What will happen between the Illinois-Missouri football matchups?
The consensus among the oddsmakers is that Illinois should beat Missouri and avenge the losses of the past two years at the hands of Chase Daniel, Chase Coffman and Jeremy Maclin because, well, Daniel, Coffman, and Maclin are gone. The Fighting Illini return quarterback Juice Williams, a bevy of talented receivers and every expectation of kicking off a return to (relative) glory with a victory over the Tigers. But, when your team is coached by Ron Zook, it is never quite so simple. Although Missouri lost an incredible amount of offense to the NFL, it’s worth noting that Gary Pinkel’s spread offense has mutated to accomodate not only Chase Daniel’s skills, but also Brad Smith’s before him. Mizzou’s new triggerman will be the highly touted 6′ 5″ Blaine Gabbert, the top “pro style” quarterback recruit in the class of 2008, about whom the only thing we know for certain is that, in a pinch, his arm could be used to launch household objects into interstellar orbit. Pinkel’s Tigers have score
Without failure since 2000, Illinois has always figured out a way to win or Missouri has figured out a way to lose in that edgy basketball rivalry. And while that has sent Missouri fans home for the holidays in a funk, just the opposite has happened in four recent Illinois-Missouri football matchups. In 2002 and 2003, then again in 2007 and 2008, Missouri has held the upper hand on the football field, sending Illini players, coaches and fans home frazzled and frustrated. llinois also has to be concerned about Missouri tailback Derrick Washington, who rushed for 1,036 yards and 17 touchdowns last season, including 130 yards and two touchdowns against the Illini. Sources: http://www.herald-review.com/articles/2009/09/06/sports/illini/1043621.
