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GOLDANDBLACK EXPRESS • VOLUME 25, EXPRESS 11 • 13 MATCHUP PREVIEW: Purdue vs. Northwestern ADVANTAGE? PURDUE PASSING GAME VS. NORTHWESTERN PASS DEFENSE PLAYER TO WATCH ADVANTAGE? Northwestern boasts a solid secondary and Purdue's still looking for answers in a passing game, still smarting from the loss of its best receiver, Danny Anthrop. But, some of its issues throwing the ball in recent games have been attributable to the pass rush applied by opponents. The Wildcats, based on their results this season, do not appear to be particularly formidable getting after the quarterback, so maybe there will be a different dynamic in the passing game than was seen against Nebraska and Wisconsin. Northwestern's known to give up the underneath stuff. Boilermaker tight end Justin Sinz is really good at catching the underneath stuff. PURDUE RUNNING GAME VS. NORTHWESTERN RUSH DEFENSE Purdue's running game has been limited the past two games, but Northwestern's defense is a step below those faced in those prior contests. The bye week came at a good time this time around, because Boilermaker running back Akeem Hunt has been beat up and probably benefited from the break. Purdue needs to make big plays in the running game. It didn't in its past two games. Again, Akeem Hunt needed the time off maybe more than anyone. He's carried so much of the load for Purdue's offense this season, it can't help but have taken a toll. NORTHWESTERN PASSING GAME VS. PURDUE PASS DEFENSE This is the opposite of the unstoppable force vs. the immoveable object. Northwestern QB Trevor Siemian has been up and down all season and is missing some valuable weapons, but Purdue's been shredded lately by teams that don't exactly make a living out of passing the football. The Boilermak- ers need to find ways to make some negative-yardage plays and generate some turnovers. Valuable DB Frankie Williams missed the Wis- consin game with a concussion but will return this weekend. Purdue needs him. Badly. NORTHWESTERN RUNNING GAME VS. PURDUE RUSH DEFENSE Purdue will be healthier on defense than it was last time out and won't be facing a running game the caliber of Wisconsin. But the Boilermakers have struggled on the ground for the better part of the Big Ten season and while Northwestern isn't a dominant running game, it's very capable of being productive. Northwestern freshman Justin Jackson has filled in admirably this season after the Wildcats lost star Venric Mark to transfer right before the season. SPECIAL TEAMS Purdue's fallen the past few games after being rock solid for most of the season. But Northwestern's been consistently below average in several phases, the oddity being that after going seven games without a field goal of so much as 30 yards, Northwestern made 31-, 46-, 45- and 41-yarders to win at Notre Dame. We put Thomas Meadows here every week, it seems. Field position is so important for Purdue, and thus so is its punter. BOILERS PREDICTION WILDCATS The bye week came at a good time this time around because Purdue had to get healthy on defense and figure some things out on offense, minus Anthrop and with its protection struggling lately. Northwestern is coming off a giant win, but its pattern this season has been an erratic one. No telling which Wildcat team shows up. Turnovers and special teams may loom large. 23 27