GoldandBlack.com Predictions: Purdue-Maryland

Purdue hits the road for the first time this season to open Big Ten play against Maryland, a 3-0 team under new coach D.J. Durkin who probably can't quite be considered as proven yet.

The Boilermakers are in much the same boat, 2-1 after non-conference play and coming off an important, but flawed, win over Nevada last weekend.

This will be a test for a Purdue that looked good against the Wolf Pack but will be challenged by the Terrapins' potent running game.

Here are our GoldandBlack.com staff predictions.

KYLE CHARTERS

I'm not yet on board with the Boilermakers.

Because every time I do am, they fall flat, losing a game that many thought they could win. It happened only a couple weeks ago. I'm not getting sucked into that again.

And Maryland does some things that are concerning, mainly that read-option running game that can be a headache for defenses. The Boilermakers were much better against the run last week, setting the edges and staying in their lanes, then slowing down the Wolf Pack enough to let help arrive.

But the Terps have a better scheme and better athletes. It wouldn't shock me either if DJ Durkin pulls a fast one and goes more with freshman option quarterback Tyrrell Pigrome. With Purdue playing nickel against Maryland's spread offense, a quick running quarterback might be a nightmare. If Purdue limits the turnovers, then I think it can certainly play with Maryland, and perhaps get into a track meet.

But I'll take the Terps. Maryland 28, Purdue 25

STACY CLARDIE

In Darrell Hazell's tenure, Purdue has yet to win back-to-back games. It's yet to prove that one "good" week means another will follow.

So though the defense had one of its better games of the last three seasons, it'll face a stiffer test against a Big Ten opponent this week and one that will require even more discipline, if that's a thing, and nearly flawless execution against the zone read.

Maryland has skill position players who make big plays out of nothing, using shake & elusiveness. That's kind of the hope of the offense. Purdue's safeties (and everyone) need to tackle better. Not sure they will.

The "show me" on offense is all about ball security. I like Terry Malone's play-calling & think Purdue can score ... if it doesn't turn it over. Gotta prove it can limit mistakes. Would suspect Malone will dial up quick reads & quick passes for David Blough, maybe get him rolling out to the right some, to help alleviate pressure that potentially could come from Jalen Neal's left side.

If Neal isn't considerably better early -- no whiffs allowed -- he better get benched. Blough needs to be Purdue's QB. I think Purdue can win this game, but I can't shake that double-digit loss margin after victories. Maryland 27, Purdue 26

ALAN KARPICK

Purdue took steps in the right direction last week in a couple of key areas last week: Making clutch plays when it mattered, and stopping the run. Both of those key ingredients to winning on the road in the Big Ten will be put to the test again Saturday in College Park.

I like the way quarterback David Blough is handling himself, as he seems to have the reins on the position.

For Purdue to have any chance this weekend, he will have to manage the offense efficiently. Maryland is far from a great team, but they have confidence and a new coaching staff which brings energy.

If Purdue can slow the Terps rushing game, this one will be interesting in the fourth quarter. If not … Maryland 30, Purdue 24

BRIAN NEUBERT

Look, 2-1 is a hell of a lot better than the alternative for Purdue, but it's difficult to look past the imperfections in the Boilermakers' two wins thus far and even more difficult to put out of mind the Cincinnati handling when trying to figure out what's to come now that the competition level takes a bump up.

Turnovers are a real problem and Purdue was fortunate to get away with five of them last week. I know turnovers are correctable, but this has also been a program prone to crippling spells of all kinds of giveaways and that has to remain a fear until proven otherwise. I still think that Purdue's offensive tackle situation is a four-alarm fire and would worry if I were Purdue that the Boilermakers have been prone to drops.

I also am suspect of a defense that played really well against Nevada but still has to be considered a real question mark.

These are critical games. If Purdue's going to do anything of significance this season, this run of seemingly beatable opponents to start conference play represents a golden opportunity and these first two games in particular — Maryland, then Illinois next weekend — being two that will decide whether this staff has any chance to come out of this season unscathed. In my opinion, at least. Maryland 27, Purdue 21

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