Baylor owns the recent rivalry with former Southwestern Conference foe SMU, winning the last 11 meetings in a row and covering the spread in its last five matchups. The Bears are fully expected to extend at least one of those streaks when they visit Dallas to begin what they hope is a run to the College Football Playoff against the Mustangs Friday night.
Point spread: Bears opened as 20-point favorites, according to sportsbooks monitored by Odds Shark (Line updates and matchup report).
College football pick, via Odds Shark computer: 51.3-21.5 Bears
Why the Baylor Bears can cover the spread
Baylor returns 18 starters, nine on each side of the ball, from a team that won the Big 12 but just missed making the first ever College Football Playoff last season.