Last Updated on November 23, 2009 9:34 pm by drew
Illinois-Cincinnati
Cincinnati,
The senior will make his first start since Oct. 15 on Friday as
Oddsmakers from online sports book SBGGLOBAL.com have made
With Pike recovering for several weeks after reinjuring his previously broken non-throwing forearm in last month’s win over South Florida, backup Zach Collaros helped
Collaros threw for 1,233 yards, eight touchdowns and one interception in his four starts, also rushing for 193 yards and prompting Bearcats coach Brian Kelly to waffle at times about whether he’d taken over the starting job.
But Kelly announced Monday that the strong-armed Pike will start on Senior Day, barring a setback.
"It’s going to be Tony Pike, unless something happens during practice unexpected," Kelly said. "The six weeks since the injury has allowed the bone to heal properly to the point that we’ve minimized the risk of putting him out there. He’s excited by the chance to play on Friday."
While Collaros started on Nov. 13 against
Pike was a Heisman Trophy candidate before the injury, throwing for 1,633 yards and 15 touchdowns with just three interceptions in six games, although it remains to be seen how comfortable Pike will be after a dislodged plate in his arm was replaced.
"Obviously he understands the game’s not played in a vacuum," Kelly said. "It’s not flag football. He’s going to get hit.
"I’m sure he’s going to have some moments on Friday where he goes, ‘Oh, OK, here it comes,’ and he’s got to take care of himself."
Both quarterbacks have looked comfortable at the helm of
The Bearcats are also among the top 10 in passing offense, but they showed a new dimension against
"I haven’t seen 18 carries since my last game in high school," Pead said. "I never thought with Collaros and Pike that I’d get the ball that many times."
That could make preparations even tougher for the Fighting Illini, whose defense has struggled in both areas.
"Teams are overplaying the pass, doubling up the receivers, so you have to be able to run the football," said Kelly, who has been rumored to be a top candidate to take over at Notre Dame if Fighting Irish coach Charlie Weis is fired.
Friday’s game won’t affect
But the Bearcats must win if they want to retain any lingering hopes of reaching the BCS title game. They’ll likely need help to achieve that goal, with four other unbeaten teams ahead of them in the BCS rankings.
They’ll be heavy favorites against an
Senior quarterback Juice Williams is expected to start for
Williams, who threw for 3,173 yards and 22 touchdowns in 2008, has struggled this season, totaling just 1,139 passing yards and six scores, but Illini coach Ron Zook said he’ll be under center to finish his college career against
"I think we owe it to these seniors to do everything we need to do to win these next two games. Obviously we’re going to play the guys that we feel give us the best opportunity to win," Zook said. "If Juice can go, Juice is going to go."
The coach’s bigger concern could be with a defense that ranks 89th nationally, allowing 400.3 total yards per game.
While
"They have the opportunity to play a football team and once again, still make a name for themselves," Zook said. "See if we can be what we thought we could be."
Posted: 11/23/09 9:34PM ET