Matchup Preview: Purdue-Wisconsin

Purdue at Wisconsin

Date/Time/Place: Saturday, Nov. 23 , 2019: 4:00 pm ET, Camp Randall Stadium

Surface: FieldTurf

Capacity: 80,231 (Tickets Available)

Schedule/records: Wisconsin 8-2 in 2019, 8-5 in 2018; Purdue 4-6 in 2019, 6-7 in 2018

Line: Wisconsin: -24

Series notes: Wisconsin leads the all-time series 48-29-8 and is on a 13-game winning streak versus Purdue dating back to the Boilermakers' 26-23 win in Camp Randall in 2003. It's the longest winning streak of any Purdue opponent against the Boilermakers. Purdue will be looking to reverse the trend of having lost 25 straight games to ranked teams on the road, dating back to the '03 win in Madison.

TV: FOX Network (Tim Brando, P-B-P; Spencer Tillman, Analyst; Coley Harvey, Field)

Radio (Purdue): Sirius 83 / XM 83/ Tunein.com (Tim Newton, play-by-play; Kelly Kitchel analyst; Nate Barrett, host). Pete Quinn will miss the game due to his mother-in-law's funeral. Due to the men's basketball game against Jacksonville State Saturday evening, radio will begin with Boilermaker Sports Wrap with Rob Blackman (substituting for Barrett who will be in Madison) and Alan Karpick. Airtime is "Wrap" is 2 p.m.

Pregame: Gold and Black Radio

Purdue roster | Purdue Schedule/results | Purdue Game Notes

Wisconsin Roster | Wisconsin Schedule/Results |Wisconsin Game Notes | Wisconsin Depth Chart

Madison Weather

MORE: Data Driven: A look at Wisconsin | Opponent view: Wisconsin | Coach's corner: O'Connell bracing for first foray into riotous Camp Randall | Number Crunching: Wisconsin Week | Brohm not 'truly optimistic' about Rondale Moore playing Saturday | Twin City Superstore Video: Purdue coach Jeff Brohm on Wisconsin, more | First Look: No 14 Wisconsin

Two words tell the whole story: Jonathan Taylor (No. 23). He has run roughshod against the Boilermakers the past two seasons, but coach Jeff Brohm and company shouldn't take that too personally. He has done it to just about everyone else, too.

The Badgers have successfully replaced four offensive linemen from last year, so expect the red and white to be able to grind it out. And this is likely to be Taylor's last appearance in Camp Randall Stadium as he is expected to be part of the 2020 NFL Draft, so that could provide extra incentive for him.

Also, Purdue will have to be dialed in when defending the Badgers misdirection game. Brohm said early this week that it has become a weapon again this year. Danny Davis III (6) had three rushes for 48 yards in the 37-21 win over Nebraska last week.

Holding the Badger ground game to under 250 yards might be considered a victory for Nick Holt's unit. Whether that will be enough to keep it a competitive game into the fourth quarter, however, remains to be seen.

Wisconsin's Jack Coan (17) drew his first start in last year's game in West Lafayette. And while he wasn't dominating in that contest, he was efficient enough. This year he has completed 72 percent of his passes. He was a little off last week in Lincoln (just 13-of-21 passing for 162 yards, if you call that off). The other Taylor (A.J. 4) is also a big-play threat with a 55-yard reception last week. The Badgers have several weapons at wideout that can cause Purdue angst, in addition to a capable receiver at tight end in Jake Ferguson (84). Coan, for whatever reason, hasn't spotted him as much in the past three games.

Can Purdue get enough pressure to somehow get Coan off balance? Can the Boilermakers somehow slow the Badgers' running game enough to make Coan beat them? All lofty aspirations for the Gold and Black to be sure, but it won't be easy for Purdue to execute.

The Badgers defense has been stout against the run, with the exceptions being against mobile quarterbacks it faced in Lincoln and Columbus. Sophomore quarterback Aidan O'Connell has been a miracle man to a great extent in the last two weeks, but it will be a lot to expect for him to morph into a running quarterback over the past two weeks. Purdue has to find a way to do enough damage in its ground game to allow it to throw the ball. It was surprising that Nebraska's Dedrick Mills had 188 rushing yards against the Badgers, including some big gains, but the Boilermakers have been challenged to do a lot on the ground for the entire 2019 season. Purdue is improving in this category, but it will take a season-best effort (and maybe more) to have enough impact to cost the hosts a great deal of concern in this category.

Last week, Nebraska quarterback Adrian Martinez was productive with his arm in additon to his legs. But he threw it just 23 times. One can expect O'Connell to throw it that many times in the first half, that is if the Boilermakers can move the chains sufficiently early in the game and retain possession.

The challenge will be keeping O'Connell upright if the Boilermaker ground game isn't productive. Linebackers Zach Baun (56) and Chris Orr (54) combined for three sacks last week and have caused offenses trouble all season.

Expect the Boilermakers to try to soften up the Badgers' secondary with a short passing game to tight end Brycen Hopkins and to freshman standout David Bell. It will likely be the best way for Purdue to hang on to the football and control the tempo of the contest.

Still, nothing comes easy in Madison, and the Boilermakers must avoid dropped passes knowing full well they have little, to no, margin for error.

This past week against Nebraska, Aron Cruickshank (1) silenced Lincoln's Memorial Stadium crowd thanks to an 89-yard kickoff return for a touchdown, so the Badgers return game figures to be a threat. Wisconsin hasn't been great in its place-kicking with Collin Larsh (19) connecting on just 10-of-15 field goals this season with limited range. His longest made field goal is 44 yards. He is 6-of-6 between 20 and 29 yards, but he has hit 4-of-9 from 30 yards or longer. Punter Anthony Lotti has become more consistent, with a 40 yard average.

J.D. Dellinger has been great for Purdue, a status elevated even more after the game-winning kick at Northwestern. Wisconsin has one blocked kick in 2019, so Purdue's rugby punt team, which had troubles against Nebraska, needs to be on guard. For the Boilermakers to have a chance to pull the upset, one figures it will need to find a lightning bolt in special teams to help its cause.

The challenge is, Wisconsin doesn't beat itself in any phase of the game very often.

It is Senior Day at Camp Randall, and Wisconsin has hopes of making a return trip to Pasadena in late December. To do that, it has to win its last two games and represent the West Division in Indianapolis. On paper, it is hard to build a scenario where Wisconsin sleep walks through Saturday's game.

Still, one can reasonably expect that the Boilermakers will give it all they have, and if the ball bounces their way, this game could be interesting into the second half. If the ball doesn't bounce in Purdue's favor, however, it is hard to imagine Wisconsin not doing what it usually does: controlling the game on the ground, and making it hard for the opponent to score points in bunches.

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