The Oklahoma State Cowboys face the Baylor Bears in the 2021 Big 12 Championship Game at AT&T Stadium in Arlington. Oklahoma State enters as 5.5-point favorites with an over/under of 46.5 points.

Baylor (10-2) has engineered a remarkable turnaround under head coach Dave Aranda, improving from 2-7 last season to compete for their first outright Big 12 title since 2014. The Bears have relied on a strong defense allowing just 19.7 points per game and an opportunistic unit that forced 20 turnovers this season.

Oklahoma State (11-1) brings an elite defense allowing only 16.4 points per game, with just one opponent scoring more than 24 points all season. The Cowboys' offense has been inconsistent, led by dual-threat quarterback Spencer Sanders and 1,000+ yard rusher Jaylen Warren. Sanders has completed 60% of his passes but remains turnover-prone.

Key Factors:

• Baylor QB Gerry Bohanon's availability (missed last game with injury)
• Freshman QB Blake Shapen may start for Bears if Bohanon can't play
• Both teams feature top-10 scoring defenses
• Oklahoma State seeking first conference title since 2011
• Cowboys have College Football Playoff hopes with a win

The quarterback situation for both teams adds uncertainty to this defensive battle, with QB play likely being the decisive factor in determining the Big 12 champion.

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