Illinois vs Missouri NCAA Football

[Carpet]

#19 Illinois opens up vs # 6 Missouri

This thread is dedicated to this matchup
any and all relevant thoughts or information
is welcome here....

Carpet is on the floor watching these
2 great teams prepare for battle...

Please feel free to post constructive thoughts
on this game as you feel....

The View from the floor an over view of the game
is forthcoming

Carpet

[Bettorsworld]

Well......what comes to mind is, REVENGE! These two hooked up a year ago on opening day and Illinois lost a shoot out 40-34 with "Juice" getting his bell rung and knocked out of the game...........







.

[wizard]

Missouri has all the guns to go to the National Championship game. Illinois will be just a walk in the park.

[dragon1952]

The Tigers have a relatively easy schedule this year. They've only got 4 road games, they don't play Oklahoma (in the regular season anyway), and 2 of their toughest opponents (Kansas and Illinois) are at home. They've been over-hyped the past few years and always find a way to screw it up. I guarantee you they will lose a minimum of 2 of the following match-ups.
vs Illinois
at Nebraska
at Texas
vs Kansas
And if they play Oklahoma in the championship game they will lose that one too.
I really like Illinois plus the 9 pts. This is a team that lost it's 3 regular season games last year by a total of 20 pts, beat Penn St, Wisconsin and Ohio St. and returns 7 starters on both sides of the ball....and has a pro coach.

[Carpet]

Missouri vs Illinois is being played in St Louis
a neutral site for both teams.....

Missouri is looking to beating Oklahoma for their
own personal National Championship and could
be over looking Illinois...

From what I have seen from Missouri early on
in practice is they are struggling vs the starting
Defense.....

QB Daniel ....Superior
WR Maclin.....Superior

THE REST

Offensive Line of the Tigers looks in disaray---
Rotating 3 guys in and out of left tackle, Missouri
Defense killed this line in scrimmage....

Running Back Washington 36 carries in his career
is the big hope for the tigers >>>Defense of Illinois
will be coming after QB Daniel as Washington is not
enough to keep them keyed on him....

Tight End Coffman 3 new screws in his hand and
will not practice till the week of the Illinois game...

Missouri Defense is also nothing to write home about

There is no way this is a cake walk for Missouri,
I expect the line to sharpen up to about 5 points

Good Luck all

Carpet

Next up the floor view of Illinois vs Missouri

[Carpet]

Missouri a 9.5 chalk no way that stands...

I am suprised at that , the book must be hopeing
that the bettors are remembering the cotton bowl
vs Arkansas....

Expect the line to drop when the real money comes in

Carpet

[ScottF]

Interesting points carpet, I still am leaning towards Mizzou in this one though 9.5 is getting a tad steep. I really think Mizzou is significantly better than illinois and don't see this being that close a game.

[Carpet]

ILLINOIS + 8.5 vs Missouri

Illinois # 19 vs Missouri # 6

Saturday August 30, 7:30 cst National Tv

Edward Jones Dome, St Louis Missouri

What a great way to kick of the season..

A LOOK AT MISSOURI

OFFENSE is Superior with Daniels at QB
and Maclin at WR these 2 tore it up last year.

In practice I wasnt overly impressed with
the protection Daniels was receiving from
the Offensive Line. The Run Game for Missouri
is also suspect and will not be anything to key on
for Illinois Defense.

Daniels will throw little short passes over the
middle to the tight end all night, it will feel like
a lifetime for Illinois Defense on the field.

Missouri DEFENSE

The Tigers return 10 of 11 starters from last years
cotton bowl team....And they are Fast

This Defense will be all over the field, they will show
8 on the line and back up and drop 9 and with
the speed they have it works. It is a confusing
Defense to adjust to.

A LOOK AT ILLINOIS

Last year the Illini played the first game
vs Missouri and had the look of a dear in Head lights

This year is opposite, This Illinois squad is looking
very very good and focused.

