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GOLDANDBLACK EXPRESS • VOLUME 25, EXPRESS 8 • 13 MATCHUP PREVIEW: Purdue vs. Minnesota ADVANTAGE? PURDUE PASSING GAME VS. MINNESOTA PASS DEFENSE PLAYER TO WATCH ADVANTAGE? Minnesota has a solid pass defense and an experienced secondary that's paced a de- fense that leads the Big Ten with nine interceptions. But Purdue's passing game has been very solid the past two games and we'd expect that to continue, especially if the Boilermakers can run the ball effectively. Purdue must protect Austin Appleby and he must make better decisions when it doesn't. We're going to go out on a limb and give Purdue a slight, slight edge here. Purdue needs its big-play threat from last season to do some- thing, especially with B.J. Knauf out. DeAngelo Yancey's too talented, as he showed in 2013, to not be productive. PURDUE RUNNING GAME VS. MINNESOTA RUSH DEFENSE If you can run on Michigan State, you can run on anybody right? Well, we'll see. Minne- sota will present some different looks, with Purdue expecting to see a spread-out front designed to funnel running plays inside. The Gophers have been an excellent tackling team, so Purdue will have to earn every yard. Boilermaker senior Akeem Hunt is rolling right now, averaging better than 100 rushing yards per game in Big Ten play. If he does it again, Purdue will have a great chance Saturday. MINNESOTA PASSING GAME VS. PURDUE PASS DEFENSE As strange as this sounds, Purdue — gouged by the pass the past two weeks — may want Minnesota throwing, because that's not the Gophers' comfort zone. Running the football is. If Minnesota throws a lot, then that may mean Purdue did its job up front. Watch play action, though. This week, Purdue was weighing its options at corner opposite Anthony Brown. If it's Da'Wan Hunte, he's never played before, which might be cause for worry. MINNESOTA RUNNING GAME VS. PURDUE RUSH DEFENSE The key matchup of the game. Minnesota is one-dimensional, wanting to run first, sec- ond and third. If Purdue can put up the sort of resistance on the ground it did earlier in the season against Notre Dame, Iowa and Illinois, great. If it's more like Michigan State, then not so great. Purdue misses Sean Robinson, this is its new reality. David Cobb continues the stretch of outstanding Big Ten backs Purdue has seen and will see in the upcoming games. He may get the ball 30 times. SPECIAL TEAMS Purdue's punting has been excellent and all phases of its kicking and return games solid lately. Minnesota beat Northwestern last week with a 100-yard kickoff return, so the Boilermakers better be on their toes. This feels like a close game-in-waiting that could come down to a Paul Griggs field goal or two. A bunch of touchbacks would be nice, too. BOILERS PREDICTION GOPHERS Purdue has been playing better offensively the last several weeks, but its defense needs to catch up quickly. That unit will feel the pressure this week against another power running game. If the defense can rise, the Boilermakers have a chance at the upset. If not, it could be tough to win on the road. 27 23 EVEN EVEN EVEN EVEN