Baylor is huge early favorite to stampede the Ponies in opener

A runaway. A stampede. Call it whatever you like, but the Baylor Bears are expected to have no problem blowing by the SMU Mustangs in Dallas.

You don't have to be an oddsmaker to make that pick, but that certainly is how oddsmaker 5dimes.eu feels about the Big 12 co-champion Bears' chances on Sept. 4 when they open the highly anticipated 2015 season on the road. Point spreads are out and they've got Baylor as a 35 1/2-point favorite in a nationally televised game on ESPN.

The Bears are likely to be ranked in the top 3 in the preseason polls, while SMU is coming off one of the worst seasons in school history and is breaking in a new head coach in Chad Morris.

As for the other Big 12 co-champs, the TCU Horned Frogs, who could be a top-3 team when the preseason polls are released, are a 19 1/2-point favorite for their Sept. 3 opener at Minnesota, another game that will be televised nationally on ESPN. 

The Texas Longhorns also open on the road in South Bend to face the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame. Charlie Strong's crew is an early 12 1/2-point underdog. Texas and Notre Dame meet in primetime on NBC on Sept. 5.

(h/t San Antonio Express-News)

Photo Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports