Baylor vs Brigham Young Odds: Host Cougars Get Big 12 Dress Rehearsal

Future Big 12 Member BYU Set to Face Defending Big 12 Champion

The next time that Baylor and Brigham Young meet on the football field, it will be as Big 12 rivals since the Cougars have accepted an invitation to join the Big 12.

Hall led BYU to a 6-1 record in seven games against Power-5 Conference teams in 2021. He completed 63% of his passes with 13 touchdown passes and four interceptions. He also ran for 238 yards and a pair of TDs. The lone loss came against Baylor. Even with what happened in the 2021 meeting, the Baylor vs Brigham Young odds favor the host Cougars.

Blake Shapen and Kyron Drones both saw time at quarterback in Baylor’s season-opening win over Albany and things figure to be a little more challenging this week.

Baylor (+475) is third behind Oklahoma and Texas in the odds to win the Big 12 title.

Baylor moved up from 10th to eighth in the American Football Coaches poll and went from 10th to ninth in the Associated Press poll after Week 1. Brigham Young football jumped four spots to 21st in the AP poll and broke into the coaches’ poll at No. 25.

Baylor vs Brigham Young Game Information

• Game: Baylor 1-0, Brigham Young 1-0
• Location: LaVell Edwards Stadium, Provo, Utah
• Day/Time: Saturday, 10:15 p.m. ET
• Television: ESPN

Baylor Bears

The Baylor offense looks much different in 2022. There has not only been a change at quarterback, but following the departures of leading rusher Abram Smith and top receiver Tyquan Thornton, new playmakers are emerging at those positions.

Four different players had at least 45 rushing yards in the season opener led by freshman Richard Reese’s 62 yards and two touchdowns.

At the receiver, Monaray Baldwin and Hal Presley went from combining for two receptions as freshmen to having seven catches for 140 yards and two TDs in the 2022 opener. With so many unproven contributors on offense, it is hardly surprising that the Baylor vs Brigham Young betting odds are in the favor of BYU.

The defense limited Albany to 237 yards of total offense with seven freshmen recording tackles.
A concern was allowing six tackles for loss against an FCS program.

Brigham Young Cougars

Hall might be the headliner on offense, but the ability to run the ball will be the key to the BYU season. Christopher Brooks had 135 yards on 13 carries in the opener while Puka Nacua scored on two of his three rushing attempts.
BYU had 314 rushing yards in the 2022 opener. The strong offense showing is one reason why the Baylor vs Brigham Young odds favor the host Cougars.

The defense held South Florida to 279 yards and less than five yards per offensive play. Eight of the 15 Cougars with at least two tackles against USF were sophomores, so there is room for growth on that side of the ball.

The six tackles for loss allowed by the BYU line were not the way the Cougars wanted to get the season going.

Baylor vs Brigham Young Injury Update

It seems to be all hands on deck in the injury department for Baylor.

For Brigham Young, receivers Puka Nacua and Gunner Romney are questionable. Nacua had 168 yards on five catches and a touchdown in last year’s game so that would be a huge loss if he is unable to go.

Baylor vs Brigham Young Head to Head

This is the back half of a home-and-home series with host Baylor winning 38-24 at home on Oct. 16, 2021, as a 5.5-point favorite.

BYU has split its last six games against Big 12 opponents. The last win for the Cougars against a Big 12 squad was a 41-7 blowout of Texas on Sept. 6, 2014, as a one-point underdog on the road.

Baylor vs Brigham Young Betting Preview

A year ago, teams found out the hard way what happens when you underestimate the Baylor Bears. Baylor stunned the football world by winning the Big 12 title. The Bears went 5-1 in games decided by less than 10 points. When looking at Baylor point spreads is improbable run to the Big 12 title in 2021, the Bears won straight up and covered in each of the last four games when they were listed as the underdog.

The Bears are 5-1 against the NCAA football college spreads over the last six games. It is worth noting that the total has gone under in not only five of Baylor’s last six contests but also in five of the last seven games on the road.

BYU has covered just three of the last nine games. However, the Cougars are 7-1 against the spread in the last eight meetings against Big 12 teams.

BYU comes in as the slight favorite and this could very well be decided in the final drive. The teams combined for 943 yards of total offense in the 2021 matchup. Will the defenses over more resistance this time around?