Baylor Bears coach Art Briles has the team riding a wave of momentum after leading the school to its most successful year in the program's history. Last season's accomplishments-winning the Big 12 and playing in the Fiesta Bowl-have Briles talking about a national title in 2015 and "swinging for the fences" instead of settling for "bunts" and "singles".

The coach spoke confidently about his school during a recent Big 12 media day session, and he believes Baylor is on the verge of another breakout year. The team's confidence probably stems from the fact that it will be returning many of its key players from last year's dominant offense that averaged nearly 53 points per game. Let's take a closer look at Baylor's odds to win the 2015 college football National Championship with predictions and analysis.

Baylor Odds to Win the 2015 National Championship Story Lines

Bryce Petty, Baylor's junior quarterback, put himself on the map last season by throwing for over 4,000 yards and 32 touchdowns while turning his team into the best scoring offenses in the country. The Bears averaged 52.8 points per game and were a solid ATS squad throughout the year. Petty will be playing with many of his starters from last year, and his three main targets on offense all returned for another shot at a national title.

On defense the Bears will see their two spectacular defensive linemen, Shawn Oakman and Jamal Palmer, return for another season with the team. In 2013 the defense went from last to fourth in the Big 12 and gave up only 23.5 points per game. Of course, each season in college football is it own animal, but Baylor has all the tools to put another great defensive squad on the field every week.

The Bears open up the season hosting SMU and Northwestern State then will play three straight road games against Buffalo, Iowa State and Texas. Baylor, however, will play most of its toughest games at home, where they will host TCU, Kansas, Oklahoma State and then close out the year hosting Kansas State.

Baylor 2015 National Championship Odds and Trends

Baylor is currently receiving +3000 National Championship odds, according to Sportsbook.ag. Petty is also receiving Top 5 Heisman odds and could be a real threat to win the award if Baylor can pull off another season like 2013. The squad, however, would probably need to win the Big 12 for a second consecutive year and end the season with only one loss.

Baylor is also receiving the second-best odds to win the Big 12 at +250, according to BetOnline, and trails only Oklahoma. In 2013 the Bears produced a 9-4 ATS record and were dominant at home with a spectacular 8-1 ATS mark, but they managed to cover only one spread during their four games on the road. The team also went "over" in six of its nine home games.

Baylor Odds to Win the 2015 College Football National Championship Picks and Predictions

Baylor has a real shot at making the four-team playoff and contending for a national title. The team will be in the mix to win a second consecutive Big 12 Championship and should pick up right where last year's team left off. The Bears can be overwhelming with their fast-paced and high-scoring offense.

The best futures wager to make on the team, however, is its win totals, which has been set at 9.5 wins, with the "over" as a -130 favorite. The Big 12 is good, but not great, and another 10- or 11-win season is well within reach for the team. Expect Baylor to be an excellent team this season, and placing any wager on them is sure to have value.

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Read more articles by George Monroy