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After an emotional jolt lifted it at Nebraska, Purdue seemed to flat-line sometime around halftime against Penn State last weekend in a 62-24 loss in Ross-Ade Stadium.

Now, it needs its ship steadied again. It won't be easy at Minnesota, a physical running team seemingly well-suited to exploit Purdue's vulnerabilities.

Here are our GoldandBlack.com staff predictions.

Couldn't be many worse matchups for the Boilermakers.

As you might have heard, Purdue can't stop the run and Minnesota likes to run, to the point where it did so in 48 of 67 snaps in the win over Illinois last week. And the Gophers run more they pass at about a 2-to-1 clip.

The Boilermakers haven't been able to stop the run, like at a historically bad pace, and the personnel issues, with injuries and disciplinary absences, only further the issue. The cornerbacks, whoever it is that lines up there this week, have hurt Purdue's pass defense, but more so the rush. They've just not been able to support the run defense, getting pinned outside and unable to fight free. That has adversely affected the defense more than anything else. And it's almost assuredly going to show up again on Saturday. How could it not?

Purdue played on enough emotion the first two games of Gerad Parker's tenure, and that got them enough for solid first halves. But with the loses, the belief begins to wane. Fear for that happening on Saturday. Minnesota 40, Purdue 23

The Gophers are good in areas - running the ball, getting pressure on QB - Purdue struggles in.

The Boilermakers have yet to show they can execute consistently in any area for a whole game. First half inspired performances are nice but only continue to point to an inability to finish. Hard to think that'll be much different Saturday. Minnesota 34, Purdue 17

People may chuckle a bit, but Minnesota pretty much controls its own destiny in the West Division, so one would think Purdue will have the Gophers’ attention.

Yet, this is the same Minnesota team that barely beat Rutgers at home two weeks ago. I expect Gerad Parker to have Purdue fired up, and I also would expect that as the game goes on, the Boilermakers will struggle to maintain that intensity level. If Purdue struggles at the point of attack and doesn’t control the clock with an ability to run the football, it could be a long day at TCF Bank Stadium.

It’s a similar refrain for Purdue: Slow the run game or get blown out. Minnesota 31, Purdue 17

I can't add anymore here than has already been said - I'm last alphabetically - but just want to mention that I think matchups, as unfavorable as they are, are one thing, but effort is another.

Purdue got a spark at Nebraska, lost it against Penn State. In order to overcome a difficult matchup, crippling injuries and the sheer reality of its situation, Purdue has to regain that whatever it was, anything it can get that might help it play over its collective head.

It will need to. Minnesota 27, Purdue 14

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