Stormin in Norman
Fansided

Picking the Big 12 Football Bowl Games

By Chip Rouse

Dec 3, 2016; Norman, OK, USA; The Oklahoma Sooners celebrate winning the Big 12 Conference Championship after defeating the Oklahoma State Cowboys at Gaylord Family - Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 3, 2016; Norman, OK, USA; The Oklahoma Sooners celebrate winning the Big 12 Conference Championship after defeating the Oklahoma State Cowboys at Gaylord Family - Oklahoma Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
2 of 6
Next
Dec 3, 2016; Morgantown, WV, USA; Baylor Bears quarterback Zach Smith (4) changes the call at the line of scrimmage during the third quarter against the West Virginia Mountaineers at Milan Puskar Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ben Queen-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 3, 2016; Morgantown, WV, USA; Baylor Bears quarterback Zach Smith (4) changes the call at the line of scrimmage during the third quarter against the West Virginia Mountaineers at Milan Puskar Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Ben Queen-USA TODAY Sports /

Dec. 27, 2016

Cactus Bowl

Baylor Bears (6-6) vs. Boise State Broncos (10-2)

Chase Field, Phoenix, Ariz.

Baylor is the third team from the Big 12 to be matched up against Boise State in a postseason game this century. The other two Big 12 opponents of the Broncos (Oklahoma and TCU) didn’t fare so well. TCU actually wasn’t a member of the Big 12 when it squared off with Boise State, but the Sooners definitely were, and it was a game Bob Stoops and the fans of the Sooner Nation will not soon forget.

Baylor comes into its Cactus Bowl matchup with Boise State without the services of starting quarterback Seth Russell, who is out for the season with a dislocated ankle, and running back Shock Linwood, who has elected not to play and avoid the risk of injury that could hurt his NFL draft chances.

This has been a very difficult season for Baylor in the wake of a sexual assault scandal that rocked the university and led to the dismissal of head coach Art Briles.

Baylor lost six consecutive conference games after beginning the season 6-0 and, frankly, is fortunate to even be in a bowl this postseason. Given what the Bears have been through all season and, especially, over the final six weeks of the regular season, it’s hard to imagine they will go into this bowl game with much fight.

Meanwhile, Boise State has another chance to beat up on a Power Five school, and the Broncos have the offensive balance to give the bedraggled Baylor defense all kinds of fits.

Prediction: Boise State 38, Baylor 24

Home/OU Football