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had to win three straight games to qualify for a bowl, as is the case this year. In 1998, under sophomore quarterback Drew Brees, Depending on how you look at it, Purdue has never the Boilermakers were strapped with a 3-4 record but won their last five regular-season games and capped it off with a upset bowl win over No. 4 Kansas State. In 2002, the Boilermakers were 4-6 after losing a FIVE POINTS TO PONDER heartbreaker to eventual national champion Ohio State, but won at Michigan State and at home against Indiana to qualify for the Sun Bowl, where they beat Washington. At the tail end of the 2005 season, the Boilermakers won three straight league games down the stretch, but the trio of wins only made for a 5-6 record in a season that rivals the 2012 campaign on the disappointment meter. In the end, the '06 season may bear some similar now having everything to lose? When it was 0-5, the notion of it winning out during the regular season to qualify for the postseason didn't seem all that reasonable. Now it does. But the Boilermakers are in elimination mode. 1 urday, the Boilermakers will post their 20th win at Illinois placing it third all-time on the road conference victories ledger behind In- diana (34) and Northwestern (27). Purdue notched its 19th win at Iowa this past Saturday, yet the Boilermakers are still below .500 at both Iowa (19-20-12) and Illinois (19-22-2). Finally, the last time the Boilermakers were a favorite in Memo- characteristics to this year in that the Boilermakers beat the Illini in Champaign in the second game of a three- game conference swing to close the league schedule. The difference being that the trio of wins ran Purdue's record to 8-4, before losses at Hawaii in the last regular season game and Maryland in the Champs Sports Bowl closed out the year. In relative terms, Purdue has had more success in Champaign than in most Big Ten venues. With a win Sat- Can Purdue dominate, especially on de- fense? The Boilermakers' season hasn't gone as planned, but Illinois has been noth- ing short of terrible. How else could a team that's 1-5 in the Big Ten be a touchdown favorite on the road? This looks like a game Purdue might even be able to put away early. Illinois' offense is one of the sorriest in college football. 2 takeaways. The Boilermakers didn't get any in the past three games. Illinois might make for an ideal slump-buster there. part to sound protection and receivers consistently catching the ball. With that said … 3 4 rial Stadium was in '02 when they were a three-point pick. It didn't turn out well as the Boilermakers fell behind 24-0 in that one, only to rally and lose 38-31 in overtime. — Alan Karpick Bolden and Akeem Shavers were great at Iowa and Rob Henry was a factor. Illinois' run D is vulnerable. — Brian Neubert 5 Can the running game keep rolling? Ralph Can Purdue take the ball away? A great way to assert itself early would be with Will the passing game keep clicking? It was very good at Iowa, thanks in large How does Purdue handle the pressure of more or less having nothing to lose to STATISTICALLY SPEAKING PURDUE Offense Rank Averages Rushing 66 Passing 61 Scoring 65 158.8 232.4 28.3 Defense Rank Averages Rushing 85 Passing 47 Scoring 75 182.0 222.2 29.6 Out of 120 FBS schools ILLINOIS Offense Rank Averages Rushing 99 Passing 105 Scoring 118 123.5 175.0 16.9 Defense Rank Averages Rushing 82 Passing 29 Scoring 89 178.2 202.1 31.5 GOLDANDBLACK EXPRESS • VOLUME 23, EXPRESS 11 • 10