OFFENSE

QB Juice Williams leads the way with both
a running and throwing threat at 235 lbs
this kid can play. Juice has shown a great deal
of maturity this season and it translates into
leadership.

The big question is>>Has Illinois Offensive passing
game developed enough? Juice passed for nearly
400 yards vs USC.

Now equipped with the best fleet of Wide
Recievers in Illinois History, combined with
a Big Offensive Line they are gonna be dangerous...

The Tight End and Receivers are vastly improved
and vs Missouri it will translate onto the field

DEFENSE

This Defense is STACKED, replacing Leman
at LB with a 3 year starter, who is faster and
more athletic Miller....

Martiz Wilson outside LB is the best I have
seen in a long time, catch the ball and he
drives you a foot into the dirt, and lighting fast.

This Illinois Defense is being compared to
the Illinois Defense they had in the early 90's
with Simeon Rice and Hardy.

Illinois speed and talent up front is gonna cause problems
for Mizzou I see this a potential problem for Missouri

A TACK ON THE FLOOR

Illinois is 9-1 ATS on turf, so is Missouri

Illinois is 7-3 ATS last 10 on the road

FINAL OVER VIEW

Turn Overs will play a huge factor in this game
Last year Illinois had 5 turn overs.

This is gonna be a great game and I would
not be suprised if the Illini win this one.

Carpet is laying with Illinois on this game and
the points 8.5

I have done a great deal of research and study
on this game, just wanted to let you know this
is not a Homer call, it is just my candid overview

Good Luck to all

Semper Fi

Carpet

[woodee12]

Lots of 9's out there now...Do you think it will go higher before gametime? Lots of Mizzou hype out there to ush it up!

Good stuff as always!!

[Carpet]

Woodie

I think there is also alot of Money on Missouri
with all the talk of them possibly being a number
one team.

This is Hype and the type that will inflate a line

So I dont expect it to rise or fall, lets see where the smart money plays then maybe a slight line move

Carpet

[Carpet]

Illinois announces today that Frosh Matt Eller
will be the kicker vs Missouri.....

"You get to pick one" Zook said...

"There is a little inconsistency problem
which you expect from a young guy" Zook again

This area of Illinois game is it's glaring possible
weak point.

Missouri also is at the same level as Illinois'
in this area , and the tigers kicking game is
a Huge Question Mark.

Carpet suspects that this will come into play
for both teams in this game..

Carpet

[Carpet]

A Final Thought

Two really good teams come to play tommorrow
night, and I do mean 2 really good teams.

I have looked at this game inside and out, from Top
to Floor view (Carpets view)

And I just dont see a blow out by Missouri..

Carpet thinks that this is the toughest first
game of the season you could ask for any why not
for both teams....

I think both teams are gonna be suprised at
the speed OF THIS FIRST GAME.....

Predict at least 5 turn overs this game combined

This will not be a blow out by either team

Good Luck all

Carpet

[Carpet]

52-42 missouri

Not a walk in the park as most predicted, an easy
back door cover that failed for Illinois

A great game Illinois Defense was cut to
pieces, the big factor was missed tackels
by Illinois D.

Special teams also as pointed out was suspect
and it showed.

Missouri is very one Way figure out how to stop 60 passes a game and you have
a chance.

While Illinois Defense got chewed up by the tigers
, So did the Missouri Defense.

As Juice threw for 5 touchdowns and 460 yards
(thats impressive)

Missed the cover but I am very impressed with what
I see from a team that is a talented mystery...iLLINI

Kudos to Missouri they are lights OUT on offense

Is Missouri a Top 5 team (at present time YES)

Is Illinois a Top 20 team Yes

Great game all

Carpet

[Carpet]

Whats next for Illinois Football

Illinois plays Eastern Illinois next week and
I cant imagine a line for this game...

Louisana Lafayette another No line game

SEPTEMBER 27 write it down Illinois heads
to Penn State.......

OCTOBER 4 write it down Illinois heads
to Michigan

And the Ohio State Buckeyes are at Illinois this year

Stay aboard some good football comeing

Carpet