The insideSTL.com August 2009 Girl Next Door

Tonight at Flannery's on Washington Avenue we'll crown the August 2009 Girl Next Door. You can still vote for your favorite lady by CLICKING HERE. Here's a look at the five Girls Next Door from August to refresh your memory before voting online and attending the fun and games tonight.

Christina Brown

Angela P

Rachel Malawy

Laura Pierce

Kristal-Marie

The insideSTL.com Tailgate Party At Wave Taco

We'll be setting up shop at Wave Taco tomorrow starting at 10 a.m. for the insideSTL.com Tailgate Party leading into the Missouri-Illinois game.

You can park, eat, drink, and walk a couple of blocks to the Edward Jones Dome for ridiculously low prices...and let Wave Taco take care of all the tailgating requirements.

Wave Taco, located at 1335 Convention Plaza, has one of the most prime locations for...and when you include the parking deal, the all-you-can drink deal, and the food deal, it's ideal for your fun and games Saturday leading up to the 2:40 kickoff. Here are the details of The insideSTL.com Tailgate Party Saturday at Wave Taco:

- $15 to park if you mention insideSTL.com. You can email Wave Taco to reserve your space at info@wave-taco.com

- $20 all-you-can-drink from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Yes...$20 all-you-can-drink for four hours leading up to the game.

- $2 tacos...and those Wave Tacos are damn good. Ask those who have come by for one of our volleyball tournaments this year.

- The Miller/RFT Street Team will be coming by at 11 a.m. to allow the fine football fans who are in attendance to sample the products.

Missouri vs. Illinois

Next to Cardinal baseball, I'm not sure anything excites me more than Missouri football. With that said, I'm completely in the dark as to what to expect from the Tigers this year, and, in turn, I'm unsure of what to expect tomorrow at The Dome.

When you look at Missouri's schedule, there's a legitimate chance they're 2-2 at the end of September. At the same time, I could see them being 4-0. The truth is that I have no idea.

They are a touchdown underdog to the Illini, and after dealing Bowling Green and something called Furman, they have to play Nevada in Reno on September 25th. That will not be easy.

After that song and dance, they get a week off, and then get a Thursday night home game versus Nebraska, a road game at Top 10 Oklahoma State, and a homecoming match-up with #2 Texas.

In other words, 2-5 isn't out of the question. On the other side of things, I feel like 5-2 is possible.

So strange---yet kind of enjoyable---to have no idea what to expect with the season about to start.

I know these things, however:

- From people I respect who cover the team, Blaine Gabbert has impressed so far. I know Coach Gary Pinkel is trying to take the focus off of him with his comments this week, but the reality is we'll get an idea---not the whole story...but an idea---of what to expect from Gabbert's three years as quarterback tomorrow afternoon against Illinois. In the early going, arm strength and leadership have caught the attention of folks in Columbia.

- Sean Weatherspoon will make watching the Missouri defense---at least in his spot on the field---something to look forward to...as opposed to dreading like last year.

- Even after the dangerous stretch of at Nevada, vs. Nebraska, at OSU, and vs. Texas, the Tigers still have to go to Colorado and K-State...and deal with KU at Arrowhead. All are winnable. All, also, are loseable.

- Season prediction: I've got Missouri going 7-5 in the regular season. 8-4 would be quite an accomplishment.

Log-in to post your comments, or you can email me at tmckernan@insidestl.com.