Purdue vs. Western Michigan: What You Need to Know About the Little Caesars Bowl

Purdue and Western Michigan will meet in Detroit on Dec. 27 in the Little Caesars Pizza Bowl.

While the two teams, who have a total of 13 wins between them, aren't as appetizing as the name of the actual bowl game, don't be surprised if this game turns out to be a competitive high-scoring affair in the Motor City.

Western Michigan has one of the most explosive passing attacks in the country, led by QB Alex Carder and WR Jordan White, and Purdue has two quarterbacks, Caleb TerBush and Robert Marve, who are also capable of slinging it around the field.

Here's a look at what you need to know about the two teams competing in the Little Caesars Pizza Bowl:

The Basic Details

Date: Dec. 27, 2011

Time: 4:30 pm ET

Channel: ESPN

The Spread: Purdue (-2.5)

Sponsor: Little Caesars

Conferences Represented: Purdue—Big Ten, Western Michigan—MAC

Stadium: Ford Field

City: Detroit, Michigan

Last Year's Result: FIU 34, Toledo 32

Purdue's 2011 Resume

Overall Record: 6-6

Conference Record: 4-4

Sagarin Schedule Rank: 62

Who They Beat: Middle Tennessee State (27-24), Southeast Missouri State (59-0), Minnesota (47-17), Illinois (21-14), Ohio State (26-23), Indiana (33-25)

Who Beat Them: Rice (24-22), Notre Dame (28-10), Penn State (23-18), Michigan (36-14), Wisconsin (62-17), Iowa (31-21)

Western Michigan's 2011 Resume

Overall Record: 7-5

Conference Record: 5-3

Sagarin Schedule Rank: 103

Who They Beat: Nicholls State (38-7), Central Michigan (44-14), Connecticut (38-31), Bowling Green (45-21), Ball State (45-35), Miami of Ohio (24-21), Akron (68-19)

Who Beat Them: Michigan (34-10), Illinois (23-20), Northern Illinois (51-22), Eastern Michigan (14-10), Toledo (66-63)

Purdue by the Numbers

Offense

Points Per Game: 26.1

Yards Per Game: 371

Passing Yards Per Game: 197

Rushing Yards Per Game: 194

Yards Per Play: 5.2

Defense

Points Per Game: 26.4

Yards Per Game: 388

Passing Yards Per Game: 203

Rushing Yards Per Game: 185

Yards Per Play: 5.4

Special Teams

Field Goal Percentage: 76

Yards Per Punt: 39.7

Yards Per Kick Return: 27.4

Yards Per Punt Return: 5.9

Key Numbers

Turnovers (Gained vs. Lost): 14-16

Third-Down Conversions: 41 percent

Red-Zone Percentage: 85

Western Michigan by the Numbers

Offense

Points Per Game: 35.6

Yards Per Game: 456

Passing Yards Per Game: 329

Rushing Yards Per Game: 127

Yards Per Play: 6.3

Defense

Points Per Game: 28

Yards Per Game: 434

Passing Yards Per Game: 218

Rushing Yards Per Game: 216

Yards Per Play: 6.1

Special Teams

Field Goal Percentage: 71

Yards Per Punt: 41.3

Yards Per Kick Return: 22.7

Yards Per Punt Return: 9.9

Key Numbers

Turnovers (Gained vs. Lost): 27-27

Third-Down Conversions: 42 percent

Red-Zone Percentage: 91

Purdue's Key Players: Quarterbacks Caleb TerBush and Robert Marve

Purdue's two-quarterback system of Caleb TerBush and Robert Marve has worked well at certain times this season, but there have also been times when it's looked like it should be scrapped.

With the injury to starting RB Ralph Bolden, coach Danny Hope is going to have to hope TerBush and Marve can produce in a big way and keep up with Western Michigan's high-powered attack in this game.

The Boilermakers average 196 passing yards per game, but they're going to need a bigger effort than that if they want to win.

Western Michigan's Key Player: WR Jordan White

Before the season started, most Western Michigan fans expected WR Jordan White to be the key to the Broncos' offense, but I doubt anyone expected White to have the type of All-American campaign that he ended up having.

The 6'0'', 215-pound senior was the most productive receiver in the country in 2011, as he hauled in 127 passes for 1,646 yards and scored 16 touchdowns.

White may not possess true game-breaking ability, but he's one of the most consistent receivers in the country, and his production this season speaks for itself.

Breakdown/Prediction

This will be the first bowl trip for Purdue during the Danny Hope era, as the Boilermakers haven't been to a bowl game since the 2007 Motor City Bowl (the former name for the Little Caesars Pizza Bowl).

The Boilermakers were successful the last time they played a MAC team in Detroit, as they beat Central Michigan 51-48 in that game, and it wouldn't be surprising if we saw another high-scoring affair in this one.

The Western Michigan passing attack is one of the most lethal in the country, and when QB Alex Carder and WR Jordan White are at the top of their games, there are few defenses out there that are equipped to stop them.

It will be up to the Purdue secondary to come up big, but it will be up to quarterbacks Caleb TerBush and Robert Marve to come up even bigger, as they''ll be the ones that will be asked to keep up with the Carder-led Broncos attack.

If TerBush and Marve play well, Purdue's got enough talent on defense to control Western Michigan enough, but the fact that RB Ralph Bolden will miss the game with a torn ACL is a big blow.

Purdue is the more talented team overall, but this game will come down to which quarterback(s) can do the most.

Prediction: Purdue 45, Western Michigan 41