Air Force vs Baylor Picks and Prediction – 9/14/2024

The Air Force Falcons (1-1) face off against the Baylor Bears (1-1) this Saturday, September 14, at 5:30 PM CST at McLane Stadium. Air Force is coming off a tough 17-7 loss to San Jose State, while Baylor fell to Utah 23-12 in the last game. Both teams will be eager to bounce back after disappointing results. Dominate the college scene with our College Football picks.

Air Force’s offense has shown some promise, but it lacks explosiveness. Quarterback John Busha has struggled, throwing for only 125 yards across two games with no touchdowns and two interceptions. The Falcons' rushing attack, typically a strength, has been underwhelming as well. Owen Allen leads the team with 75 rushing yards, but his 3.8 yards per carry haven’t been enough to move the chains consistently. The passing game has also been ineffective, with Quin Smith only managing 48 receiving yards on four catches.

Defensively, Air Force has been solid, allowing just 13 points per game over the first two contests. The ability to stifle the run will be critical against Baylor. However, they must improve the ability to force turnovers and get off the field on third downs, as San Jose State dominated time of possession in the last game. They’ll need better all-around defensive performances if they want to slow down Baylor's offense.

Baylor’s offense showed flashes of strength in the first two games, but they’ve yet to put together a complete performance. Quarterback Dequan Finn has been effective, throwing for 307 yards and three touchdowns, but his two interceptions against Utah proved costly. On the ground, Dawson Pendergrass has been a bright spot, averaging 5.0 yards per carry on 26 attempts. Josh Cameron leads the receiving corps with 73 yards and a touchdown, but Baylor will need more from its other pass catchers to establish a balanced attack.

Defensively, Baylor has been stout, particularly against the run. They held Utah to just 23 points in the last game, despite being on the field for long stretches. The Bears’ secondary will need to tighten up after giving up big plays against Utah. If they can limit Air Force’s ground attack and force Busha into uncomfortable passing situations, Baylor should control the tempo.

Air Force's offense hasn’t shown enough to keep up with Baylor’s balanced attack. Expect Baylor’s defense to clamp down on Air Force’s run game and force them into tough passing situations. With the Bears playing at home, they should take control of this game. Final Score Prediction: Baylor wins but does not cover 24-13.