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Now it’s fun time for Northwestern (7-2) as it’s all about solidifying the best bowl spot possible. Can it avoid the letdown against a Purdue (2-7) with nothing to lose? Check out the Purdue vs. Northwestern game preview and prediction.

Purdue vs. Northwestern Game Preview

Broadcast

Date: Saturday, Nov. 14
Game Time: 12:00 pm
Venue: Ryan Field, Evanston, IL

Network: BTN

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Why You Need To Care

Just when it seemed like Purdue was going to change things around after a stunning win over Nebraska, it came up with a total clunker 48-14 loss to Illinois. Now it’s time to play the spoiler role with a trip to Iowa next week followed up by a game that Indiana will probably need to go bowling.

Northwestern is on a two-game winning streak since getting blown out by Iowa, and with Wisconsin coming up next week, it has a chance to firmly establish itself as the No. 2 team in the Big Ten West – but it can’t blow it this week against the Boilermakers. The offense might not be special, but the defense makes up for it. The team finds ways to manufacture points and wins, and while it might not be pretty at times, 7-2 is 7-2.

Why Purdue Will Win

Northwestern sort of hangs by a thread. It takes a good team to win tight games – again, the Wildcats find a way – but the passing attack doesn’t really exist and the offense stalls way too often. Purdue’s defense doesn’t have to be a brick wall, it just can’t break, and if it’s able to come up with plays against the run and force long third down chances it’ll get the defense off the field. The Boilermakers have to keep the score low. One problem, though …

Why Northwestern Will Win

Purdue doesn’t really score. The 55-point day against Nebraska was an aberration for a Boilermaker attack that couldn’t get going against Illinois and went nowhere against Wisconsin. There’s no downfield passing attack, and the ground game hasn’t come up with more than 90 yards in three of the last four games. Northwestern’s secondary has been sensational, so if Purdue doesn’t run well, the offense won’t work. With the way the Wildcat linebackers swarm all over mobile quarterbacks, this isn’t going to be a shootout.

Player Who Matters

Is it going to be Clayton Thorson or Zack Oliver? Oliver stepped in and threw for 111 yards and a score with a pick and a rushing score. Thorson is back after being beaten up and battered by Penn State before getting knocked out of the game with what was termed a “lower-body injury.” Northwestern should be able to win with either option, and now it knows it can come through if it has to rely on Oliver.

What’s Going To Happen?

Can Purdue’s defense rise up and stuff NU RB Justin Jackson? A little bit, but not enough. This is a great matchup for the Wildcat defense that’ll shut down the Boilermaker offense. It won’t take much to put this away early.

Purdue vs. Northwestern Prediction

Final Score: Northwestern 31, Purdue 14, Line: Northwestern -14.5, o/u: 49

Must See Rating:5: Spectre … 1: The 33 … 2