Baylor (6-4, 4-3 Big 12) will take on Houston (4-6, 3-4 Big 12) on Saturday at 7 p.m. EST, with coverage on FS1.
The current betting odds from BetMGM indicate Baylor as a 7.5-point favorite.
The historical record between the two teams stands equal at 14 wins, 14 losses, and 1 tie.
This matchup holds significant stakes for both sides.
Baylor is aiming to secure its fifth consecutive victory, which would mark the longest winning streak for the Bears since they concluded the 2021 season with several wins.
After achieving bowl eligibility following a recent win against West Virginia, Baylor seeks to not only reach its seventh victory of the season but also to reflect on the successful 12-win season from 2021.
Meanwhile, Houston is coming off a disappointing loss against Arizona that ended their two-game winning streak.
The Cougars are desperate to avoid missing the bowl game for a second successive year, which would be a notable downturn for the program, reminiscent of a period between 1997 and 2002 when they missed the postseason for six consecutive years.
One of the critical aspects of this game will be Baylor’s rushing offense in comparison to Houston’s run defense.
In their latest game, Baylor running back Bryson Washington showcased his skills by rushing for 123 yards and scoring three touchdowns against West Virginia, contributing to a total of 183 rushing yards for the Bears.
This season, Washington has achieved 699 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns, playing a vital role in a team that has accumulated 1,848 total rushing yards and 21 touchdowns.
Houston’s defense, on the other hand, has been resilient, limiting opponents to 11 rushing touchdowns this year but conceding an average of 131 rushing yards per game.
Key players to keep an eye on include Baylor’s wide receiver Josh Cameron, who had a standout performance last week with five receptions for 101 yards and one touchdown against West Virginia.
With a season total of 34 catches for 525 yards and eight touchdowns, Cameron is also a threat in the return game, boasting an average of 20.7 yards per punt return, ranking him second nationally.
For Houston, defensive lineman Keith Cooper has been a force on the field, leading the Cougars with 3.5 sacks and ranking third on the team with seven tackles for loss.
He also leads the team in quarterback hits, making him a critical player to watch.
In terms of statistics, Baylor’s quarterback Sawyer Robertson has a completion rate nearing 62%, throwing for 2,112 yards and scoring 20 touchdowns this season.
In contrast, Houston quarterback Zeon Chriss has had a completion percentage of around 66% with a total of 542 passing yards, four touchdowns, and four interceptions.
Chriss has also contributed on the ground, accumulating 349 rushing yards and two scores.
As the season progresses, Baylor ranks impressively fourth in the nation for net punting, averaging 43.89 yards, while they are seventh in the nation for allowed tackles for loss with an average of just 3.5 per game.
Meanwhile, Houston’s offensive struggles continue to persist, as they sit at the bottom of the national rankings in scoring, averaging just 14 points per game and struggling in the red zone—scoring on only 57.9% of their attempts.
This Saturday’s game marks the first encounter in Houston between Baylor and the Cougars since a decisive 47-7 victory for Baylor at the Astrodome back in 1995.