Purdue at Michigan State

Date/Time/Place: Saturday, Oct. 27, 2018, Noon ET , Spartan Stadium (75,005)

Records: Michigan State 4-3 overall, 2-2 Big Ten; Purdue 4-3, 2-1; In its most recent outing (Oct. 20), Michigan State struggled offensively in a 21-7 loss to No. 6 Michigan. The Spartans have been up and down of late and have lost two straight at home, also dropping a 29-19 decision to Northwestern on Oct. 6. Sandwiched between those losses, however, was an impressive win at No. 8 Penn State when the Spartans rallied late for a 21-17 win. Additionally, MSU defeated Central Michigan 31-20, won at Indiana (35-21), lost at Arizona State (16-13) and beat Utah State (38-31).

TV: ESPN (Mark Jones, play-by-play; Dusty Dvoracek, analyst; Molly McGrath sideline)

Radio (Purdue): Sirius 108/XM 388/ Tunein.com (Tim Newton, play-by-play; Pete Quinn, analyst; Rob Blackman, studio host)

Series notes: Michigan State has won the last seven games in the series to pull to a 35-28-3 advantage. The Boilermakers last victory in the series was Nov. 4, 2006 in East Lansing when kicker Casey Welch came off the bench with 4:49 left in the game to hit an 18-yard game-winning field goal. It was Welch's only field goal of his Boilermaker career. The two teams haven't played since Oct. 3, 2015, when No. 2 MSU had to hold on for a 24-21 victory, thanks in part to a 157-yard rushing effort by then freshman back Markell Jones. MSU coach Mark Dantonio is a perfect 7-0 against Purdue while this is Jeff Brohm's first meeting with Michigan State.

Pregame: Gold and Black Radio

Purdue roster | Purdue Schedule/Results | Purdue Game Notes | Purdue Depth Chart

Michigan State roster | Michigan State schedule/results | Michigan State Game Notes | MSU Depth Chart

Ticket info (Plenty available)

Local Weather

More: Number Crunching: 2018 Week 7/8 | Opponent View | Purdue bracing for real football | Wednesday post-practice video

Michigan State's injuries on its offense have been well documented, and the combination of being dinged up at both running back and on the offense line doesn't bode well for the Spartans. LJ Scott, who missed four games with an ankle injury, did return against Michigan last week, but managed just 25 yards in 10 carries. If Scott can return to form, he is dangerous as he rushed for nearly 1,000 yards in both 2016 and '17. Yet, Purdue's rush defense has been stout the past two weeks. Purdue must control this category to win in East Lansing.

Quarterback Brian Lewerke sustained a shoulder injury two weeks ago in the win at Penn State and was ineffective (to be nice, five of 25 passing for just 66 yards) last week in the home loss to Michigan. Still, Lewerke has practiced this week, but if he can't be effective throwing the ball downfield, don't be surprised if backup Rocky Lombardi gets the call. Last week's season-ending injury to receiver Felton Davis, the Spartans top big-play receiver, is devastating to an offense that has scored just 26 points in its past two games. Cody White, another big-play guy, was lost in Week 4, so the Spartans are in need of healthy options just about everywhere in their passing game.

The Spartans realize that if they are going to win more games this year, the defense will have to carry the day. And expect Purdue to have troubles running the football on Saturday as MSU gives up just 2.6 yards per carry and just 79 yards per game. The Boilermakers struggled for much of the game running against Ohio State, until D.J. Knox broke a couple of long TD runs. Michigan State has had a history of rising up when things look bleak under coach Mark Dantonio, so expect the Spartan front to be primed and ready for a physical battle with Purdue.

Quarterback David Blough could make Purdue history by passing for a fourth-consecutive 300-yard game, but it won't be easy against an MSU secondary. Despite giving up an average of 275 yards per game, MSU has experience at safety and cornerback and has nine picks and 16 sacks. It will be important for Purdue's receivers to be able to get off press coverage as MSU likes it corners close to the line of scrimmage. But that could open up opportunities in the middle for Boilermaker tight ends and Rondale Moore. If Purdue can limit turnovers and Moore can continue to play near the level he has of late, the Boilermakers can win this category. But it doesn't figure to be easy.

The Boilermakers will have to be mindful of MSU's trickery on special teams as Dantonio, like Brohm, loves to gamble in this area. Michigan State kicker Matt Coghlin hasn't missed a field goal attempt in eight tries in 2018, and is 23 of 27 for his career. His long in 2018 is 49 yards. The Spartans have seen injuries strike on special teams as well, as freshman Tyler Hunt had to replace Jake Hartbarger, who was injured in Week 2. Hunt has been decent, averaging just over 40 yards per kick. MSU's kickoff specialist Cole Hahn has 19 touchbacks in 35 kicks, so Moore may get a chance or two for a return. Purdue had a good week on special teams against Ohio State, and, at least on paper, should be able to compete on an equal level against the Spartans.

This is a rough one to predict as the oddsmakers have MSU as a point-and-a-half favorite. The Spartans fight hard when their back is against the wall, but Purdue has it all going for it heading to East Lansing. Weather could be a factor, and a rainy sloppy field might benefit MSU. One would think if the Boilermakers can get an early lead, the injury-riddled Spartans could be had. Brohm is in unchartered territory as a head coach coming off a win over a No. 2-ranked team, and how well his team keeps their feet on the ground may determine the outcome of this one.

Membership Info: Sign up for GoldandBlack.com now | Why join? | Questions?

Follow GoldandBlack.com: Twitter | Facebook

More: Gold and Black Illustrated/Gold and Black Express | Subscribe to our podcast

Copyright, Boilers, Inc. 2018. All Rights Reserved. Reproducing or using editorial or graphical content, in whole or in part, without permission, is strictly prohibited.