

Texas vs. Baylor forecast, choices

Baylor was one of the most complete teams in the country, but Texas marks the first time the Bears have played across the field against blue-chip talent. But if Texas’ woes against Oklahoma State and TCU are any indication, Baylor should be able to take advantage of a roster in transition. The game will be determined by which team can most effectively stop the run without providing additional help, and the Bears have been more consistent. Prediction: Baylor (-2.5)