Purdue (1-3) is the only Big Ten team under. Then, you throw in (Bowling Green’s) passing offense, which is really, really efficient. “I think our guys have a lot of confidence in the schemes they’re playing against (Michigan State)”, Hazell said.
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Hazell believes his team has figured out the best way to attack Michigan State.
MC: He had a really good game against (Bowling Green) – not the same defense he’ll face this week – but for his first start, the way he commanded the offense and got the ball to the right individuals, he did very well. LINE: Michigan State -21.5ABOUT PURDUE (1-3): Blough, the 10th different starter at quarterback for the Boilermakers since 2008, completed 29 of his 39 passes last week after brief stints the previous two games. I think he has a stronger arm.
A lot of things will have to happen for Purdue to pull off the upset, one of which being generating big plays. Purdue’s defense has been vulnerable against both the run and the pass, while turnovers plague the offense.
“That’s what you’re seeing in our guys’ eyes in the locker room after the game – the understanding that they are getting there, they just have to take that next step”.
Bolstering the team’s mood this week is its history against Michigan State. He had 2 1/2 sacks and also blocked a field goal. Who this will be, coach Darrell Hazell isn’t saying. “That kind of helps you a little bit”. “That’s the way you have to approach it. You have to win championship games week to week to give yourself a chance to be in the championship at the end of the year”. The Spartans extended their streak of scoring 30 or more points to a team-record 12 games while sweeping through their non-conference schedule and must avoid peaking ahead to road tilts against Rutgers and Michigan on the horizon. Knox and Markell Jones have combined for 499 rushing yards and four touchdowns. “A lot of times you work at something, you keep working, you fail, and you work and you fail, and all of a sudden, you don’t realize how close you are to where you want to be”. Even in the loss, the Boilermakers bombed away last week with David Blough throwing for 340 yards with two scores on downfield throw after downfield throw. They’ve got to figure out a way to run the ball against Michigan State and they will lean on that offensive line. “He was very poised and composed”. Of course, the difference between Bowling Green and Michigan State defensively is very large, and it’s doubtful he’ll be quite as relaxed on Saturday. Entering the opening weekend of conference play, the Wildcats are one of only five remaining unbeaten Big Ten teams, which is the most for the league since 2010.
Defense has been a struggle for the Boilermakers this season as they rank 97 in the country in total defense. So that’s at least six points they missed out on, which might have come in handy, as the Boilers missed on the cover as four-point home dogs.
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-WR Danny Anthrop (No. 116 wide receiver, 840th overall) – Anthrop continues to battle injuries, but the coaching staff expects to see more of him this weekend. A majority of those plays have been attributed to redshirt junior quarterback Tommy Armstrong, who now leads the Big Ten in total offense at 346.0 yards per game, which was the tenth-best mark in the nation coming into this week.
