The Texas Bowl features two very similar teams in Baylor and Illinois. Both teams have a mobile quarterback, spread the ball and can score a lot of points. This is Baylor's first bowl appearance since their 1994 Alamo Bowl season when they were part of the now defunct Southwest Conference, and for Illinois this is their first bowl game since the 2008 Rose Bowl. One thing to expect in today's game is a lot of points and a prime example is when Illinois played Michigan and lost 67-65 in triple overtime.
As for Baylor, they reached new heights by being ranked in the top 25, but that came crashing down with three consecutive blow out loses to Texas A&M, Oklahoma State and Oklahoma, all who were ranked at the time.
As for Baylor, they reached new heights by being ranked in the top 25, but that came crashing down with three consecutive blow out loses to Texas A&M, Oklahoma State and Oklahoma, all who were ranked at the time.
The line on this game started as a two-point favorite for Baylor but now it is down to either a pick'em or a one-point edge to Baylor. That seems about right since neither school has a great defense which means the offenses will have a field day.
The experts overwhelming feel that Baylor should win this game.
Rivals - Each of the five Rivals writers selected Baylor as did 67 percent of Yahoo users in the Pick'em game.
CBS Sports - Three of the five writers pick Baylor over Illinois.
USA Today - Seven of the eight panelists pick Baylor over Illinois.
Fanhouse - Brett McMurphy makes his picks against the spread and takes Baylor.
The Texas Bowl kicks off at 4 p.m. (MT) on ESPN