Derailing Trains in Indiana

Purdue is perhaps the hardest teams to pick apart going into this season. They at times last year looked like a team that was improving, and at others like a team that should be playing intramurals.

In Madison last season they looked like a team that had lost it's way, becoming the first Big Ten shutout for the Badgers since 1999. When the Buckeyes came into West Lafeyette the Boilermakers were a completely different team. While the upset over Ohio State came just two weeks before the shutout by the Badgers, the Boilermakers looked like a team that was improving.

Unfortunately an upset for Purdue at Ross Ade Stadium won't come against the Badgers this season. The Boilermaker defense needs a lot of work, and needs to replace their best player front a year ago. Mike Neal's departure will leave a huge hole for Purdue to fill coming into this season, and expect Wisconsin to exploit that weakness with John Clay and Montee Ball.

The Purdue offense is not without it's own questions heading into the season. For one the task of replacing Joey Elliot at quarterback is a large one, but they do bring in a transfer from a major college program. Robert Marve is going to be the starter in week one for the Boilermakers, and one would expect the former Miami Hurricane to still be the starter in October.

Questions at quarterback can not be good for a team that may not have their starting running back. The Big Ten's third leading rusher, Ralph Bolden, hurt his knee in spring practice, and a return date is still unknown. Even if Bolden is able to be on the field in early November; it is unlikely he will be back at full speed.

So with a defense that is still growing and improving, and an offense that can only pass with a new quarterback means a lot of problems for the Boilermakers. Expect Wisconsin to exploit a lot of these problems and derail the Boilermakers in West Lafeyette. And the possibility of a second shutout against the Boilermakers in two years is not out of the realm of possibilities.

Boynton's Badgers Prediction: Badgers 28 Boilermakers 3

....hey we'll give them three just so they can honk the horn.