After an average 2007 season where the Purdue Boilermakers managed a 8-5 record and 3-5 Big Ten record, expectations are high in West Lafayette for the 2008 football season. The Boilers return 12 starters and Joe Tiller enters his final year as Head coach with Senior quarterback Curtis Painter. Although Painter has solidified himself as the leader on this team, questions still remain about the rest of the bunch. The Boilers lost tight end Dustin Keller to the NFL and corner Terrell Vinson who led the defense with five interceptions. Senior wide receiver Greg Orton must emerge as Painter's main threat with Dorien Bryant gone. Orton has shown he can fill the void, catching 67 balls for 3 touchdowns last year. Senior running back Kory Sheets must also exceed expectations and try to build on his 859 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns last year. Although Keller is gone, don't sleep on tight end Kyle Adams. He's a big body and has had an excellent spring so far. Defensive studs Cliff Avril and Terrell Vinson are gone, but linebacker Anthony Heygood remains and must build on his 48 tackles from last year if the Boilers expect to stop opponents from scoring a lot of points. Purdue opens with four straight home games including a match up with the Oregon Ducks, before they travel to South Bend to take on the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. I predict a 9-3 record and a 5-3 conference record, sending Joe Tiller out in a winning season.