How does Illinois plan to set tone for season against Mizzou football?
CHAMPAIGN — Missouri coach Gary Pinkel said this week he prefers to turn the page on seasons gone by. Illinois coach Ron Zook said his team isn’t forgetting so easily. “Obviously Missouri is a very good football team, a very well coached football team, and a team we haven’t beaten yet,” Zook said. “I think our football team has used … the game with Missouri as a motivation for us, not only in the off-season but in camp as well.” Conjuring up bleak memories of the last two season’s openers remind the Illini of Missouri’s 40-34 victory in 2007 and a 52-42 triumph last year. This season the Illini hope a different start on Saturday in St. Louis against the Tigers leads to a different finish than last season’s disappointing 5-7 campaign. “It’s the first opportunity to get back out there and show the world what we’re really made of,” tight end Michael Hoomanawanui said. They have reason to think their composition is solid. Illinois returns eight starters on offense. A few are on the brin
Illinois and Missouri open up the season in their annual border war in NCAA football odds on Saturday in a game that can be seen on ESPN television at 3:30pm EST. The game is played at the Edward Jones Dome in St. Louis which is a neutral site. If it is anything like last year’s game there could be a lot of points scored. Illinois is a 6.5-point favorite in NCAA football odds with a betting total of 60.5 at online sportsbooks. Last year it was Missouri winning a shootout 52-42. The Tigers will have a hard time matching that result in betting odds as they don’t have a lot of starters returning. The Illini returns quarterback Juice Williams and they may have the edge in this college football match-up but Missouri has won 15 of the 22 all-time meetings against the Illini in college football odds including all four previous meetings at the Edward Jones Dome.
