GoldandBlack.com Predictions: Purdue-Nevada

There's really no ifs, ands or buts about it for the Boilermakers as Nevada's grueling travel slate brings the Wolf Pack (2-1) to Indiana for the second time in two weekends, by way of Reno and en route to Oahu.

Here are our GoldandBlack.com staff predictions for the Boilermakers' meeting with Nevada.

KYLE CHARTERS

This game is concerning for many reasons:

• Nevada rushes the ball and Purdue can't stop the rush.

• Purdue is without its two starting tackles, with the two backups having played only sparingly this season. And one, Jalen Neal, being a JUCO transfer who is going to be thrust into a starting role at a critical position, at left tackle. If he or Cameron Cermin should get hurt, then ... ? Purdue would probably have to move Jordan Roos outside, then shuffle everyone else around.

• Markell Jones says he's good to go, but is he? The Boilermakers need him to be able to steady what's been a turnover-prone offense.

• Purdue needs to slow James Butler down enough to be able to force the game into the QB's hands.

We'll see. It's a lot. And the Boilermakers faded against Cincinnati two weeks ago, in yet another game that many — myself included — thought it would win.

Am I feeling a little burned?

Yes. Nevada 30, Purdue 27

STACY CLARDIE

To be clear, it may say Nevada is the winner in this prediction, but that's not because I am pro-Nevada. I just got burned last week picking Cincinnati when I really, truly believed Purdue was "different." So now I'm totally in show-me stage.

I think Purdue's defense will be challenged with all the motions and shifts and formations Nevada's offense will throw out there. If there ever were a game to be assignment-sound, this is it.

Can Purdue be?

I think Purdue's offense can take advantage of Nevada's Cover 1 defense that likely won't press DeAngelo Yancey and Domonique Young, but can two new starting tackles give David Blough enough time to make plays?

We'll see. Nevada 28, Purdue 27

ALAN KARPICK

A sure sign that I am in trouble with this prediction is that my Gold and Black colleagues are buying the Boilermakers this week.

Despite that low-level, unintended ostracization, I still like the Boilermakers in this one.

If Purdue can get confidence early while the Wolf Pack is still dealing with the 9 a.m. PT start time, it can get the victory.

Purdue should have a field day running the football, and if it can eliminate mistakes, I think the game is close, but the Boilermakers will prevail.If you are Purdue, you don’t want to even think about the alternative. Purdue 31, Nevada 28

BRIAN NEUBERT

Nevada is college football's version of George Clooney in 'Up In The Air' right now, the Wolf Pack being in the midst of a four-game stretch that my sources (Google) tell me will span roughly 20,000 miles.

Advantage: Purdue.

I guess.

Look, you lose to Cincinnati at home sometimes because Cincinnati is just better; you get blown out by Cincinnati at home because you yourself have issues.

And that's where Purdue is right now, a team that has to show it can beat anyone before it can be expected to beat anyone. It's difficult to put much faith in a defense that again looks like what it's been for the better part of a decade and this offensive tackle situation should set off piercing sirens. That appears to be, shall we say, a bit of a problem.

I don't know if Nevada is a very good team; I do know that the relevance of such things would matter more if Purdue were in a better place than it is and has been.

If something is to be made of this season, winning Saturday is non-negotiable.

But like I said, Purdue has to show it can play at a winning level before it can be expected to. Nevada 27, Purdue 23

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