Purdue vs. Iowa - Homecoming Edition
That was fun!
Actual, real fun.
The Boilermakers return home after a two game road swing going 1-1 in that span. We won't talk about the first game. But OHHHHH BOY was that second game fun. To me, there's always something special about taking it to Illinois in Urbana-Champaign. A lot of good friends go there, as well as family that has gone there, so it is always nice to win and not be the worst for once.
Time to snap back to reality.
The Boilermakers host the Iowa Hawkeyes this Saturday, one of the most overrated teams in the Preseason. Everyone picked Iowa to be a darkhorse CFP contender again but after loses to both North Dakota State and Northwestern, that is no longer the reality. However, now they come to West Lafayette looking to get there season back on track.
There are a few big things working against us on Saturday,
1. It's Homecoming (we don't win homecoming games. 0-3 under Hazell.)
2. It's a game after a win (we really don't win games after a win. In fact, we get blownout pretty badly.)
3. Iowa is 8-0 in their last 8 road games (all under current QB CJ Beathard)
4. We haven't beaten Iowa in 4 years and only once in the last 8 (Oof.)
Hopefully however, the Boilers can continue this momentum from the Illinois game though. The first ever game winning field goal in overtime for a program sounds like a pretty significant momentum swing for a program right? Could The Fumble finally be exorcised? We shall see.
By the numbers, ESPN FPI gives Purdue an 18.8% chance to win. Vegas gives the Hawkeyes the spread with -12. THAT'S DOWN FROM -13 EARLIER IN THE WEEK GO BOILERS. Ahem. Iowa is still a very solid team and CJ Beathard is still a very solid QB. Beathard has a 60% completion rate on the year with 9 TD, 4 INT, and 1087 yards. Comparable to Blough's 57% completion rate on the year with 7 TD, 9 INT, and 1298 yards. Iowa also has a very potent attack with RB LeShun Daniels Jr. having 86 carries for 439 yards and 4 touchdowns and WR Matt VandeBerg having 19 receptions for 284 yards and 3 touchdowns.
Another number that makes Iowa very intimidating is 16.5 That is the amount of points allowed by Iowa's vaunted defense so far. However, the quality of that statistic maybe low as the allowed Northwestern to drop 38 on them. They have only played Minnesota, Northwestern, Rutgers, North Dakota State, and Iowa State, teams that are a combined 11-14.
One thing to watch for this game is Markell and Brian Lankford Johnson. BLJ is currently listed as the 3rd string RB even after his performance last Saturday. That is extremely puzzling. In my mind, Tario Fuller has done nothing to earn that 2nd spot but what do I know. Hopefully there is no injury or disciplinary issue we don't know about.
I hope this one is close. It is homecoming and I would love to see at least one homecoming win in my time here at Purdue. The weather looks beautiful with partly cloudy and 67 degrees at kickoff. Hopefully we bring this one home against OMHR.
Prediction Purdue 21 - Iowa 17
