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Purdue (2-6) is coming off the biggest win in the Darrell Hazell era, and now can it possibly crank things up and get on a run at home? Illinois (4-4) needs this to have any real hope of going bowling. Check out the Illinois vs. Purdue game preview and prediction.

Illinois vs. Purdue Game Preview

Broadcast

Date: Saturday, Nov. 7
Game Time: 12:00 pm
Venue: Ross-Ade Stadium, West Lafayette, IN

Network: BTN

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Why You Need To Care

Illinois was looking like one of college football’s biggest surprises, and then came the tough part of the schedule with three straight losses with the offense struggling and the defense not able to pick up the slack against Iowa, Wisconsin and Penn State. With Ohio State up next and Minnesota and Northwestern away from Champaign, the Illini need this. Lose here, and it’ll take a minor miracle to get bowling.

Purdue isn’t going to run the table, but after coming so close time and again – and showing improvement in close fights with Marshall, Bowling Green and Michigan State – it came up with a brilliant offensive performance in the 55-45 win over Nebraska. With road games at Northwestern and Iowa up next, before closing out against Indiana, it’s asking way too much to get to six wins, but a win over Illinois would combine with the Nebraska win to make this a nice stepping-stone campaign.

Why Illinois Will Win

Purdue is awful on third downs, and Illinois is terrific at getting the defense off the field. The Boilermaker offense got the job done against Nebraska – converting 8-of-17 chances, but that was an aberration. For the most part, the lack of a consistent running game has forced way too many tough second and third down chances, coming through 36% of the time on the year. The Illinois defense couldn’t stuff Wisconsin, but it’s done a nice job against everyone else, with only North Carolina converting more than 40% of the time. On the year, Illinois is allowing teams to convert 28% of their chances – Purdue isn’t going to go on long marches.

Why Purdue Will Win

The Illinois offense has hit the skids. It wasn’t ever explosive, but he’s managed just 14 points or fewer in four of the last six games and scored 20 against Iowa. The Illinois running game is going absolutely nowhere, failing to get more than 55 yards in each of the last three games, averaging 1.9 yards per pop against Iowa and 1.4 yards per carry against Penn State. Purdue’s run defense got ripped up by Minnesota, but it stuffed Wisconsin for 96 yards and stalled Nebraska for 77. The Boilermakers aren’t Alabama up front, but they should be able to keep the Illini in check.

Player Who Matters

Purdue freshman QB David Blough came up with the win and the performance the team needed. Inconsistent throughout the year, he did just about everything right – outside of a few missed passes that would’ve put the game away earlier – torching Nebraska for four touchdown passes and running for 82 yards and a score after netting just five through the first six games. He was turned loose, and now he’ll be asked to do it again to carry the team to another big performance.

What’s Going To Happen?

Can Purdue do that again? No, but it should be able to keep the middling Illinois offense in check and the offense will open it up a bit more. Nebraska wasn’t the moment that’ll take the program to another level, but at home, Purdue will keep the momentum going.

Illinois vs. Purdue Prediction

Final Score: Purdue 23, Illinois 20, Line: Illinois -5, o/u: 52.5

Must See Rating:5: The Gospel According To Mac – 1: Supergirl … 2.5