Issue link: http://read.uberflip.com/i/218409
matchup preview: Purdue advantage? PURDUE PASSING GAME VS. indiana PASS DEFENSE Indiana has youth in the secondary and at linebacker and is even worse against the pass than Illinois. Purdue didn't have great success in the pass game last week, but maybe Danny Etling will feel more comfortable after being protected relatively well for most of the game. It should be the same story this week. Still, the receivers have to avoid drops, something that was a problem last week. vs. Indiana player to watch advantage? Being an Indiana boy, one would think Danny Etling will be extra fired up for this one. Will that be a good thing? PURDUE running GAME VS. indiana rush DEFENSE PUSH This has the makings of the same story as last week for Purdue. It started out well in the first quarter with long runs by Akeem Hunt and Brandon Cottom, but in the final three quarters Purdue wasn't good enough to generate points. Akeem Hunt had 100 yards as a freshman in Memorial Stadium. He will need to not only repeat his performance of 2011, but improve on last week's career-best 102-yard effort. PUSH indiana PASSING GAME VS. purdue PASS DEFENSE Coach Darrell Hazell expressed genuine respect for the Hoosiers' passing game. Both quarterbacks can hurt you, but it is the talented receiving corps of Kofi Hughes, Cory Latimer and Shane Wynn that might have the Boilermakers in chase mode into the late November evening. Purdue will have to do what it hasn't done all year: create pressure on the quarterback. Now is a good time to start. If Illinois' Steve Hull can run roughshod over the Boilermaker secondary, Cory Latimer might have a field day. The junior receiver is being whispered as a strong NFL prospect, and he likes to make the big play as evidenced by his last three scoring receptions of 50, 41 and 30 yards. indiana running GAME VS. purdue rush DEFENSE The Boilermaker defense hasn't stopped Stephen Houston in two previous meetings, and if Tevin Coleman is still out with injury, it will likely struggle a third time. Still, the real fear is Coleman will return to create a truly lethal 1-2 punch. Coleman has shown even more of a big-play capability than Houston. Not sure senior defensive lineman Bruce Gaston will have a huge effect in the run game, but can he come up big in enough areas to cause IU to adjust to him. Over the years, it has been the a Boilermaker defensive lineman who has often come up big in the Bucket game. Gaston needs to as well, if Purdue is to compete, let alone win. special teams PUSH boilers 20 Purdue was playing well on special teams, until problems in the field goal and punt units came to the fore. Hazell says Indiana is sound in special teams, especially with Wynn returning kicks. IU struggles in the punt game, ranking 10th in the league. Place-kicker Mitch Ewald proved he was human last week, clanging two field goal attempts off the goal posts, but Purdue's Paul Griggs is still struggling with two things: accuracy and reps. Purdue needs a big play in the return game for a spark. Raheem Mostert's fumble last week was covered up by a lucky bounce to Akeem Hunt. Purdue needs one of the two to do something special Saturday. prediction PUSH hoosiers Indiana's offense is really fun to watch, but not if you are a Purdue follower hoping to keep the Bucket in West Lafayette. If IU makes mistakes early, this one could be closer than the three-touchdown spread suggests, but that is a big if. 41 GoldanDBlack express • volume 24, express 12 • 13