Inside Texas Answers: Texas vs. Baylor predictions

The Texas Longhorns carry a 4-3 record (2-2 Big 12) into Waco to face the 6-1 (3-1 Big 12) Baylor Bears. How do members of the Inside Texas staff see the game playing out? They offer their predictions.

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Eric Nahlin – 31-27, Texas. I have this game coming down to Steve Sarkisian and Dave Aranda in the 4th quarter. Which coach has a better understanding of what his players can execute at that point in the game and who has the talent advantage? If Gerry Bohanon has the better day than Casey Thompson, Texas will have to re-evaluate everything its doing on both sides of the ball.

Justin Wells – 35-24, Baylor. One of the more well-coached teams in college football, Dave Aranda’s Bears are playing hard and smart. They have a specific identity and stick to it; run the ball, control the clock, and don’t turn it over. UT had two weeks to prepare for the battle in Waco, but unfortunately Baylor did too. Until the Horns can play a decent second half of football, it’s hard to see them topping the No. 16 team in the country.

Ian Boyd – 34-24, Texas. Baylor has a strong team and could definitely whip this Texas team on the right day, particularly at home. As it happens, they’re catching Texas after a bye week and two consecutive losses, also after Pete Kwiatkowski has worked out a 3-4 defensive package and refined it for the upcoming stretch. I think Steve Sarkisian will have a gameplan dialed up for Casey Thompson which allows the Longhorns to score and avoid any catastrophic offensive droughts.

Bobby Burton – 27-24, Baylor. The Bears are on a roll. They’re playing solid football on both sides of the ball. No, they’re not unbeatable but they’re playing more sound than the Horns are, and they seem to have higher expectations of themselves than their Texas counterparts. Baylor expects to win this game. Texas seems to hope they win this game. Perhaps that’s me reading too much into things, but after consecutive fourth quarter collapses, who can blame me? I like Baylor in a close one because the Bears will be more physical than Texas.

Scipio Tex – 31-30, Texas. Flipped a coin. It came up Horns.

Gerry Hamilton – Texas, 34-30, I suppose. Man, this one is very difficult. Texas has the talent advantage, but Baylor is the better football team. Baylor has a running back with two legs and five offensive lineman to put on the field, so that’s where this game gets dicey against a Texas defense that hasn’t stopped the run against a quality opponent. Bijan Robinson will have fresh legs. Same for Xavier Worthy. Those two have to celebrate in the end zone three times Saturday. If Casey Thompson doesn’t play much better than he did against Oklahoma State, this will be a road loss. Baylor has the better wins, and is a more confident team. This is a must-win game for Steve Sarkisian, period. The thought of being 4-5 in two weeks creates the dreaded 6-6 or 5-7 first season.

Joe Cook – 28-24, Texas. This won’t look anything like the last time Dave Aranda and Steve Sarkisian were on opposite sidelines for a lot of different reasons. I don’t see either team reaching the 30-point barrier because both emphasize running the football, which will shorten the game. I think Texas and Baylor are pretty evenly matched in this one, but Texas will land one more punch than the Bears to head south on I-35 a winner.

Hudson Standish – 34-26, Texas. While I have a ton of respect for Aranda’s defense and the super efficient Baylor offense led by Gerry Bohanon, this feels like a “get right” game where Sark and company avoid dropping to .500 on the year and turn the season around. Texas plays complementary football in the 2nd half and avoids a 3rd consecutive choke job.