No. 22 BYU (4-0, 1-0 Big 12) at Baylor (2-2, 0-1) Saturday, noon ET (FS1) BetMGM College Football Odds : Baylor by 2 1/2. Series record: Tied 2-2.
WHAT’S AT STAKE? BYU will try to match the two Big 12 victories it had last season in its conference debut. The Cougars are coming off a 38-9 win over then-No. 13 Kansas State when they scored touchdowns on offense, defense and special teams for the first time since 1996.
Baylor lost its league opener after Colorado completed a “Hail Mary” pass to end regulation and then forced a Bears fumble just short of the goal line in overtime. The Bears had lost nine in a row at home against FBS teams before their 31-3 win over Air Force two weeks ago. KEY MATCHUP BYU receiver Chase Roberts against the Baylor secondary.
He had eight catches for 122 yards and a touchdown two years ago against in BYU's double-overtime win at home over the Bears . He leads the Cougars with 17 catches for 310 yards this season, including two 100-yard games. The Bears have allowed only 142 yards passing per game, but have only two interceptions.
PLAYERS TO WATCH BYU: QB Jake Retzlaff has thrown for 990 yards and nine touchdowns, and is also the Cougars' leading rusher with 103 yards. Baylor: Sixth-year senior Matt Jones is again the team's leading tackler and ranks second in the Big 12 with 40 tackles (23 solo, 17 assists). The 246-pound linebacker is pretty much halfway to the team-best 82 tackles he had last season.
He was a freshman during coach Matt Rhul.