After going to a bowl game in 2011 and 2012, the Purdue Boilermakers plummeted last year to a 1-11 record, including going 0-8 in the Big 10 and they were outgained by 241.3 ypg in Big 10 play. That is a lot of ground to make and with 15 starters back they have a shot at making up some of that ground. Preview & Schedule are below.
Purdue had just 4 starters back on offense last year and it translated to averaging just 14.9 ppg. This year they have 8 starters back and should improve on last year’s numbers. QB Danny Etling returns after throwing for 1690 yards, 10 TDs and 7 INTs as a freshman last year. He should better with a year under his belt. The WR corps is the strength of this offense, with 5 players back they had at least 297 yards receiving last year. Overall their top 8 pass catchers from last year do return. The running game has experience with Akeem Hunt back, but he had only 454 yards last year and it looks like he will give way to Rakeem Mostert, who had just 37 yards rushing last year, but who also had a solid spring. The OL rates the worst in the Big 10 with just 2 starters back and 3 of the 5 starters being sophomores. The Boilermakers allowed a whopping 38 ppg last year. But should improve with 7 starters back this year. Even though it should be an improved defense id does have 5 underclassmen in the starting lineup and is rated as one of the worst defenses in the Big 10. Only two players return that had sacks last year and both had just 2 each, while just 6 of the teams interceptions from last year return.
Purdue had a miserable year in 2013 and while they will be better and more competitive this year, they still have a ton of ground to make up on the rest of the league. The offense will surely average more than 14.9 ppg, while the defense will give up less than 38 ppg, but the improvement may not show up a whole lot in their record. The schedule includes a neutral game vs the Irish and tough road games vs Minnesota, Nebraska and Indiana, plus they get Iowa, Michigan State, Wisconsin and Northwestern at home. They have non-conference home games vs W. Mich, C. Mich and Southern Illinois, plus a road game vs Illinois. I only see them going 2-2 in those games, while losing the rest on their schedule. 2-10 for the Boilers this year. KEY TREND: 0-8 ATS their last 8 games vs Wisconsin.
2014 Purdue Football Schedule
Aug. 30 Western Michigan
Sep. 6 Central Michigan
Sep. 13 Notre Dame (in Ind)
Sep. 20 Southern Illinois
Sep. 27 Iowa
Oct. 4 at Illinois
Oct. 11 Michigan State
Oct. 18 at Minnesota
Oct. 25 OPEN DATE
Nov. 1 at Nebraska
Nov. 8 Wisconsin
Nov. 15 OPEN DATE
Nov. 22 Northwestern
Nov. 29 at Indiana
Info gathered From Phil Steele's CFB Preview and Athlon Sports
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