THE WATERCOOLER

QUESTION: Who wins Saturday’s Arch Rivalry Game between Missouri and Illinois?

VAHE GREGORIAN
Despite losing so many stars and both coordinators, the Tigers have a foundation for success now. But that will be more evident by season’s end than at its start. More-experienced Illini are due for first win over MU in STL since 1896.
Prediction: Illinois 27, Mizzou 21

STU DURANDO
Based on their returning offensive weapons, the Illini should have the advantage against a quarterback making his first collegiate start. But by no means do I discount Blaine Gabbert. I just think it will take him time to get comfortable. Both defenses are re-tooling so there should be plenty of scoring.
Prediction: Illinois 38, Missouri 35

BERNIE MIKLASZ
The Illini have a chance to be a surprise team this season. If they cut down on turnovers, and Juice Williams can be more accurate in connecting with a dazzling array of receivers, this should be one of the best offenses in the nation. The Missouri defense figures to have matchup problems with those Illinois wideouts. The pressure is on Illinois to win this one.
Prediction: Illinois 31, Missouri 23.

TOM TIMMERMANN
If this game was being played in December, I might have a different answer, but at the start of September, I think the Illini has an edge on Mizzou. They have an experienced quarterback, experienced receivers and that was a potent combination against the Tigers last season. Mizzou’s offense isn’t far enough along to throw up the points it did last year, and it remains to be seen if the defense can allow fewer points than it did last year.
Prediction: Illinois 42, Mizzou 35.

DAN O’NEILL
I have one especially compelling reason why I’m picking Missouri to win — because I am a Missouri grad. But honestly, I think Missouri’s defense will be better this season (both hands behind my back with fingers crossed) and Gabbert, still an unknown commodity, will give Illinois fits, mostly because of his running ability. Missouri is getting no attention this preseason and I think Gary Pinkel is poised to produce his finest coaching season.
Prediction: Missouri 27, Illinois 24

RICK HUMMEL
Too much experience for Illini. “Juice” will be on the loose.
Prediction: Illinois 34, Missouri 17.

THE WATERCOOLER

QUESTION: Missouri seemingly lost half of its starting players to the NFL a few weeks ago. With names like Chase Daniel, Jeremy Maclin, Chase Coffman, William Moore, Ziggy Hood and others moving on, what are the chances Mizzou can come even close to repeating its success of the past couple seasons? Has coach Gary Pinkel restocked enough for next year’s team to pick up where last year’s team left off?

VAHE GREGORIAN
Mizzou has established a baseline and has plenty of talent, even if a lot of it is unseasoned. But it’s hard to imagine you can replace the best quarterback in school history, two of the most intimidating offensive players in the nation in Maclin and Coffman and the most accurate kicker in NCAA history (Jeff Wolfert) and not sag. I think the defense actually will be improved, but I’d be amazed if the whole package is immediately as good as the last two seasons. That said, if you looked at the Big 12 schedule today, MU probably would be favored in five or six of its eight games. I actually think they can contend for the North crown but will be somewhere between 7-5 and 9-3.

JEFF GORDON
Getting to the high side of .500 and reaching a minor bowl game would be huge accomplishments, all considering. Is there life after Brad Smith and Chase Daniel? That is the multi-million dollar question. The Tigers will be able to run the ball and catch it, but what about the man at the controls? The sample from last season was much too small to judge.

MIKE SMITH
God bless the Tigers mentioned above, but honestly, didn’t that group basically check out last season after the home loss to Okie State and the stampede at Texas?

This season, Mizzou can diversify its offense with Blaine Gabbert at quarterback and undervalued backs Derrick Washington and De’Vion Moore running behind a decent line. There’s no doubting Gabbert’s physical tools, but these issues/questions remain:

1) He’s almost three years removed from spending an entire fall playing competitive football (Daniel’s understudy in 2008; injured most of 2007.)

2) Who will he throw to besides TE Andrew Jones? After Jared Perry and Danario Alexander — both injured this spring — the roster of wideouts is nondescript.

3) Can he lead his teammates? Blaine Gabbert was all about Blaine Gabbert when he played for Parkway West, but perhaps Pinkel has brow-beaten that attitude out of him by now.

Defensively, the Tigers automatically are better because they’re under new management (Eberflus out, Steckel in). Bottom line: a 4-0 nonconference season followed by a 5-3 Big 12 campaign and another minor bowl trip TBA (I mean, Big 12 favorite sons Nebraska and Kansas have to first decide which bowls they want to attend, THEN Mizzou can be accommodated).

TOM TIMMERMANN
There’s no way Mizzou can be as good next year as last year. They lost too much talent, and while the replacements may someday be as good or better, they won’t be next season. But that doesn’t mean Mizzou can’t win the Big 12 North. The league’s talent remains in the South, and Kansas is the competition to win the division and go back to the conference championship game. So by that standard, that Mizzou has a very good chance of being back in the Big 12 final, they will be picking up where they left off. But they’ll probably get thumped by every South Division team they play.

KATHLEEN NELSON
The Tigers have enough players who contributed last year to make another run at the Big 12 North. The offense will feature a veteran running back, Derrick Washington, a pair of wide receivers with big play experience, Danario Alexander and Jared Perry, and the bulk of the offensive line. The defense probably will rely on NT Jaron Baston and linebackers Sean Weatherspoon and Luke Lambert. Perhaps the relative inexperience of the squad is a plus. Last year’s defense and departed coordinator Matt Eberflus took heaps of criticism. A blank slate could do these guys good.

Given the inexperience on defense and the first year for QB Blaine Gabbert, fans shouldn’t expect much more than a fight for the division, though.

BILL COATS
The solid recruiting that Pinkel and his staff have accomplished in recent yearS is paying off. Mizzou lost a lot, but it returns a lot, too. The Tigers have enough to be in the hunt for another Big 12 North title.