12:00 P.M. ET from Nippert Stadium in Cincinnati, Ohio on ABC

The Illinois Fighting Illini (3-7) vs. The #5 Cincinnati Bearcats (10-0)

Illinois Coach Ron Zook (44-51) vs. Cincinnati Coach Brian Kelly (51-22)

The Fighting Illini QBs #7 Juice Williams SR 6-2 237 and Eddie McGee JR 6-4 211
vs.
Bearcat QBs #12 Zach Collaros JR 6-0 211 and #15 Tony Pike SR 6-6 211

Line: Cincinnati 17 1/2 Illinois

This is the 1st meeting between the Bearcats and the Illini.

Weather Forecast at Kickoff:
Temps in the 40s and Cloudy. West Winds 10-15 mph.

The Bearcats are 1 of 6 undefeated teams in the BCS race.

http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=4686222

Kelly has been trying to turn it into more than a steppingstone job. He has persuaded the university to spend millions of dollars to improve the practice facilities and give better pay to the coaches. The Bearcats won 10 games in his first year and the Big East title in 2008. This year, they've kept themselves in the discussion of national title contenders by getting off to the best start in school history.
Last December, Kelly tried to dampen speculation by saying he was happy in Cincinnati and had no intention of leaving, so long as the school is committed to doing what it takes to turn the program into the nation's best. He expects more interest in his future after the season.
.................

Who has the start at QB ? Pike or Collaros ?
Mardy Gilyard played high school in my area. He was known as a track runner not a WR.

Speedofsand wrote: http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=4686222

Kelly has been trying to turn it into more than a steppingstone job. He has persuaded the university to spend millions of dollars to improve the practice facilities and give better pay to the coaches. The Bearcats won 10 games in his first year and the Big East title in 2008. This year, they've kept themselves in the discussion of national title contenders by getting off to the best start in school history.
Last December, Kelly tried to dampen speculation by saying he was happy in Cincinnati and had no intention of leaving, so long as the school is committed to doing what it takes to turn the program into the nation's best. He expects more interest in his future after the season.
.................

Who has the start at QB ? Pike or Collaros ?
Mardy Gilyard played high school in my area. He was known as a track runner not a WR.

Coach Kelly reporting Tony Pike gets the start.

This shouldn't be much of a game, Illinois is pretty bad.

This one won't be close. The fighting Zooks lose by at least 3 scores.

Speedofsand wrote: http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=4686222

Kelly has been trying to turn it into more than a steppingstone job. He has persuaded the university to spend millions of dollars to improve the practice facilities and give better pay to the coaches. The Bearcats won 10 games in his first year and the Big East title in 2008. This year, they've kept themselves in the discussion of national title contenders by getting off to the best start in school history.
Last December, Kelly tried to dampen speculation by saying he was happy in Cincinnati and had no intention of leaving, so long as the school is committed to doing what it takes to turn the program into the nation's best. He expects more interest in his future after the season.
.................

Who has the start at QB ? Pike or Collaros ?
Mardy Gilyard played high school in my area. He was known as a track runner not a WR.

I'm starting to think that Kelly wants to stay in Cincy to build the program into a annual national power. He would become a legend. Maybe that's worth more to him than money?