Our Boilers face their toughest test tomorrow versus a solid Central Michigan team. They're coming off a convincing victory versus common opponent, Toledo. They beat Toledo by blowing a close game wide open in the fourth quarter and winning by a final score of 52-31.
CMU is led by their sophomore quarterback, Dan Lefevour and junior running back, Ontario Sneed (great name). They also have a talented special teams guy in true freshman, Antonio Brown. Defensively, the Chippewas have struggled at times during the season. As a result, they lost their first contest, and badly at that, 52-7 versus Big Twelve red-headed step-child, Kansas.
So, the two teams are similar in some ways- Both have good quarterbacks, a solid receiving corps, a solid running game and a weapon on special teams. But, at each of these spots, it seems Purdue is a bit stronger. Purdue's QB is a RS Junior who has been playing starting Big Ten competition for over two seasons. Purdue's running backs are both good and if one gets worn down, the other can pick him up. Purdue's special teams weapon, Dorien Bryant is a senior and is one of the best in the nation...plus on punt returns he's got Desmond Tardy behind him and on kickoffs, Kory Sheets is on the other side of the field. Defensively, there's not much of a comparison, at least this season. CMU's defense compares very well with last year's Boiler defense...but the '07 edition seems to have figured some things out. I think that's the key. Plus, the crowd should be a pretty good size and the weather will be perfect for football. Hopefully, the students will black out their corner of Ross-Ade again as it looked good last saturday.
I look for Purdue to be able to score at will and we may see Bryant break another special teams return for a TD. Also look for Purdue's front four to get more pressure on LeFevour than they have on previous opponents as CMU's O-line is the smallest Purdue has faced this season.
Boilerdowd:
I think the Boilers will break it open in the second half and win comfortably. The defense may score in this one as well...Our Boilers should have a good game as a team.
Purdue 44
CMU 18
J Money:
"52s are wild.... Central Michigan lost 52-7 and won 52-31 in their first two weeks, while the Boilers were putting up 52 points two weeks in a row. I look for Curtis Painter to continue to pick apart middling defenses as the Boilers move to 3-0 against a Chippewa team that can score some points but will certainly give up some, especially on the road. Will the Boilers score 52 for a third straight week? Why not? Purdue rolls onward, 52-21."
Purdue 52
CMU 21
Tim:
"I think Purdue brings the pain this week."
Purdue 65
CMU 31
With this offensive weapons our Boilers have displayed, I think they'll be solid for the entire '07 campaign. That said, you win championships on the defensive side of the ball. Here's to more of this in '07:
And less of this: