Wisconsin football looks to keep Big Ten West title hopes alive vs. Purdue

The Purdue Boilermakers travel to Camp Randall to take on Wisconsin football in Big Ten West action. Here’s a preview, prediction and live stream.

Both the Boilermakers and Badgers could have Charles Dickens write the open to both their seasons’ stories. Whether in West Lafayette or Madison, it has truly been the best of times and the worst of times.

The Boilermakers came into this season with such promise. They got their doors blown off by the Auburn Tigers in the Music City Bowl last postseason, but the Boilermakers had no business making a bowl. They were coming into this season with Elijah Sindelar and Rondale Moore offensively and second-year coach Jeff Brohm raved about his first batch of recruits.

Then the injuries happened.

Both Sindelar and Moore are lost for the season. Purdue comes into this game starting a walk-on quarterback and nine players that either start or contribute out for this game. Purdue needs to pull the upset of all upsets to keep their ever waning bowl hopes alive.

Wisconsin started this season a house of fire. The Badgers won their first six games. Sure, some questioned the quality of their wins, but the way they beat up on everyone — save Northwestern and Michigan State — opened plenty of eyes.

Then the Badgers went to Champaign, and the kick heard ’round the world happened.

Then they went to Columbus and Ohio State showed why they are the most complete team in the country. Now they sit with two losses having to win out and hoping Minnesota loses one more game in order to have a shot at the Big Ten title game and one more crack at the Buckeyes possibly.

Here’s more information about the game:

Date: Saturday, Nov., 23
Time: 4 p.m. ET
Location: Madison, Wisc.
Venue: Camp Randall Stadium
TV: FOX
Live Stream: FOX Sports Go

Keys to Victory

Purdue has to have the stray animal mentality to win this game. Strays hang around the house and hope you’ll at least feed it. If you feed it, they might just have a new home. Purdue has to hang around the house, and hope they have a chance late in the game. At least Purdue knows exactly what’s coming; that doesn’t mean they can stop it though.

Conversely, the Badgers are at home, and fans fill Camp Randall every Saturday. They need to take advantage of everything. No slow starts as Purdue is undermanned, yet playing with loads of confidence. Wisconsin needs to jump out early and often. Most important the Badgers need to keep their foot on the gas until the thin Boilers run out of gas.

Prediction

Jeff Brohm might have to turn down some phone calls this postseason. He’s done more than anyone expected with the injuries he’s had to deal with. However, the upset train gets derailed in Madison. Wisconsin is going to body blow Purdue into submission. Purdue will scrape and claw, but Wisconsin pulls away before the half and pours it on in the fourth quarter.

Final Score: Wisconsin 42, Purdue 17