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GOLDANDBLACK EXPRESS • VOLUME 25, EXPRESS 10 • 13 MATCHUP PREVIEW: Purdue vs. Wisconsin ADVANTAGE? PURDUE PASSING GAME VS. WISCONSIN PASS DEFENSE PLAYER TO WATCH ADVANTAGE? Purdue's passing game has taken a severe blow in the loss of its best, most productive wide receiver and primary big-play receiving threat, Danny Anthrop. As if the deck wasn't already stacked against the Boilermakers enough against the No. 1 passing defense in the Big Ten. Badger opponents average just 150 passing yards per game, fewest in the conference by a mile. Purdue won't fare better if its short- handed corps of receivers can't get open against the tight man coverage its coaches expect to see. Don't expect freshman Trae Hart to be a focal point of the offense, but he gets a chance now. He has legitimate speed if Purdue can find a way to use it. PURDUE RUNNING GAME VS. WISCONSIN RUSH DEFENSE Figuring the passing game might be hindered even more, Wisconsin can maybe put that much more emphasis on the run. Purdue's going to ride Akeem Hunt and Raheem Mostert, putting them on the field together more often, but Hunt has taken a pounding lately and will be running into the teeth of a defense that has added speed over past years. Only two opponents this season have rushed for more than 100 yards against the Badgers. Purdue will have to find a way to get far more than that to have a chance. The Boilermakers' Mr. Everything on offense this season, Akeem Hunt is beat up. The load he's car- ried this season has been huge. He's got more to give, though, and Purdue needs every ounce. WISCONSIN PASSING GAME VS. PURDUE PASS DEFENSE If Purdue can't stop the run — no Wisconsin opponent has — there might be opportunities for a very average Badger passing game to take advantage of a beleaguered secondary that's dealing with several injuries and not playing terribly well when fully healthy. This phase of the game, though, is irrelevant in Wisconsin's perfect world. Purdue's not going to get very many opportunities in pocket passing situations. Some pressure from Ryan Russell when it does would be nice. WISCONSIN RUNNING GAME VS. PURDUE RUSH DEFENSE Purdue hasn't so much as slowed down a Badger running game in years and the table's set for more of the same this week. Melvin Gordon rounds out this run of awesome running backs Purdue is seeing and may be the best of all of them, certainly the most explosive. He's not Wisconsin's only good run- ning back either and now the Badgers have an option element on the field when Tanner McEvoy is at quarterback. He averages nine yards a rushing attempt and has run for 60 or more twice this season. Fringe Heisman hopeful Melvin Gordon will pass the 1,300-yard mark this weekend and is a safe bet to add to his NCAA-second-best 18 rushing touchdowns. SPECIAL TEAMS Purdue's coming off its worst special teams game of the season at Nebraska. It must not allow that to become a trend, since the kicking game has been such an integral part of its competitiveness lately. Wisconsin's numbers don't look great, but the Badgers are rock-solid on special teams. Thomas Meadows will need to make adjustments to avoid more punt blocks, namely making sure he rolls enough to the right side. BOILERS PREDICTION BADGERS Purdue's beat up right now and the Badgers are well equipped on both sides of the ball to twist the knife on the Boilermakers. Additionally, it's just weathered an in- jury to its offense seemingly every bit as costly as the injury (Sean Robinson) that set the defense back so much earlier in the season. Lots of unknowns right now. 31 17 EVEN EVEN