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Posted at 10:00 AM EST

12:00 PM EST. Both these teams have improved substantially since a catastrophic season opener, but only Texas has something to show for it. The Longhorns mostly received their makeover in the offseason and by the end of camp, they were already a much better team than the 2016 edition. The opening weekend Maryland loss was not representative of where the team really was. Baylor truly was what it was in its opening loss to Liberty, and the Bears' progress has been more gradual, though no less real. Now the improving Bears meet the team that started the current 13-game regular season downswing. Baylor entered last year's tilt unbeaten and as a small road favorite over a Texas squad that had lost four of its past five and squandered the promise of the opening win over Notre Dame. It was an odd game, and Baylor didn't get the breaks in a 35-34 loss. This year's Bears may be winless, but they've been competitive. The most recent step was a furious 23-point fourth-quarter rally against West Virginia on Saturday that fell a two-pointer short of overtime.

The question for the Longhorns is whether they are out of gas right now. Like Utah last week, the ‘Horns are coming off two tough, narrow losses as underdogs against league favorites that essentially knocked the team out of the conference race. The Utes were simply out of gas and couldn't get off the mat as a favorite the following week. For Texas to do so in this morning road game will be especially difficult since winless Baylor is an uninspiring target and TCU is on deck. The Horns' last three were a draining gauntlet: double-overtime versus Kansas State, a big deficit then near-comeback in a physical game versus hated rival Oklahoma, then a third overtime game this year -- a missed upset chance versus the league co-favorite that ended with the most freshman mistake ever from a freshman quarterback who had just seized the job but is now ailing. Does this team have anything left in the tank this week? We'll be trying to find out. There's a lot going on in this matchup, and if it all comes together, it could be something we’re always seeking: a spot where, independent of opponent, one side is ripe to be faded and the other is on the verge of its best game. We’re calling the upset here but must take these sweet points.

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