Craven: In the TCU-Baylor race, Seth Russell is the X-factor

[caption id="attachment_17948" align="alignleft" width="300"]Photo by Pat Carrigan Photo by Pat Carrigan[/caption] The quarterback position is the lone reason why TCU is favored in the Big 12 over Baylor. The Horned Frogs return a Heisman candidate in senior Trevone Boykin. The Bears are breaking in new quarterback Seth Russell. Art Briles’ track record speaks for itself. The guy can coach, and he can really coach quarterbacks and offense. Still, most polls taken around the country and inside the Big 12 have TCU advancing to the College Football Playoff. In spite of the fact that Baylor beat TCU in 2014 and that the Bears may be the most talented team in the Big 12, TCU enters the season with more hype. To prove the prognosticators wrong once again, Baylor will need Russell to play like a veteran because he’ll have weapons at his disposal. The Bears sport one of the best offenses in the nation, and it isn’t just because of the skill position players. Left tackle Spencer Drango will be a first-round pick in the NFL Draft. The defense will also be stout, led by defensive linemen Andrew Billings and Shawn Oakman. Baylor has all the pieces. The only thing missing from the puzzle is a proven quarterback. Russell waited his turn. Baylor’s last quarterback – Bryce Petty – waited four seasons for his chance to lead Baylor’s offense and that worked out for everybody. Most college football teams have holes to fill each season. Most of those programs hope it isn’t at quarterback. If there is a head coach who has proven he can get over that hurdle it is Art Briles. And he’ll have to do it again for the Bears to get past TCU and reach the College Football Playoff.