NCAA Football Week 11: Texas Longhorns vs. Baylor Bears

Fans with Texas Longhorns tickets hope that Colt McCoy and the Texas Longhorns can rebound against the Baylor Bears!

Longhorns vs. Bears Overview:

In a true classic college football game, the Texas Longhorns lost at the last second to the Texas Tech Red Raiders in a game that cost them the No. 1 ranking. The Baylor Bears also suffered a close and painful defeat as they came within only a few plays of upsetting the Missouri Tigers. The Baylor Bears have tasted ranked blood and will look to rise to the next level with a victory. Colt McCoy will try to get back on the Heisman list, and fans with Texas Longhorns tickets will put their collective will behind their favorite team in Week 11 of the college football season.

Texas Longhorns Offense:
If there is a plus from the loss to the Texas Tech Red Raiders, it is the discovery of freshman WR Malcolm Williams. QB Colt McCoy hit Malcolm Williams twice on deep bombs, and the big receiver gives the Heisman hopeful another target besides WRs Jordan Shipley and Quan Cosby. RB Fozzy Whittaker also returned, and his pure speed gave a new dimension to the Texas Longhorns offense. Texas Longhorns tickets feature RB/FB Chris Ogbonnaya – a great spread-offense back that can run and block; he is possibly the best receiving back in the NCAA.

Texas Longhorns Defense:
The injury to DE Brian Orakpo early in the game against the Texas Tech Red Raiders had fans with Texas Longhorns tickets holding their breath. The injury was not serious, but Brian Orakpo had to miss the remainder of the game. Brian Orakpo is questionable to play against the Baylor Bears, but the Texas Longhorns have plenty of depth. LB/DE Sergio Kindle is a master at rushing the passer and will hunt the QB relentlessly. LBs Roddrick Muckelroy and Jerad Norton provide blazing speed at the next level. Freshman CB Aaron Williams has potential to be a star for years.

Baylor Bears Offense:
True freshman QB Robert Griffin could be a Heisman contender in a few years and has been brilliant so far. A dual-threat QB, Robert Griffin can throw or run. With an accurate arm, Robert Griffin rarely gives away the football and only has one interception all season. The true freshman boon continues with game-breaking WR Kendall Wright who has become the favorite target of Robert Griffin. RB Jay Finley is a great fit for the Baylor Bears Pro-Style offense and can catch the ball as well as run. TE Justin Akers is a solid safety-valve target when Justin Griffin breaks the pocket.

Baylor Bears Defense:
The 4-3 defense of the Baylor Bears is quick and flies to the ball carrier. The Bears were able to contain the great Mizzou Tigers QB Chase Daniel and forced him to commit several turnovers. FS Jordan Lake is the best player in the Baylor Bears secondary and knocks out ball carriers in addition to picking off passes. LB Joe Pawelek is a big linebacker but is also a rangy player who can force turnovers. Big DE Jason Lamb and huge NT Trey Bryant provide a solid anchor against the run game and seal running lanes.

Texas Longhorns Keys to Victory:
Colt McCoy has carried the Texas Longhorns on his back to their No. 1 ranking, and he will have to do so again if they want to reclaim the No. 1 spot. The Texas Longhorns have forgone the run game for much of the season, but the recent loss should have taught them to be more balanced. The return of Fozzy Whittaker to the backfield along with Chris Ogbonnaya gives the Texas Longhorns a base to rip opponents from. Large and in charge RB Cody Johnson is a giant change-of-pace back. Colt McCoy must make a lot more plays with his legs than he did in Lubbock.

The injury to Brian Orakpo concerns fans with Texas Longhorns tickets, and it is not easy to replace your best player. DE Henry Melton is a senior player who can fill in nicely, but LB/DE Sergio Kindle will truly have to rush the passer more. Because Robert Griffin is such an athlete, the Texas Longhorns must keep a QB spy on him at all times. The speed of the Texas Longhorns linebackers means that a DB should not be bothered in this role. Even under pressure, Robert Griffin still makes great throws so the Texas Longhorns secondary must stay locked to their men and must not bite on the play action or bootleg.

Baylor Bears Keys to Victory:
Robert Griffin is the best player on the Baylor Bears and can win games by himself. He must realize that he is not Superman and that trying to make every play will result in turnovers. The offensive line of the Baylor Bears does not have to maintain the pocket because Robert Griffin can move around, but they must keep the inside pressure off so he can see the receivers. Sergio Kindle will blitz and rush for different positions and angles, and he must always be accounted for. RB Jay Finley has to establish the run to help Robert Griffin make plays.

Stopping Colt McCoy is easier said than done, but that is exactly what the Baylor Bears must do. Like Robert Griffin, Colt McCoy can make plays with his legs and on the bootleg. The spread offense of the Texas Longhorns means reading this will be even harder, but the Baylor Bears must stay true to their assignments and zones. The Baylor Bears need to collapse the pocket from the interior to get in Colt McCoy’s face and cut down his field of vision. FS Jordan Lake has to have an even better game than he did against the Mizzou Tigers.

Texas vs. Baylor Outlook:
This would have been listed as a blowout in preseason articles, but fans with Texas Longhorns tickets know that their team cannot take this matchup lightly. The Baylor Bears have become a strong force in the Big 12 and are potential giant killers. Robert Griffin has a Vince-Young quality about him, and he has elevated the play of the Baylor Bears. The close loss to the Mizzou Tigers has actually given the Baylor Bears confidence that they can take a ranked team to the limit and even come out on top.

The Texas Longhorns simply have too much talent and are very ticked off about the loss to the Texas Tech Red Raiders. The Texas Longhorns will take their frustrations out on the young Baylor Bears, and the presence of thousands of fans with Texas Longhorns tickets in Austin will put even more pressure on Robert Griffin. The Baylor Bears will put up a good fight, but they will eventually collapse under the talent and anger of the Burnt Orange Nation.