Kickoff: Sunday, 6:30 p.m. ET (FSN)
Spread: Baylor by 12
Watchability: Just in case this is like last season's season opener for Baylor, go ahead and clear your schedule on Sunday night. A year ago Baylor and TCU went back and forth in one of the most exciting games of the season, which Baylor pulled out 50-48. Robert Griffin III is gone, but both offenses have some firepower and innovative offense minds in charge of them, so it should be a high-scoring game.
Shining stars: SMU: RB Zach Line averaged 122.4 yards per game and scored 17 touchdowns in 10 games before breaking his foot last season. Line is the best back in the Conference USA and also has a cool story. He had no FBS offers in high school until SMU recruited him as a linebacker. Baylor: WR Terrance Williams is the best piece left from Baylor's record-setting offense in 2011. Williams caught 105 passes for 1,502 yards and 15 touchdowns last season.
Who could steal the show: SMU: QB Garrett Gilbert would like nothing more than to prove to Big 12 observers that it was Texas' offense that held him back and not his skills. At least one person believes that was the case. Baylor: The most high-profile transfer in this game other than Gilbert is Baylor RB Lache Seastrunk, an Oregon transfer. Seastrunk is one of the top candidates to step in for Terrance Ganaway and he has the speed to be a big-play weapon for the Bears.
You going? Ranking the road trip: Baylor was undefeated at home last season. Thanks to that success, Floyd Casey Stadium should be rocking for this one.
Magic number for SMU: 3rd. SMU struggled coming out of halftime last season, getting outscored 88-52 in the third quarter. That's something to watch for on Sunday.
Magic number for Baylor: 245.6. That's the number of yards the Bears averaged on the ground at home last season, compared to 172.4 on the road. A rushing attack could alleviate some of the pressure on QB Nick Florence.
This game comes down to: Florence. The Bears have plenty of talent to win without a huge game from the senior quarterback. He just needs to get the ball in his playmakers' hands and not make any big mistakes. Too many turnovers and SMU could pull off the upset.
Prediction: Baylor 38, SMU 31
For more up-to-the-minute news and analysis from Big 12 bloggers C.J. Moore and Patrick Southern, follow @CBSSportsBig12 on Twitter.
