Baylor 70, Rice 17: What We Learned

[caption id="attachment_18992" align="alignleft" width="300"]Photo by Doug Holleman Photo by Doug Holleman[/caption] Baylor took down its old Southwest Conference rival Rice in grand fashion on Saturday, beating the Owls 70-17. What did we learn from this game? DCTF's Thomas Bingham breaks it down.This game was over at halftime...and maybe before then. Baylor played like the nation’s #5 team in the opening two quarters. After a slow start, the Bears scored 28 unanswered before halftime. The Owls had no answer for Baylor’s offensive weapons in the first half. Quarterback Seth Russell recorded 255 of his 277 passing yards and five of his six touchdowns. Running back Shock Linwood totaled 110 of his 158 rushing yards, and scored on the ground. Receiver Corey Coleman had six receptions, three scores, and 100 yards in the first half. Big plays, like Jay Lee’s 57 yard touchdown reception in the second quarter, also killed the Owls defensively. KD CannonRice’s fast starts Rice took advantage of field position, so both halves started well. Both touchdown drives started at the Baylor 24. Austin Walter’s 74 yard kickoff return set up the first one, a 24 yard touchdown pass from Driphus Jackson to Dennis Parks on the next play. Darik Dillard’s five yard score was set up by the forced fumble on Baylor’s opening drive of the second half. Of course, what happened after those fast starts wasn't very good, but that's a positive spot for the Owls. The Southwest Conference is back! Okay, not really, but it was great to renew some old rivalries today. The Baylor Bears and the Rice Owls were conference members between 1915 and 1995, but it was only the fourth meeting since the conference breakup in ’96. Baylor, who has won seven consecutive meetings, holds a 48-30-2 record after today’s thumping of Rice. Baylor stormed to a 70-17 win on 793 total yards, and open Big 12 play in Lubbock next week. Oklahoma State and Texas, both founding members, were playing 101 miles south for the 30^th time. The Cowboys departed for the Missouri Valley Conference in 1925. It was also the 54^th installment of the “West Texas Championship”, between TCU and Texas Tech in Lubbock. Fans will watch the 72^nd meeting between Arkansas and Texas A&M in Arlington.