Game 11: Purdue Boilermakers - Outlook

Middle of November already.. Damn it went by fast.. There is NO better weekend family activity, experience or value, in the entire Michigan lower peninsula than heading to a Spartan home game and tailgate at Michigan State...  Good food, friends, beer, brats..  Surrounded by the beautiful manicured campus grounds.  Its coming to a close oooh too fast..

But, One more  Home Game, that’s against JoPa at 3:30 Nov. 21..

Slow the ride SpartyMSU.. We have to talk about the Purdue game this weekend…



Game 11:  Purdue Boilermakers
Away game: Ross-Ade Stadium (my Second Favorite Stadium in the Big Ten)
November 14   Noon Game

Early Weather Forecast:



We Like Purdue.. We like the pubs, bars and restaurants in Lafayette.. So, can’t really say too much sarcastic about a place we’ve enjoyed so much;, Nine Irish Brothers, Chumley's, Knickerbocker or Hunter's... Many fine trips there… Brother Dave always was there to help share a good time, cold beer and a smile...…



On to Football….

One word that best describes Purdue is Inconsistent...
They can be good: Like what they did to Ohio State .. Won 26 – 18, with 66 yrds rushing, and 221 yrds passing…  Bad: like against Wisconsin... Lost 37 – 0, with only 60 yrds rushing, 80 yrds passing…

Who is Purdue this year ?? They don't even know...

Who will come out against the Spartans is anyone’s guess... Coach Hope is doing a decent job in West Lafayette.. Certaily better than Rich Rod…  But, Purdue runs Hot and Cold this year.... No telling which Boilermakers will show up Saturday..

Both teams are playing for Bowl eligibility, and both teams have much riding on this game..  

As for the Spartans.. They have gotten better each game.. MSU is coming off a scrimmage with Western Michigan. Where no one was injured, it was a week to heal, yet get some game experience.. Spartans are looking crisper on Offense and Defense.. . Sure, they have not had the season we had originally thought, but, they are headed in the right direction.

Take a look at the Big Ten Tem Comparison stats…  MSU leads Purdue in most categories.. our sophomore QB Cousins, is rated higher in efficiency than  Purdue senior Joey Elliott.

Neither team relies on the rush, but the Spartans do have a better Rush “D” than Purdue. So, this gives a nod to the Spartans for ground yardage...

As for Passing “D”:  The Spartans are weaker than Purdue.. and If Joey has another good game this week, like he did against scUM, then it could be trouble, unless the secondary of the Spartans gets better quick.

In Summary, This game really depends on just a few things:
1) Which Purdue team shows up?
2) Can the Spartan Pass “D” focus ?
3) Can the Spartan Front get pressure On Joey ?
4) Football Dropitis: Which team will be afflicted ?
5) Can MSU’s talented Backs establish a Run Game ?

Take a look at the comparisons….

TOTAL OFFENSE            G  Rush Pass Plays Yards Avg/P TD Yds/G
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1. Michigan State...... 10  1383 2807   673  4190   6.2 35 419.0
5. Purdue.............. 10  1358 2485   683  3843   5.6 32 384.3

SCORING OFFENSE          G   TD  XP 2XP DXP  FG Saf  Pts   Avg
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3. Michigan State...... 10   37  34   0   0  15   0  301  30.1
6. Purdue.............. 10   33  31   0   0  10   0  259  25.9

SCORING DEFENSE          G   TD  XP 2XP DXP  FG Saf  Pts   Avg
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4. Michigan State...... 10   27  24   0   0  12   0  222  22.2
11.Purdue.............. 10   36  32   2   0  12   0  288  28.8

PASS OFFENSE             G   Att  Cmp Int  Pct.  Yds  Avg TD Yds/G
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1. Michigan State...... 10   335  204   8  60.9 2807  8.4 21 280.7
3. Purdue.............. 10   365  212  14  58.1 2485  6.8 17 248.5

PASS EFFICIENCY          G   Att  Cmp   Pct  Int  Yds TD Effic
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1. Michigan State...... 10   335  204  .609    8 2807 21 147.2
10.Purdue.............. 10   365  212  .581   14 2485 17 123.0

QB PASS EFFICIENCY       Team Cl  G Att Cmp Int  Pct.  Yds TD  Eff.
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 1. Cousins, Kirk....... MSU  SO 10 248 158   5  63.7 2097 14 149.3
 9. Elliott, Joey....... PUR  SR 10 349 207  13  59.3 2448 16 125.9

RUSHING OFFENSE          G    Att   Yds   Avg  TD  Yds/G
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6. Michigan State...... 10    338  1383   4.1  14  138.3
7. Purdue.............. 10    318  1358   4.3  15  135.8

RUSHING DEFENSE          G  Rushes  Yards  Avg.  TD  Yds/G
----------------------------------------------------------
3. Michigan State...... 10     327   1014   3.1   5  101.4
11.Purdue.............. 10     412   1731   4.2  25  173.1

Spartans should win and head back to East Lansing Bowl eligible… With a record of 4 – 3 in the Big Ten, 6 - 5 overall….

Prediction of score:
Spartans      31
Boilermakers  24

And don't forget about the Purdue Cheer Leaders..
I think this is them ..???     Arn't they  ??? Same color uniforms....

Sparty ON !!!