Week 3 of the college football season is here. Baylor plays Air Force, and Heartland College Sports has your game prediction, preview, and betting odds ahead of the matchup.
GAME INFO
Saturday, Sept. 14; 6:30 p.m. (CT); McLane Stadium, Waco, Texas
TV: FOX Sports 1
Records: Baylor (1-1); Air Force (1-1)
Last Week: Utah 23, Baylor 12; San Jose State 17, Air Force 7
Series History: Baylor leads, 3-1
Last Meeting: Air Force 30, Baylor 15 (2022)
Fun Fact: While Baylor does hold a commanding lead in the series history, Air Force does hold the most recent victory in the matchup in the 2022 Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl.
Baylor vs. Air Force State Betting Lines and Odds
Opening Line: Baylor (-15.5)
Over/Under: 41.5
Key Players
Baylor Bears
QB Dequan Finn
Transfer quarterback Deqaun Finn has had two drastically different starts during his 2024 season, with a solid outing in Week 1 against the Tarleton State Texans and a disappointing start against No. 12 Utah in Week 2. In the Bears’ 23-12 loss to Utah, Finn exited the game with an injury but was able to return to finish off his day. He posted nine completions for 115 yards and a score but ultimately couldn’t help his team upset the Big 12’s top-ranked team.
LB Keaton Thomas
Sophomore linebacker Keaton Thomas has quickly emerged into a name to know on Dave Aranda’s defensive unit, leading his team in tackles with 19 through his first two outings. He, alongside Matt Jones, forms one of the Big 12’s most underappreciated linebacker cores as the two continue to make plays across the field. In Week 1, Thomas also displayed some solid coverage skills, intercepting a pass and taking it back 35 yards for the score.
Air Force Falcons
WR Cade Harris
While the Air Force’s offensive playmakers don’t traditionally include many members of the wide receiver core, that is not the case for the 2024 team. Despite Air Force not capturing a touchdown pass through the air in their first two weeks, senior wideout Cade Harris has found the end zone three times in two games in the rushing attack. The 5-foot-8 shifty pass catcher will be someone to watch when the Falcons head to Waco.
LB Grant Uyl
Defensively for the Air Force, the player to keep an eye on is senior linebacker Grant Uyl. The Michigan native has been all over the field for the Falcons in 2024, and he will need to follow it up with a similar performance in Week 3 against the Bears. This season, Uyl leads his team with 13 total tackles and has both a forced fumble and fumble recovery on his resume.
KEY STORYLINES
Baylor Bears
How will Baylor respond to adversity? While not many individuals picked Baylor to be a top-half team in the Big 12 Conference, momentum can work wonders for college football teams. As Baylor gets set to wind down its non-conference schedule, heading into Big 12 play with a 2-1 record instead of 1-2 is crucial to swing the tides in the Bears’ favor. With Aranda’s squad listed as 15-point favorites, they should have a great chance to do just that.
Air Force Falcons
Will this be the game in which the passing attack works? This is not to say that the Air Force will throw the ball 30 times for 300 yards or anything crazy like that, but traditionally speaking, Dave Aranda-led teams have consistently clamped down opposing rushing attacks in years past but have been very vulnerable through the air. Air Force, similar to other military schools, likes to run the football A LOT. Will they be able to make a few plays in the passing attack to open up some running lanes against the Bears?
PREDICTION: Baylor 34, Air Force 10
The 2022 game between these two teams will be night and day different from what Saturday’s matchup projects to be. Dequan Finn returns with something to prove, and the combination of himself and running back duo Dawson Pendergrass and Richard Reese will do just that. Baylor cruises to Week 4 with a comfortable win over a hard-nosed opponent.
