Lsu Tigers vs Baylor Bears Picks and Predictions December 31st 2024

LSU Tigers vs Baylor Bears December 31st 2024

LSU is the slight -3 point favorite in this matchup as they face off against the Baylor Bears in the Kinder’s Texas Bowl. Both teams enter the game with 8-4 records, and it should be an exciting matchup as the over/under line is currently set at 60.5 points. The game is set for Tuesday, December 31st, with a 3:30 ET kickoff on ESPN, and being played at NRG Stadium in Houston, which is a neutral site.

Baylor vs. LSU Key Information

Baylor enters their Week 1 matchup against LSU with an 8-4 record. They’ve gone 4-1 at home and 3-2 on the road this season. The Bears have been favored in six of their 12 games, posting a 5-1 record as the favorite.

Baylor’s ATS record stands at 8-2, with a +9.4 average scoring margin. They’ve covered the spread in four of five road games and are 4-1 against the spread at home.

Their over/under record is 6-3-1, with an average total of 59.9 points per game. Baylor’s average over/under line is 54.3 points, and this week’s line is set at 60.5 points.

Heading into week 1, Baylor’s offense is averaging 34.7 points per game, ranking 18th nationally. They are 23rd in our offensive power rankings. Sawyer Robertson leads the passing game with 2,626 yards and a passer rating of 107. He has thrown 26 touchdowns and 7 interceptions. Baylor ranks 18th in passer rating nationally.

Baylor is averaging 191.4 rushing yards per game. Bryson Washington has rushed for 1,004 yards and 12 touchdowns, averaging 5 yards per carry. Josh Cameron leads the receivers with 643 yards and 9 touchdowns on 44 catches.

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Defensively, Baylor has allowed 25.2 points per game this season, ranking 49th nationally. They’ve given up an average of 156.5 rushing yards per game and 227.4 passing yards, which ranks 106th in the country. Opposing quarterbacks have completed 55.7% of their passes against Baylor, with a passer rating of 76, the 30th-lowest in college football.

In their recent game against Kansas, Baylor’s defense allowed 17 points but gave up 491 total yards, including 211 rushing yards and 280 passing yards. However, they did manage to force two interceptions in the win.

LSU comes into their Week 1 game against Baylor with an 8-4 record. They’ve been strong at home, going 4-1, while their road record stands at 2-3. The Tigers have been favored in eight of their twelve games, posting a 6-2 record as the favorite.

LSU’s ATS record is 3-7, with a 1-4 mark on the road and 2-3 at home. They’ve gone 3-5 against the spread as the favorite, and their average scoring margin this season is +5.6 points per game.

The over/under line for this week is 60.5 points. LSU’s games have averaged 53.1 points, and their over/under record is 3-7. On average, their games have finished 5.2 points below the line, with an average line of 57.2 points.

LSU’s offense is ranked 15th in our offensive power rankings heading into week 11, and they are 43rd in points per game, scoring 29.3. They are 8th in passing yards, averaging 315.3 per game, and 4th in both passing attempts and completions.

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Garrett Nussmeier has thrown for 3,739 yards and 26 touchdowns this season, but he also has 11 interceptions and a passer rating of 95. LSU is 6th in third-down conversions, converting 49.4% of their attempts. On the ground, they are 107th in rushing yards, averaging 118.2 per game.

LSU’s defense has allowed an average of 23.8 points per game this season, ranking 38th nationally. Opponents have averaged 151.2 rushing yards per game against LSU, while quarterbacks have posted a passer rating of 85.6, completing 60.8% of their passes for an average of 205.7 yards per game.

In their recent game against Oklahoma, LSU’s defense gave up 17 points, allowing 288 total yards. Oklahoma ran the ball 41 times for 178 yards, while LSU’s secondary held them to just 110 passing yards and forced one interception.

• Over their last three games, the LSU Tigers have gone 2-1 straight up. This includes going 1-2 vs. the spread and posting an over-under mark of 1-2.
• Across LSU’s last ten regular season games, their record sits at 9-1. Against the spread, LSU went 5-5 in these games and finished with an over-under mark of 4-6.

Our projections for this week one matchup between LSU and Baylor have LSU winning a close one, 29-28. However, with Baylor coming in as the +3 point spread pick, we like their chances to win straight-up as the road underdogs.

For the over/under line, which is set at 60.5 points, our projection of 57 points suggests that taking the under is the best play.

Riding Win Streak, Baylor Eager to Face LSU in Texas Bowl

The Baylor Bears and LSU Tigers both enter the Texas Bowl in Houston on Tuesday afternoon, albeit with vastly different journeys this season. While LSU (8-4) fell short of its preseason hopes for a College Football Playoff spot, Baylor (8-4) has revitalized its campaign with a six-game winning streak.

Baylor’s Remarkable Turnaround

Baylor’s season appeared to be on the brink after a 2-4 start, but head coach Dave Aranda remained confident in his team. The Bears returned from their bye week with a dominant 59-35 win over Texas Tech on Oct. 19, sparking a winning streak that secured bowl eligibility.

“There wasn’t any panic. There wasn’t any doubt,” Aranda said. “I think everybody knew that we had a good team and that we had to do X, Y and Z better, and these are the steps that we’ve got to do to do that.”

Quarterback Sawyer Robertson, who finished third in the Big 12 in passer rating (155.0) and threw 26 touchdown passes, is eager to test himself against LSU, an SEC opponent.

“It’s going to be good for me just because I get to see where I’m at. I get to just play against elite competition,” Robertson said. “That’s why you do what you do. That’s why you want to be in these types of games.”

LSU Adjusts to Expectations

LSU entered the season with CFP aspirations but now finds itself in a less prestigious bowl. Despite this, Tigers head coach Brian Kelly is confident his team will approach the game with focus and enthusiasm.

“The morale has been great,” Kelly said. “Every guy that has been out there wants to be out there. The practices have been lively. It’s been fun.”

Quarterback Garrett Nussmeier has been a bright spot for LSU. In his first season as the starter, Nussmeier threw for 3,735 yards and 26 touchdowns, ranking second in the SEC in both categories. Despite rumors of a potential NFL draft declaration, Nussmeier chose to stay and lead the Tigers in this bowl game.

“Obviously it’s not where we want to be, but we get an opportunity to play another football game,” Nussmeier said. “I get another opportunity to play football with my teammates, and at the end of the day that’s all that matters.”

Key Challenges for Both Teams

Baylor enters the game riding high on momentum, while LSU faces challenges with its offensive line. Tackles Will Campbell and Emery Jones opted out to prepare for the NFL draft, leaving the Tigers with a makeshift unit. Guard Garrett Dellinger’s availability remains uncertain due to an ankle injury sustained in late October.

Meanwhile, Baylor will look to continue its offensive efficiency under Robertson and lean on a defense that has improved steadily during the winning streak.

A Matchup of Contrasting Momentum

The Texas Bowl presents an intriguing clash of narratives. Baylor is aiming to cap a remarkable turnaround, while LSU seeks to salvage a season that fell short of lofty expectations. Both teams have plenty to prove in what promises to be an exciting showdown.

From game previews to betting tips, the Scores and Stats blog covers it all.