Purdue v Wisconsin Prediction

Can this finally be the year?

This has been an interesting week.

From the horrendous loss to Minnesota, to Bobby Petrino being fired to Brohm speculation on Louisville. All of this has been in the way of what's really at steak here. Beating Wisconsin to not only snap a 12 game winning streak, but to get bowl eligibility before driving down to TsiB for the bucket game. Now the question remain, can this be the year?

Purdue 
2018 Record: 5-5 (Lost to Minnesota)

Nothing has changed for Purdue on offense as they are a pass-centered offense, averaging 312 yds/gm through the air and 149 yds/gm on the ground. Since this is senior day, I would expect Blough to play in this one. His stats aren't too bad as he is averaging 282 yds/gm with 18 TD's and 7 INT's while completing 66% of his passes. Other players to look out for will be Moore with his explosive speed as well as Knox for the run game, and pretty much the entire wide receiver corp.
On defense, we still lack a pass rush as we are giving up 282 yds/gm on the pass and 145 yds/gm on the run game.
 
Wisconsin 
2018 Record: 6-4 (Lost to #16 Penn St.)


This season has been kind of a letdown for the badgers, they were ranked #5 to start the season with promise to go to the playoffs in December, they were positioned to win the West again with a win against the Hawkeyes early in the season. But injuries have plagued them tremendously. dropping 3 of their last 5 and no out of the top 25 and out of the B1G west race.
The Badgers offense is the exact opposite of what Purdue is, they've pretty much have given the ball to Taylor and just have left him to his own devices. they are averaging 267 yds/gm on the ground and 163 yds/gm through the air. Alex Hornibrook has missed the last three games due to concussion-like symptoms and is questionable against Purdue. the junior quarterback is not have a bad season averaging 168 yds/gm with 11 TD's and 8 INT's while completing 58% of his passes. Hornibrook's backup has been Jack Coan who is not that bad averaging 94 yds/gm with 2 TD's and 2 INT's to go with a 59% passing rate. The only other player to watch other than Hornibrook or Coan is Johnathan Taylor who can find holes for big gains.
Defense has been one of their stronger aspects on this team, allowing 190 yds/gm on the pass rush and 162 yds/gm on the rushing attack.

Verdict

This is a huge game as we are still fighting for that 6 and final win to make it to a bowl for a second straight season. As well as snap a 12 game loosing streak that the Badgers have held on to since 2004. Wisconsin on offense have become one sided with Hornibrook out, which has become a major area to exploit as Purdue has a better run defense than Wisconsin and since they don't throw the ball as much, it gives Purdue a much needed breather on the pass rush which we have been terrible all season. Now on the other hand, Purdue has not been consistent as when Purdue doesn't score first, the offense struggles. And Blough who is good, has not played the same since after the OSU win. Which Wisconsin can exploit mightily as they aver allowing half as much than our season average. This in turn can lead to more pressure on Blough (who still doesn't do well under pressure), which can lead to poor production again on offense.
This will be a tough fought game but with Purdue playing at home on senior day coming off of a lost to a struggling Minnesota team with a hunger to get one more win, I trust that Brohm will get the job done and finally have us lock in a bowl before the Bucket game in Bloomington. Purdue

Boiler Up.