Matchup Preview: Purdue-Iowa football
Purdue at Iowa
Time: 3:30 p.m. ET/2:30 p.m. local time
TV: BTN (Kevin Kugler, play-by-play; Matt Millen, analyst; Lisa Byington, sideline)
Radio (Purdue): Sirius 135 / XM 196 / Tunein.com (Tim Newton, play-by-play; Pete Quinn, analyst; Kelly Kitchel, sideline; Rob Blackman, host)
Pregame: Gold and Black Radio, 11 a.m. Friday | Gold and Black LIVE, 2 p.m. Friday
Purdue roster | Purdue Schedule/Results | Purdue Game Notes
Iowa roster | Iowa schedule/Results | Iowa Game Notes
More: Coordinator's Corner: Nick Holt ($) | Holt's linebackers delivering ($) | Tight ends looking for more production, more | Purdue gets WR commitment
Analysis ($): Vs.: Cooler play? | Mailbag: Projecting lines
Iowa run game vs. Purdue against the run
With Purdue's startling success defending the run this season, it is getting to the point where one can assume the Boilermakers will will be able to slow Iowa down. The Hawkeyes average 131.7 rushing yards per game, near the bottom of the league, but average 4.9 yards per carry at home in conference play, compared to just 1.8 on the road. Featured back Akrum Wadley is seventh in the conference (78.4) and ran wild on Purdue with 170 yards in 2016 ... but that was so last year. Iowa will do better than it did last week against Wisconsin when it rushed for 26 yards on 25 carries (how couldn't it?), but how much better may tell the tale of how close Saturday's game will be.
Iowa passing game vs. Purdue against the pass
Quarterback Nathan Stanley's follow-up to his five-touchdown performance in the shocking win over Ohio State on Nov. 4 wasn't good: Stanley managed just 8-of-24 completions at Wisconsin last week. But Stanley and the Hawkeyes have been much more comfortable at home and will not reach the depths of the Kirk Ferentz Era-low 66 yards in total offense. That is especially likely against a Purdue pass defense that hasn't been able to slow the opponent down for most of 2017. Tight ends Noah Fant and T.J. Hockenson are weapons with 10 touchdowns between them, and wide receiver Nick Easley has been consistent, but maybe not spectacular, in 2017.
Purdue rushing game vs. Iowa against the run
Purdue abandoned the run early last week and has yet to show this season that it can run the football effectively against an upper-echelon Big Ten defense. The expected windy conditions may force Purdue to dabble in the run game a bit more on Saturday, and Iowa has given up 183.4 yards per game in conference play. But that number is skewed a bit, because the Hawkeyes' cross-over games have been brutal (Penn State, Michigan State and Ohio State), and they have already faced Northwestern and Wisconsin, too. Purdue will need to run the ball more than the 22 times it did last week to win. And do it more effectively.
Purdue passing game vs. Iowa against the pass
Iowa's defense has been opportunistic this season, and defensive back Josh Jackson's five interceptions in the last two weeks has been astounding. So the Boilermakers need to be careful in the passing game. Quarterback Elijah Sindelar got into a rhythm last week, especially in the second half, so there is optimism that the Boilermakers will be able to move the ball through the air. But Purdue's offensive line must keep him upright as he was hit plenty of times by Northwestern. Expect Iowa to try to do more of the same. Iowa ranks tied for 49th nationally in sacks, averaging 2.2 per game.
Special teams
The Hawkeyes have run more trick plays on special teams than at any time under Ferentz, so the Boilermakers best be on alert. Neither team is distinguished in the return game, and while the Hawkeyes have struggled a bit with its punting, net punting between the teams is nearly equal. Kicker Miguel Recinos has been really consistent this year, hitting 9-of-11, including 4-of-4 from 40-49 yards. Purdue is just 2-of-7 from that distance. This may give the home team a slight edge in this category. Very slight.
Intangibles
Senior Day and the humiliation of last week's effort at Wisconsin (especially on the heels of its shocking blowout of Ohio State a week earlier) will almost certainly have Iowa fired up. Purdue has hit the wall a bit of late but was impressive in the fact it didn't give up after trailing by nearly three touchdowns against Northwestern. Purdue's effort has been consistent this year, but will it be enough to pull a surprise on the road?
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