Is Purdue football a serious contender in the Big Ten West?
By Dante Pryor
How many games will Purdue football win this fall?
Purdue has a demanding schedule. Some of their challenging games are at home and others on the road. They get Penn State, Iowa, and Nebraska at home but travel to Wisconsin and Maryland. Purdue gets to a bowl game for the second year in a row but might not get that tenth win.
- Game 1: Penn State (L) –This should be a great game on Sept 1. Penn State in a close one, but that secondary gets tested.
- Game 2: Indiana State (W) — The Boilermakers win against the Sycamores.
- Game 3: at Syracuse (W) — Boilermakers win a tricky game. The Orange can run the football, and the Boilermakers struggle against the run. Purdue gets the edge because Syracuse struggles in the passing game.
- Game 4: Florida Atlantic (W) — Willie Taggart has a good team in Boca Raton. Boilermakers pull away late for the win.
- Game 5: at Minnesota (W) — This is a coinflip game, but Minnesota lost 3/5 of its offensive line and two best EDGE rushers. Purdue by a field goal.
- Game 6: at Maryland (L) — This will be a track meet. Maryland has three dynamic wide receivers. Terps in a close one.
- Game 7: Nebraska (W) — The Cornhuskers don’t have the playmakers to score with Purdue. The ‘Huskers will be better but fall to the Boilers.
- Game 8: at Wisconsin (L) — Wisconsin won this game, throwing the ball eight times. Purdue struggles offensively in this one.
- Game 9: Iowa (W) — Upset season special for the Boilermakers. Iowa lost their two best defensive and offensive players. The Hawkeyes don’t get their win back this season.
- Game 10: at Illinois (W) — Tricky game for the Boilermakers. Illinois will be better with Tommy DeVito at quarterback but not enough to beat Purdue.
- Game 11: Northwestern (W) — The Wildcats can’t score, and Purdue can. Bad matchup for Northwestern on the road.
- Game 12: at Indiana (W) –The Hoosiers get this game at home, but they have too much uncertainty on an offense that struggled last season. Boilermakers keep the Old Oaken Bucket.
Prediction: 9-3, 6-3 Big Ten
Jeff Brohm has constructed a good team in West Lafayette this fall. They need to stay healthy, and their best players cannot have a drop-off from last year. Those factors are the difference between another nine-win season and a six-win season.