MORGANTOWN - For the past couple of weeks, I've voted Baylor No. 1 in the Associated Press poll balloting.
For one reason.
The Bears look like the No. 1 team.
OK, I can guess what you're thinking: They haven't played anyone of worth. And, for the most part, you'd be correct. Just remember to take into account BU destroyed Texas Tech by 63-35. And take into account the Red Raiders lost by just three to No. 3 TCU, defeated Arkansas and crushed Iowa State.
Also, look at Baylor's offense. WVU's Dana Holgorsen has. Mountaineer defenders Jared Barber and Terrell Chestnut have. And all know the challenge ahead this Saturday at noon ET in Waco, Texas.
The Bears have averaged 41.2 points and 407.4 yards - in the first halves of their games.
They lead the nation with .8 points PER PLAY.
They are the nation's only team with a top-five running back (Shock Linwood) and top-five receiver (Corey Coleman).
One could go on and on about coach Art Briles' product. Baylor is No. 1 in total offense, averaging 725 yards, and is No. 2 in rushing, averaging 357.6 ground yards. Quarterback Seth Russell is the nation's leader in passing efficiency and threw for 246 yards against Kansas - in two quarters of work.
Perhaps what's most impressive, however, is the way the Bears look. These guys pass the eye test like Jessica Alba on the red carpet. There's a big, talented offensive line with 6-foot-7, 410-pound LaQuan McGowan COMING OFF THE BENCH. There are receivers any program would drool to have on the roster. There's Russell. And BU's offense is effective with, well, an Artful simplicity.
"It's not overly complicated," Holgorsen said Tuesday. "You know how [Baylor is] going to line up. Obviously, they have a few new wrinkles. But they are going to run it right at you and say stop it. They are going to do it very fast - I mean incredibly fast. Their up-tempo [scheme] is as fast as anybody. They're going to run the quarterback at times and, when they have matchups, they are going to try to exploit you. No one does it better than them."
"They've had a really good offense for the past couple of years," Barber, WVU's middle linebacker, said. "I mean, really fast tempo, big up front, good quarterback, good running back. They do a lot of things. Overall, really good offense."
Barber pointed to that running game. Linwood is No. 5 nationally, averaging 143.8 yards a game.
"I think their tempo really helps with that," said the linebacker. "They get people off guard by lining up so fast. Shock Linwood is a really good running back as well. I think their left tackle [Spencer Drango] was a preseason All-American. With those guys up front and him running the ball, they do a pretty good job."
Linwood, a 5-9, 200-pound junior, leads the way, but BU also boasts runners Terence Williams and Johnny Jefferson, both of whom average over 70 yards a game.
"Linwood is a tough little runner," Barber said. "He's not very big, but he runs hard and has good speed, laterally and vertically. You just have to contain him, get him to the ground and be physical with him."
Coleman, a 5-11, 190-pound junior wideout, is even more of a threat. He's leading the nation after five games with - get this - 13 touchdowns.
"Corey Coleman is one of the best receivers in the country," Chestnut, one of WVU's starting cornerbacks, said. "He's fast. He's physical. He runs great routes. He has great ball skills. He understands their scheme on offense. They have a lot of confidence in him right now. Everyone feeds off his energy. He's carrying their team right now."
Surprising that Coleman has 13 touchdowns already?
"No," Chestnut said flatly. "He's that good of a player."
Oh, and if that's not enough of a challenge, Baylor has KD Cannon. Both Coleman and Cannon were on the preseason Biletnikoff Award watch list.
"KD is fast," Chestnut said. "He's a speedster. He's more of a slot guy, but he creates a lot of havoc. He presents a lot of mismatches for a lot of teams. We just have to play our game."
Baylor's offense, though, forces the opposition to play their games differently. The Bears' wide receivers split out very wide.
"It puts us [corners] more on an island and poses more of a threat for their running game because they have more room to run," Chestnut said. "We have to understand what kind of routes they like to run and just work on technique."
It's a heck of a challenge for WVU, although the Mountaineers upset then-No. 4 BU in Morgantown last year 41-27.
"I'm sure some people are afraid of it, but I look at it as a challenge," Barber said. "I'm excited for it. I didn't get to play last year and we got the big win. I'm definitely excited about being out there this year."
"They're hitting on all cylinders," Chestnut said of Baylor. "They have confidence in their quarterback. They have a good running back. It's going to be fun though. It's going to be exciting. I can't wait to get out there and play."