Staff Predictions: Will Baylor Handle Albany Week 1?
Baylor's Dave Aranda isn't looking for regression. No one is in college football, but Baylor's track record of winning one year and falling down the standings in the next is simply a thing of the past.
Led by new quarterback Blake Shapen, the Bears look to take the next steps in their quest to make the College Football Playoff. Should Baylor have picked up an early-season win over Oklahoma State, perhaps it too would have been in the running for a final four spot last season along with Cincinnati.
Let bygones be bygones of the past. The Bears picked up their first 12-win season in program history. They won the Big 12 while vanquishing enemies such as ranked Oklahoma, Iowa State and Oklahoma State in a rematch for the conference title.
Repeating as champions might be easier said than done. Oklahoma won four straight, but the recruiting process and level of talent never seemed to deteriorate, even with several high-profile prospects leaving the program for the pros.
Baylor will have to learn to replace its best talent each season. The Bears are in need of a new lead runner with Abram Smith and Travis Ebner now gone. Defensively, Baylor is set to replace talents such as linebacker Terrel Bernard, safety JT Woods and All-American defensive back Jalen Pitre.
Perhaps those are concerns for midseason. Week 1's matchup with FCS Albany should be a tune up for what will come in the later weeks.
It's time for the Inside The Bears staff to make their way-too-early game predictions for Baylor's return to McLane Stadium to face the Great Danes. Make sure to stick with InsideTheBears.com through our season preview series, where we will analyze every opponent on the Bears' schedule in 2022.
Matt Galatzan - Editor-in-Chief
Poor Albany. The Bears will head into the new season with high expectations and looking to repeat as Big 12 champions. With Blake Shapen now the unquestioned starter under center, the Bears should rack up points early and often. I expect Baylor to coast through this one without breaking a sweat as they look ahead to a showdown with future Big 12 rival, BYU.
Baylor 52, Albany 10
Cole Thompson - Reporter/Columnist
Expect Blake Shapen to air it out early and often against this Great Danes' defense. With the losses of Abram Smith and Travis Ebner, offensive coordinator Jeff Grimes needs to see what he's working with in the passing game. One play I'm intrigued of seeing is R.J. Sneed, who should step into the No. 1 role in replace of Tyquan Thornton on offense. Either way, backups should be playing by the fourth quarter.
Baylor 55, Albany 13
Zach Dimmitt - Beat Writer
Baylor's Big 12 title win from last season ago put them in conversation for teams on the bubble for the College Football Playoff. And though the four teams who wound up making it to the semis were deserving, the Bears still ended the year as one of the top programs in discussion.
With the Albany Great Danes coming to Waco to open up the year, it's hard to envision anything other than a massive season-opening blowout. Albany could be well on its way to a rebounding season going 2-9 r, but it'll have to take a beating against Baylor first.
Baylor 52, Albany 6
Matthew Postins - Staff Writer
The Great Danes won two games last season. Their one game against an FBS opponent, Syracuse, ended in a 62-24 loss. Baylor beat Texas Southern, 66-7 last year, which was the Bears' only FCS opponent. Texas Southern was 3-8. See where I'm going with this?
I've covered a couple of 'money games' at Baylor, and the Bears tend to put their foot on the gas and never let up.
Baylor 70, Albany 14
Timm Hamm - Staff Writer
Clearly the Bears have a better roster returning with the defending Big 12 Champions, and the talk of repeat begins with Albany. This should be little more than a scrimmage for Baylor who should be using this game to help get some experience for some of the younger players and newcomers looking to take first-team reps.
Baylor 38, Albany 0
Connor Zimmerlee - Staff Writer
The Bears return plenty of talent from a 2021 team that won the Big 12 and finished the season 12-2. Now,Baylor will look to repeat that success in 2022 and claim another conference championship. Week 1 will likely see them working out some kinks in the playbooks, but they should win comfortably over Albany.
Baylor 45, Albany 10
Denton Ramsey - Staff Writer
The Bears should coast in the season opener over Albany. Baylor could post a shutout in the game, but I’m guessing they give up only one score. At least the Great Danes get on the board against an Aranda-led defense, right?
Baylor 42, Albany 7
Brian Smith - Recruiting Writer
Baylor starts off its 2022 college football season with Albany, a team few know about and for a good reason. As an FCS program, Albany won just two games last year. Coming to Waco and facing quarterback Blake Shapen and a talented defense as well, this could get ugly. Bears roll early as the game is over by halftime.
Baylor 52, Albany 10
Drake Toll - Host of Locked on Bears
It’s Albany. They were immaculate at covering the spread last year, but winning wasn’t their forte. That trend continues in Week 1. Siaki Ika causes a man to retire from football, Blake Shapen only plays 35 minutes and half their players are introduce to tonic immobility by the Texas sun.
Baylor 66, Albany 14
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