Gabriel Mayberry-USA TODAY Sports
Week 2 Bowl Projections: How Did BYU Loss Impact Baylor's Post Season Prospects?
We may only be through Week 2 of the college football season, but that doesn't mean it is too early for bowl projections.
As the Bears enter Week 3 with a 1-1 record following their 26-20 upset loss to the BYU Cougars, their bowl projections are a bit all over the place. This just goes to show that one loss, even if it comes this early in the season, can dramatically change the perception of a team.
However, despite the wide variance of where the Bears will go bowling this season, there is still some belief that they can finish either first or second in the Big 12, earning them a New Year's Six bowl game berth.
There is still a lot of football left to be played, and there is no telling how the Bears or other teams finish, which will impact where they go bowling.
Now, here's a look at where six different media outlets project the Longhorns to go bowling:
Action Network (Brett McMurphy)
Valero Alamo Bowl - Dec. 29 at 8 p.m. Central
Opponent - Utah Utes
Athlon Sports (Steve Lassan)
Valero Alamo Bowl - Dec. 29 at 8 p.m. Central
Opponent - Utah Utes
CBS Sports (Jerry Palm)
Sugar Bowl - Dec. 31 at 11 a.m. Central
Opponent - Tennessee Volunteers
ESPN (Kyle Bonagura)
TaxAct Texas Bowl - Dec. 28 at 8 p.m. Central
Opponent - Texas A&M Aggies
247Sports (Brad Crawford)
Sugar Bowl - Dec. 31 at 11 a.m. Central
Opponent - Arkansas Razorbacks
USA Today (Erick Smith)
Liberty Bowl - Dec. 28 at 4:30 p.m. Central
Opponent - Florida Gators
A closer look at the matchups:
Arkansas Razorbacks
These two former Southwest Conference rivals haven't faced off since 1991, but could face off this bowl season. The Bears won the last two matchups between these two, and this potential matchup could be one of the better games of bowl season should it occur.
Florida Gators
The Bears have played the Gators just once in their program's history, with the Gators winning the lone matchup all the way back in 1960. A unique matchup featuring two quarterbacks that have shown flashes early in the season in Baylor's Blake Shapen and Florida's Anthony Richardson.
Texas A&M Aggies
In this matchup, the Bears would get the chance to face off against their former Big 12 rivals, the Aggies. The Aggies won the final three matchups in this rivalry before heading off to the SEC. Should this matchup occur, it would give the Bears the chance to snap that streak and claim bragging rights for the time being.
Tennessee Volunteers
Baylor facing off against a school whose primary color is orange and goes by the initials UT? No, they aren't facing the Texas Longhorns in this matchup, but the other UT that resides in the SEC. The Bears have had recent success over Texas, so adding a victory over another UT would be a nice bonus to that.
Utah Utes
This would be a unique matchup as the Bears and Utes have never once played in the two program's histories. However, that is the magic of bowl season, it allows for unique matchups due to conference tie ins that you might not see on a regular non-conference schedule.
You can find Connor Zimmerlee on Twitter @Connorjz98
Want the latest in breaking and insider news for the Baylor Bears? Click Here
Follow Inside the Bears on Twitter and Facebook
Make sure to subscribe to our daily podcast @LockedOnBaylor today! Click here To Listen.
