©2011 Galesburg Broadcasting Co.
| Illinois Favored for Change in Missouri Opener |
ST. LOUIS (AP) -- For once, Illinois is bringing all the star power to the neutral-site opener against Missouri this year. For the first time in a long while, it's the Tigers who are untested and unappreciated.
Illini quarterback Juice Williams passed for more than 450 yards and five touchdowns in a losing cause against Missouri last year. He's unquestionably the marquee name heading into Saturday's game -- one of eight returning starters on offense that makes the Illini close to a touchdown favorite to end a four-game losing streak in the series.
The Illini shouldn't be too confident, though. They were only 5-7 last year.
Missouri is starting over, in a sense, coming off a 10-4 record and heading into coach Gary Pinkel's ninth season. Virtually all the headliners are gone from teams that combined for 22 victories, two bowl triumphs and a brief stay at No. 1.
(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.) |
|
Read the latest local sports stories by clicking here
