Purdue’s trip into its biggest test of the season has the staff leaning hard toward Notre Dame.
The Boilermakers are 1-2, the Irish are 3-0, and the matchup at Ross-Ade Stadium has drawn plenty of attention because Purdue’s offense has shown some life while the defense has given people very little reason for confidence. That split shows up clearly in the predictions, with most of the staff expecting Purdue to score but not nearly enough to keep pace.
Ledman sees a rough afternoon ahead for Purdue, pointing to the challenge of facing a Notre Dame defense that is a major step up from anything the Boilermakers have seen so far. He also doesn’t have much faith in Purdue’s defense after UCLA ran the ball effectively last week. His pick: Purdue 17, Notre Dame 49.
Travis expects a better showing than the one Purdue had two years ago, when he called it “the most comprehensive ass-beating I have ever seen in Ross-Ade Stadium.” Even so, he still believes Notre Dame will control the game unless Purdue taps into its odd knack for upsetting highly ranked teams. His score: Notre Dame 52, Purdue 28.
Kyle’s read is similar. He notes that Purdue has shown offensive potential through three games, but says the Irish present a different kind of problem.
He thinks Ryan Browne and the Boilermakers will need to stay aggressive, and that the home crowd could help keep things close early, but he ultimately sees Notre Dame’s physicality and depth taking over. His prediction: Notre Dame 38, Purdue 24.
Ryan also expects Purdue to get some points at home, saying Ryan Browne has quietly been one of the better quarterbacks in the Big Ten. But he doesn’t see the defense holding up against a strong Notre Dame team. His line: Purdue 28, Notre Dame 49.
Casey is blunt about the defensive outlook. If the offense looks okay, he says, that alone would count as a win and a useful step for the rest of the season.
Still, he doesn’t see much evidence that Purdue can stop the Irish, and he expects things to get ugly early. His pick is Notre Dame 44, Purdue 21.
Drew takes the bleakest tone of the group, saying the game feels like “a slow trudge to the gallows.” He hopes Purdue can score enough to stay interesting for a short stretch, but he sees Notre Dame’s running game shredding the defense and believes Ryan Browne would need a perfect offensive performance for Purdue to have a chance. He doesn’t think that happens, with his prediction landing at Notre Dame 47.
Jed closes the staff list with the same line Drew used, saying he hopes Purdue can put some points up and keep it interesting briefly.
In Other News...
Purdue Volleyball Just Got One Big Edge For Wisconsin In Mackey
Purdue is giving its volleyball team a little extra home-court help for Sundays matchup with Wisconsin at Mackey Arena. Students will be able to claim free tickets online for the 4 p.m. ET match, which will also air on Big Ten Network, turning the seasons third and final home date into a bigger event than a typical regular-season stop.
The Boilermakers enter at 8-2 and will be looking to make the most of their last chance to play in front of the Mackey crowd this fall. With Wisconsin coming in and student interest now easier to pack into the arena, Purdue has a chance to turn the setting into a real edge in a match that should carry plenty of weight. [Read more 🡒]