Juice on cusp of milestone as Illini prep for Missouri

Illinois (0-0) vs. Missouri (0-0)

When: 2:40 p.m. at Edward Jones Dome in St. Louis

TV: ESPN; Radio: WIND 560-AM

Series: Missouri leads 15-7

Coaches: Ron Zook (23-36, fifth year at Illinois; 46-50 overall); Gary Pinkel (59-41, ninth year at Missouri; 132-78-3 overall)

Players to watch: Illinois QB Juice Williams makes his 35th consecutive start and needs just 326 total yards to overtake Schaumburg's Kurt Kittner as the school's all-time leader in total offense. Considering he threw for 451 yards and 5 TDs against Mizzou last year, that's a good bet. Explosive WR Arrelious Benn (67 catches, 1,055 yards) also will return kicks this year, and senior Daniel Dufrene and sophomore Jason Ford lead a quartet of running backs.

Missouri senior WLB Sean Weatherspoon (the guy who Tweeted that he's going to squeeze the pulp out of Juice) was the nation's No. 5 tackler last year with 155 stops, but the Illini remember him for his pair of interceptions in last year's opener. TB Derrick Washington (1,078 yards, 17 TDs) had the second-best game of his career last year vs. the Illini (130 yards, 2 TDs). QB Blaine Gabbert has just 13 career throws on his resume, but the 6-foot-5, 240-pound true sophomore was a highly prized recruit.

The skinny: The Illini and the Tigers open the season in St. Louis for the fifth time in eight years. Illinois awaits its first win after losing the first four by an average score of 37-28. This one figures to be another point-a-minute showcase as the Illini retain eight offensive starters and the Tigers bring back seven while both are rebuilding on defense.