Purdue vs. Indiana State Prediction, Game Preview

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Purdue has to deal with a short week and a tough loss with Marshall coming up with two pick-sixes on the way to a 41-31 win. A solid Indiana State team is coming off a playoff year and started out how with a 52-17 win over Butler. Despite being just 100 miles apart, this is just the fifth meeting between the two schools. Purdue is 4-0 with the first win a 38-0 blasting in 1926.

Below is the Purdue vs. Indiana State prediction and full game preview. 

Purdue vs. Indiana State Prediction & Preview

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Broadcast

Date: Saturday, September 12
Game Time: 12:00 ET
Network: ESPNews

Why You Need To Care

Purdue needs to come out roaring. Just 4-21 now in the Darrell Hazell era, the program will take a win of any sort, even one against a decent FCS program. With Virginia Tech coming up next and the high-powered Bowling Green offense to follow, everything has to start working after the rough loss to Marshall to kick things off.

Ranked 21st in the nation, Indiana State is more than just another FCS team to roll over. The Sycamores have a dangerous passing attack, they won’t make a slew of mistakes, and they might be just good enough to make this a game for all four quarters. It’s a new year and a new team – possible a better one – but last year’s version gave Indiana a bit of a fight and beat Ball State. There’s enough offensively to make this a bit of a firefight.

Why Indiana State Will Win

Marshall didn’t use star running back Devon Johnson enough – only feeding him the ball 11 times – and the Sycamores will use their star the same way. LeMonte Booker, who ran for 137 yards and three scores on just 11 carries. A dangerous return man and a dangerous home-run hitter, he’s the gamechanger who just needs a little daylight to screw up the Boilermaker defense.

Why Purdue Will Win

The Purdue offense has a dangerous rushing element of its own. One of the few bright spots was D.J. Knox, a smallish, quick back who ran for 102 yards and a score on 22 carries against the Herd. The running game might not have blown up, and it didn’t dominate, but it’s enough to pound away on the Sycamore run defense that gave up a 75-yard score last week. The Boilermakers need the ground attack to work or else …

Player Who Matters

Austin Appleby has to be far better. The junior won the starting job and was supposed to be the answer and the difference-maker to get the offense rolling, but he threw two interceptions for scores including one on a late drive with the game on the line. Purdue’s big problem last year was the lack of a downfield passing element, and while Appleby dinked and dunked well, he’ll have to use this game to get the ball down the field without giving it away.

What’s Going To Happen?

Purdue will bounce back. It might be a short week, but the team needs to get right back on the bike after falling off against the Herd. Indiana State won’t be a speedbump, but the Boilermakers will look far better than they did on Sunday.

Purdue vs. Indiana State Prediction

Drum roll, please … the Purdue vs. Indiana State prediction is …

Prediction: Purdue 34, Indiana State 17

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