Texas Bowl predictions: Can Vanderbilt football beat Baylor in Kyle Shurmur's final game?
Adam Sparks
Vanderbilt will feel like a visiting team in the Texas Bowl on Thursday, but that doesn't make it an underdog.
The Commodores are a mild favorite against Baylor, located less than 200 miles from the site of the game at Houston's NRG Stadium. It looks like a fairly even matchup, as 6-6 teams will face off.
Here are our predictions for the Texas Bowl:
Dave Ammenheuser, sports director
Vanderbilt 28, Baylor 24: Kyle Shurmur’s final game as a Commodore is a memorable one as Vanderbilt wins its first bowl game in the Derek Mason era.
Joe Rexrode, columnist
Vanderbilt 31, Baylor 28: The Bears can score it and can’t stop people very well, on brand with the Big 12. With Jalen Hurd hurt and out, Baylor is missing a key weapon. Vanderbilt scores its first bowl win under Derek Mason behind a big night from outgoing senior Kyle Shurmur.
Nicole Saavedra, sports planner
Vanderbilt 35, Baylor 31: Vanderbilt had an up-and-down season but will end the year on a high note with a bowl win in Kyle Shurmur’s finale.
Adam Sparks, Vanderbilt beat reporter
Vanderbilt 35, Baylor 27: The Commodores have a better offense this season than what they brought to the 2016 Independence Bowl, a 41-17 loss to North Carolina State. Vanderbilt averaged 37 points in its final four games. There's good reason to believe Kyle Shurmur, Ke'Shawn Vaughn, Jared Pinkney, Kalija Lipscomb and company will be able to score on Baylor, as well. The Commodores will overcome a mostly road environment, make good in-game defensive adjustments and get a big win.
BOWL HISTORY:Vanderbilt's nine bowl teams from 1955 Gator to 2018 Texas
FAMILY FOCUS:Ke'Shawn Vaughn counts on mom from nearly quitting football to NFL Draft decision
HOW TO WATCH:Vanderbilt vs. Baylor in Texas Bowl: TV, radio, streaming, odds, game time
NFL DRAFT:Will Vanderbilt's Jared Pinkney, Joejuan Williams, Ke'Shawn Vaughn leave early?
Reach Adam Sparks at [email protected] and on Twitter @AdamSparks.