Illinois Missouri Predictions
Perhaps the best matchup of the week 1 college football odds is the Illinois-Missouri Big Ten vs. Big 12 showdown in St. Louis. Following a 9-4 season, the Fighting Illini carries a national ranking of 20th into this contest and the Missouri Tigers come in with a national ranking of 6th following a dazzling 12-2 season. The game goes off Saturday, August 30th at 8:30 EST on ESPN for all to see. Jimmy Boyd’s Illinois/Missouri college football betting preview will help you better handicap the contest. The betting line on the game has Missouri as the -8.5-point favorite at Justbet Sportsbook.
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After enjoying one of its best season’s in school history, Mizzou has set its sights even higher in 2008. Illinois, meanwhile, was one of the biggest surprises last year. Missouri won 12 games and sent Heisman Trophy finalist Chase Daniel to New York. The Illini beat Big Ten champion Ohio State and landed itself a place in the Rose Bowl. Following a BCS snub, Mizzou does not want to start its season out with a loss.
The Tigers’ only two losses in 2007 were to Big 12 champion Oklahoma. The Tigers ended up with a No. 4 ranking in the final AP poll following a dazzling 38-7 rout of the Darren McFadden led Arkansas Razorbacks in the Cotton Bowl. With Chase Daniel back and one of the favorites to get back to New York, Mizzou is ready to exact revenge on the Sooners and to get rid of that BCS snub. The Tigers are the heavy favorites to win the Big 12 North division and start the season with their highest ranking in school history. You can bet the Tigers at -8.5 to win at The Pig Sportsbook.
In case you have forgotten, these two teams met in last year’s season opener and gave us a thriller which saw Missouri eventually win 40-34. The Illini fought back from 24 points down and nearly pulled off the upset. Missouri needed an interception on the 1-yard-line with under a minute remaining to secure victory.
Daniel was able to pick the Illini apart, throwing for 359 yards and three touchdowns on 37-of-54 passing as Mizzou’s no-huddle attack seemed to give Illinois problems early.
Like Missouri, Illinois is also trying not to take a step backwards. The Illini won only eight games from 2003-06, but things seemed to click in head coach Ron Zook’s third season. While the campaign ended on a sour note with a 49-17 spanking at the hand of USC in the Rose Bowl, Illinois went 9-4 and was one of only two teams which could say it beat Ohio State last season.
Illinois is picked to finish third in the Big Ten and, with an improved QB Juice Williams under center along with one of the better defensive fronts in the country, is hoping to make its second straight appearance in a BCS bowl.
Williams had evolved into more of a pocket-passer, like we saw in his stellar performance against the Buckeyes last year. But his threat to run is what still makes this offense tough to read. Williams finished with 755 rushing yards a season ago. You can bet the Illini to win at +9 at Bookmaker Sportsbook.
All signs point to another thriller in this year’s season opener.
Predicted Score:
Illinois 25
Missouri 34
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