Four things to know about TCU’s next opponent, the Baylor Bears
There will be much at stake when TCU hosts rival Baylor at 11 a.m. Saturday at Amon G. Carter Stadium.
The rivalry game serves as an elimination game of sorts for the Horned Frogs. With two losses in the Big 12 already, TCU (4-2, 1-2) can’t afford to endure another if it still wants to have a chance to reach the conference title game.
Meanwhile, the matchup will serve as a prove-it game for the Bears (4-2, 2-1), who have been in a number of last-second finishes that could’ve swung the other way. Are they legitimate Big 12 contenders or just living on borrowed time? Last year’s matchup was an exciting 37-34 win for Baylor as the Bears snapped a four-game losing streak to TCU.
TCU has won eight of the past 10 matchups with Baylor and will aim to start another winning streak Saturday.
Here are four things to know about the Bears:
Quarterback Sawyer Robertson leads the nation
Baylor quarterback Sawyer Robertson has the most passing yards in the country with 2,058. Not only has the senior been prolific, he’s also been efficient, with 19 touchdowns and just four interceptions. Robertson has thrown for at least 345 yards in four games this season, including two games with more than 400 yards.
Robertson hasn’t been asked to run much this year, but he’s still capable of making plays with his legs. He played solidly last year against the Horned Frogs with 242 passing yards and 28 rushing yards, but he’s clearly improved since then.
TCU has faced a gauntlet of good quarterbacks, but Robertson might be the best of the bunch. TCU must find a way to keep Robertson’s completion percentage under 60% or keep him under 300 yards passing like Arizona State did.
Star running back Bryson Washington
Bryson Washington had a coming-out party last year against TCU, as he ran wild for 196 yards and four touchdowns.
Washington rushed for 1,028 yards last season and is well on pace for another 1,000-yard campaign. The sophomore ranks fourth in the Big 12 with 557 yards and five touchdowns on the ground.
Washington is averaging 5.5 yards per carry and almost 93 yards per game. He has three games with over 100 yards, including 111 against a solid Arizona State defense. He’s only been held in check once this season, when Auburn limited him to 54 yards on 14 carries in the season opener. SMU held Washington to 3.7 yards per carry, but he still ran for 115 yards.
Washington is capable of generating explosive runs or being the bell cow of the offense with 20-plus carries. He’ll be the best running back TCU has faced this season.
Michael Trigg a matchup nightmare?
Baylor has a balanced receiving group, with four players amassing at least 300 yards, but the biggest standout among them is senior tight end Michael Trigg. On pace for a potential All-American season, Trigg is second on the team with what are already career-highs of 439 yards and four touchdowns.
Listed at 6-foot-4 and 240 pounds, Trigg is on a hot streak with 60-plus yards in three straight games, including 155 yards against a Kansas State defense that flustered TCU on Saturday in Manhattan.
The Wildcats also had success with their tight ends against TCU’s secondary, as Garrett Oakley led Kansas State with 71 yards and two touchdowns. As good as Oakley is, Trigg is on another tier and could prove problematic in the middle of the field.
What about the defense?
As good as Baylor’s offense has been, the defense has been the exact opposite. The Bears rank next-to-last in the Big 12 in scoring defense, allowing 29.7 points per game. The run defense in particular has struggled, as opponents are averaging 177.2 yards per game
The Bears have allowed at least 34 points in three games this season, and they rank last in the conference in sacks, 14th in third down defense and 14th in total yards allowed.
Linebacker Keaton Thomas is one of the few bright spots on the unit. The junior leads Baylor with 55 tackles, but his production hasn’t been enough to cover up some of the Bears’ flaws defensively.
TCU should be able to score at least 30 points against Baylor.
