Preview: Illinois vs Missouri - August 30, 2008
By Mike Wynn Sports
After the great success of both these teams last season this game Saturday becomes very important to both ball clubs. Illinois and Missouri both ranked in the polls to start the season and both teams are expecting big things this season. Missouri is hoping to compete for a national championship and this team should have some attitude after being shunned for a BCS bowl bid last season. Illinois hopes to compete for a Big 10 title this season and follow up on last year’s successes. So let’s take a look at this match up Saturday and we’ll start with the Fighting Illini of Illinois.
Hopes are high in Champaign for the Illini this season and why not. Illinois returns 13 starters from last years 9-4 squad (6-2 in the Big10) and head coach Ron Zook has done a great job of recruiting since coming to Illinois. Yes Illinois does lose a horse in the backfield in Rasdhard Mendenhall and he’ll be hard to replace, but they do have a couple of decent backs in Dufrene and Pollard that can get it done. QB Juice Williams is back for his third season at the helm of the offense and he has an outstanding target to throw to in 6-2 sophomore Arrelious Benn. Benn a threat to score whenever he touches the ball will anchor a receiving unit that has some depth. Defensively the Illini look to improve and they should be a better unit than the one that gave up 40 points to Missouri in the opener last season. Ron Zook has a lot of young talent on this team and they should get better as the season moves on.
Missouri Tigers also have lofty goals this season and they’ll look to get a BCS bid and a possible shot at a national title game. QB Chase Daniels is back and he has plenty of weapons at his disposal including WR Jeremy Maclin and TE Chase Coffman who combined for 132 catches and 16 touchdowns last season. Missouri does lose a good running back in Tony Temple and he’ll have to be replaced, but Missouri has enough talent on offense that they’ll be just fine. Defensively the Tigers have 10 starters back including all the major pieces and this team should be a very good stop unit this season. Missouri should win the Big12 North this season and the schedule is favorable for national title run.
As far as the game goes this Saturday, Missouri holds a 14-7 edge in the all time series and they’ve won the last 4 meetings. Last year Missouri held a 37-13 lead mid way through the 3rd quarter before Illinois come storming back, falling just short in the 40-34 loss. Last years game was the highest scoring game ever in this series, but I expect a lower scoring game this Saturday. Missouri defense is going to be very good this season and I think they’ll give Illinois all they can handle here, and I also expect the Illinois defense to be better this season. Missouri the only team in the country to score 30 or more points in every game last season, and Ron Zook will use this game as a measuring stick for the defense. 60 a lot of points in college football and we’ll look for the defenses to get the better of this rivalry Saturday.
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