BYU vs Baylor pre-game checklist: everything you need to know before kickoff

You did it, BYU. Kansas State walked into Provo and you slayed the giant. Congratulations!

We blinked, and the Cougars opened their season with a perfect 4-0 record complete with two wins against power 4 competition. Do your locker room dance, and get excited for the rest of the season because now the real work begins.

Beating a Big 12 contender like Kansas State is a huge deal for a program that was picked to dwindle at the bottom of the standings among the likes of Houston and Cincinnati, but in taking down the Wildcats, the Cougars have added an extra load of responsibility to their season--now that they've damaged the resume of their conference's star program from Manhattan, Kansas, the mantle has been placed upon Sitake's head.

Simply put, you can't make a statement win like that without backing it up. The Cougars need to compete for a Big 12 title for their conference's sake.

And that starts this weekend with a matchup against the shell-shocked Baylor Bears in Waco, Texas. Despite struggling out of the gate, losing to a Utah team that didn't score after losing their starting quarterback in the first half, and a Colorado team that realistically could have scored on a Hail Mary on back-to-back attempts.

The Bears sit at 2-2 and were likewise picked to fall among the worst football teams in the Big 12 this preseason. BYU has already proved that preseason polls and rankings aren't everything, but Baylor's on-field product hasn't sparked much hope for a better season.

Despite this, Dave Aranda's Bears are favored to hand BYU its first loss of the season straight off a loss of their own in Boulder. Should BYU be worried about this game, or is all concern mere superstition? Let's break down the Cougars' first road conference game this Saturday to see if we can uncover the truth.

Pre-game Notes for the BYU Cougars

BYU looked awesome against Kansas State last weekend. There's no better way to describe the way they played, but let me just throw out some words and let me know if they stick for you: miraculous, explosive, undeniable, heart-pumping, inspiring, unstoppable, promising, addicting.

Kalani Sitake and Jay Hill had their team well-prepared to attack the Wildcats, and the late-night vampire Cougars earned yet another late-night win in LaVell's house. BYU got up for this game, and played the perfect game against young quarterback Avery Johnson. The defense contained the WIldcats, keeping them out of the endzone for the entire 60-minute contest. The crowd rattled the offense, forcing 3 turnovers. Jake Retzlaff and the offense handled business and capitalized on every short field situation with a trip to the endzone.

In the biggest game of their young season, the Cougars stepped up big time. They need to maintain that same energy for this game.

Baylor enters this game as a 2.5-point favorite, which caught many BYU fans by surprise after manhandling a top-15 squad. Taking away the home-field advantage, many expected the Cougars to leave Waco with a victory even in the preseason. But just as BYU faced a ranked opponent at home last week, the Cougars' position of scrappy underdog has been flipped and the roles are now reversed.

It should be an interesting matchup.

BYU Pre-game checklist

- Take care of the football. BYU handled possession very well last week, and maintaining control will be essential to keeping the Bears at arms-length.
- BYU's defense is elite. The Cougars should keep the Bears' point total low, but the offense will need to step up.
- Play like the underdog, because you are. The Cougars are now a top-25 team, but they will need to win to keep this dream season alive.

Pre-Game Notes for the Bears

Baylor's head coach, Dave Aranda, needs a win to keep his team afloat, and keep his job. It's not hyperbole when I say the Bears will be fighting for their lives out there in Waco. BYU is the big ticket, and Baylor isn't about to roll over and die in front of their home fans--assuming BYU fans don't snatch up too many tickets.

The Bears were stunned on Saturday, when they fell to a Colorado team that needed a Hail Mary heave at the end of regulation to stay afloat. Baylor hasn't looked very impressive against Big 12 teams Colorado and Utah, but that's not to say they won't be prepared for this clash agaisnt the Cougars.

The last time these teams met, BYU took down 9th-ranked Baylor in Provo. That was a night game, but this weekend will see these teams battle in the light, with an 11:00 local time kickoff.

Baylor is undefeated in McLane Stadium this season, only allowing a total of 6 points between Tarleton State and Air Force. BYU's offense is its weakest unit, and Baylor may struggle to score on the Cougars' terrific defense. Keeping Retzlaff's group out of the endzone will be the key for a chance at victory, and the last time the Cougars played in Texas, they only reached 18 points.

This could be a trap game for the BYU Cougars, and we'll have to see if the bear trap is loaded when Cosmo steps into Waco.

Baylor Pre-Game Checklist

- Fight for your lives. The season is not over, and a win over BYU could turn the odds to your favor.
- Kalani Sitake's teams have struggled in early games, opposite to their late-night dominance. Baylor needs to capitalize on every mistake.
- The Bears are unbeaten at home, and keeping the score low will be key for staying in the game.

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