Last year, the Baylor Bears got into a shootout with the playoff bound Oklahoma Sooners and barely fell short. This season, head coach Matt Rhule has a much improved team, but he isn't ready to talk upset.
"We know it was a great game last year, but it was a game where they got way up and then we fought back. And then they got way up again and we fought back. And so, we'd like to limit the explosive plays. The 90 yard touchdown -- the 70 yard kickoff return -- and if we can eliminate those things and just try to turn it into football we can see what happens."
Baylor did some good things last week against Kansas: no turnovers, four sacks on defense, not to mention an all important win, but there's still plenty of improvement to be had.
"We're still not really generating turnovers. Now we hope that changes, but the defense is getting better," said Rhule during Monday's media availability.
Oklahoma has one of the worst rushing defenses in the Big 12, so Baylor will try to exploit that. One issue is that starting guard Xavier Newman is out with an ankle injury.
Rhule says Johncarlo Valentin, Christian Beard, and possibly a healthy Josh Malin are candidates to replace the injured Newman.
"It's just going to be a matter of someone stepping up."
Baylor plays at Oklahoma Saturday afternoon at 2:30.
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