Baylor Bears: What Should Bettors Expect?
Scott Morris | July 14, 2016
With the Baylor Bears football team reeling from losing its head coach what can online sports bettor expect from the team entering the 2016 football season.
Three words confusion, dismay and panic dominated the landscape at Baylor after a scandal rocked the football program.
Authorities found the school either had ignored or covered up claims of sexual assault for years. The school then fired Art Briles its head coach and half of its incoming recruited class of 2016 opted to play elsewhere or were suspended.
Opening with odds on some sportsbooks of +1200 to win a national title as recently as January, Baylor’s odds have dropped all the way to +6000 on most sites and even lower on others.
The biggest blow of the past few weeks came earlier in the week when Jarrett Stidham the team’s sophomore quarterback announced he intends to transfer. He was set to take the starting job in 2017 from current starter Seth Russell.
Stidham was at quarterback much of the second part of the season last year after Russell suffered a broken bone.
This season Zach Smith a freshmen will step in if Russell is hurt or playing poorly.
Last season the Bears were 10-3 and much of the core of the team is returning less the catalyst and glue – Briles.
Russell had 29 touchdown passes through 7 games last season before having surgery on his neck that ended his season.
Jim Grobe the former head coach at Wake Forest takes the reins for Baylor as the interim coach. Grobe is a great motivator and must make sure the team’s motivation is high and sprits remain intact.
No changes in the offense are expected, which is run by Briles’ son Kendal.
Since 2011, OVER bettors love the Bears. Baylor games have cashed a remarkable 43-19-1 to the OVER, with the OVER – 8-5 during 2015, 8-5 during 2014, 9-4 during 2013, 7-4-1 during 2012 and 11-1 during 2011.
Baylor’s non-conference games might have strong value for bettors. Since 2011, game outside the Big-12 for Baylor have cashed on the OVER in 16 of 18 games.
The Bears are picked to win 9 games hits season and most of the action is UNDER.
