Purdue football: 3 bold predictions vs. Illinois in Week 5
By Brad Schultz
To say that Purdue football has struggled under new head coach Ryan Walters is an understatement. The Boilermakers are off to a dismal 1-3 start, including a home loss to Fresno State to open the season.
On the other end of the spectrum, Illinois has limped its way to a 2-2 start, coming off an uninspiring 23-17 win against Florida Atlantic, a game in which the Illini trailed by 10 points in the first have.
Both teams are desperate for a win to try and get their seasons back on track, and it’s time to get bold for this week’s matchup in West Lafayette.
3. Both teams have success on the ground
Both of these defenses have struggled to stop the run, and this is the perfect opportunity for either side to establish a rhythm on offense. Purdue has allowed opponents to rush for 148 yards and Illinois has averaged 148. Purdue was torched on the ground by Syracuse and Wisconsin and has not shown that it can generate many stops. Considering Walters comes from a defensive background, this performance is concerning.
Illinois has allowed opposing teams to rush for 177 yards per game and they have been exposed by Kansas and Penn State. Purdue has racked up 140 yards per game on the ground despite turnover problems from quarterback Hudson Card.
Expect both teams to have well over 150 yards rushing each and provide a spark for their respective teams.