Mizzou changes to role of underdog vs. Illini

ST. LOUIS -- For a change, it's Illinois bringing all the star power to the neutral-site opener against Missouri. 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, among three stadium yardage records he set. He's unquestionably the marquee name heading into today's so-called Arch Rivalry, 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.

Not too confident, though. Illinois was 5-7 last year, after all.

"We want to see if we've learned the things we needed to learn in the offseason," Illinois coach Ron Zook said. "We have a great challenge in front of us, a team we haven't beaten yet."

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 during the heyday of a high-flying spread offense featuring quarterback Chase Daniel and receiver Jeremy Maclin.

FILE - In this Nov. 8, 2008, file photo Illinois quarterback Juice Williams scrambles during an NCAA college football game against Western Michigan in Detroit. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio, File)

Maclin and defensive tackle Ziggy Hood gave Missouri two first-round NFL draft picks for the first time since 1977, safety William Moore was a second-rounder and tight end Chase Coffman was taken in the third round.

Besides losing their nucleus, the Tigers had to replace both coordinators, an offshoot of all that success. Yet Pinkel is confident he'll field a team that can compete for a third straight Big 12 North title, rather than the third-place finish that's been forecast.

"You think our fans care whether we lost one or two starters or 10 starters?" Pinkel said. "I don't care. We have high expectations and we want to play the best we can. Youth or lack of experience to me is absolutely insignificant."

Daniel's replacement is sophomore Blaine Gabbert, who'll make his first career college start in his hometown. Missouri is likely to use junior tailback Derrick Washington, the top returning skill player on offense, to ease Gabbert's load at least early in the season.

Pinkel downplays the pressure on Gabbert, a former blue chip recruit who got limited playing time last season.

"It's been a fun ride, and now it's time to get down to business," Gabbert said. "It'll be big. I just have to stay calm and relaxed."

The key to the game could be Williams vs. the Missouri defense.

Williams totaled 451 passing yards last year in a 52-42 shootout loss, setting a record for yardage in the St. Louis Rams' home stadium.

Missouri defensive players don't want to be turnstiles this year and linebacker Sean Weatherspoon had a Twitter posting this summer saying he'd "squeeze the pulp" out of Williams.

Zook took the high road, at least publicly.

"If anyone can squeeze the pulp out of Juice, it's him," the coach said. "He is a game-changer. I hope he's wrong, I hope he's not able to."

Illinois receiver Arrelious Benn was a first-team All-Big Ten selection for an offense that topped 5,000 yards for the second straight season, and Florida transfer Jarred Fayson figures to give Williams another top option.

Illinois lost a first-round draft pick on defense, cornerback Vontae Davis, and junior Martez Wilson takes over at middle linebacker.

The neutral-site series will end after next season, with both schools getting an additional home game starting in 2011. In the meantime, they will try to rise to the early test both will be getting.

"It forces your guys to get ready," Zook said. "This is not going to be a warmup, this is going to be all-out and right from the very beginning."