Western Michigan vs. Purdue: Game Time, Radio & TV Info for Little Caesars Bowl

The Western Michigan Broncos (7-5) will take on the Purdue Boilermakers (6-6) in Detroit Tuesday evening to decide conference supremacy between the MAC and the Big Ten in the Little Caesars Pizza Bowl.

Both teams have been rather inconsistent this season, but the Broncos' eighth-ranked passing attack is sure to be on display for college football fans in the first of two nationally televised bowl games on Tuesday. 

Where: Ford Field, Detroit

When: Tuesday, Dec. 27, 2011, 4:30 p.m. EST

Watch: ESPN

Listen: Western Michigan: WKZO 96.5 FM Purdue: WAZY 96.5 FM

Key Storyline

The Boilermakers can complete their first winning season since 2007 with a win over the Broncos on Tuesday in Detroit. The teams are meeting for just the third time in history. 

Betting Line

Purdue -3 over Western Michigan, according to Bodog. Purdue comes from the better conference in the Big Ten, but by no means do they have the offensive flow necessary to keep up with Western Michigan on a fast track like the one inside Ford Field.

Who Might Not Play for Purdue

RB Ralph Bolden: Injured his knee against Indiana in the last game of the regular season. The junior led Purdue in rushing with 674 yards and six touchdowns in 2011. Freshman RB Akeem Hunt could very well be his replacement in the back field.

WR O.J. Ross: Suspended indefinitely for violating team policy and rules. The sophomore wideout had 356 yards receiving and three touchdowns for the Boilermakers this season.

What it Means for Western Michigan

Tuesday's game will give the Broncos a chance to test themselves against a team from a power conference for the third time this season. Western Michigan fell to Big Ten foes Michigan and Illinois earlier this season, but both games were on the road. 

What it Means for Purdue

The Boilermakers have been a down football program for nearly half a decade now, and Tuesday night's showcase against one of the MAC's better teams will provide a boost to recruiting and help head coach Danny Hope convince some of Indiana's finest high school football players that Purdue is the place to be.

What They're Saying

Purdue head coach Danny Hope has gone just 15-21 in three seasons at the helm in West Lafayette, but that hasn't stopped him from feeling good about his squad.  He said:

"

"We're a good football team, and we've won some big games this season. We're excited to (have) this opportunity to have a winning season." 

"

Kansas City sports anchor Mick Shaffer seems to have low expectations for the .500 Boilermakers. 

Western Michigan Player to Watch

WR Jordan White: The 23-year-old junior is an All-American and leads the nation with 127 catches this season. White has 16 TDs this season and has gone over 100 yards receiving in nine out of 12 games for the Broncos.

Purdue Player to Watch

QB Caleb TerBush/Robert Marve: Both quarterbacks have shared time under center for Purdue this season, but neither has truly stood out. They have combined for 15 passing TDs and 11 INTs in 2011, and will have their work cut out for them trying to keep pace with Western Michigan's prolific aerial attack.

Key Matchup

QB Alex Carder vs. Purdue Defense: The Western Michigan QB has thrown for 3,434 yards, 28 TDs and only 10 INTs this season with the Broncos, and he'll be responsible for keeping the nation's eighth-best passing attack on schedule against Purdue. College football's 64th-ranked scoring defense will have to come to play in order for the Boilermakers to be victorious. 

Prediction

Western Michigan 37, Purdue 28