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NCAA Football

Week 9: Purdue vs. Michigan Preview & Free Pick

Purdue vs Michigan

The Michigan Wolverines are coming off a bye week. Purdue is coming off a surprising win over the Fighting Illini of Illinois.

Kyle Hunter
Kyle Hunter

Michigan is looking to prove that its 6-0 start wasn’t a fluke this year, while Purdue is looking to pick up a couple more wins and become bowl eligible. These two will battle in the Big House this Saturday afternoon.

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Purdue vs. Michigan
Michigan Stadium
Saturday October 29, 12:00 PM EST
NCAA Football Odds from BetOnline
Moneyline: Michigan (-500) Purdue (+405)
College Football Spread: Michigan -13.5 (-115) Purdue +13.5 (-105)
Over/Under: 52.5

After the Boilermakers were beaten 38-10 at home by Notre Dame, it appeared the season may just fall apart. Purdue has shown some impressive resiliency since that difficult loss. Purdue throttled Minnesota, narrowly lost at Penn State, then surprised Illinois last week. Danny Hope’s team has a difficult schedule the rest of the way, so we will see just how much this team has improved.

Rob Henry was expected to be the starting quarterback for Purdue, but he tore his ACL just a few days before the beginning of the season. Caleb TerBush and Robert Marve have shared time under center this season. TerBush has established himself as the primary quarterback at this point.

TerBush is a mobile quarterback who can keep the play alive and keep the defense on its heels. Ralph Bolden and Akeem Shavers give the Boilermakers a solid tailback tandem. The team doesn’t really have a deep threat in the passing game. Purdue’s defense has done a nice job limiting the damage this year.

The Boilermakers are allowing just 20 points per game. The secondary has been very good all year long. [soliloquy id=”82219″]

Michigan has had a couple weeks to ponder what went right in their loss against Michigan State. The time off has been great for Denard Robinson, who suffered a minor back injury in the game at East Lansing. Robinson has been as dynamic as ever on the ground this year. He has 762 yards and nine rushing touchdowns already in 2011.

Fitzgerald Touissant has also stepped up his game as Michigan’s top tailback this year. Touissant is averaging 5.4 yards per carry, and he takes some of the pressure off Robinson in the running game. The passing attack hasn’t been very successful this year.

Robinson has thrown 11 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. He has only completed 53% of his passes. Roy Roundtree had 72 catches last year, but he has only 12 through seven games this season.

Michigan’s much improved defense is the primary reason this team is 6-1 so far this year. The defense was the worst in school history last year, but they are much better this season. This unit has forced more turnovers than any other defense in the country. Michigan ranks 28th in the nation in total defense, but they allow only 14.7 points per game. If this unit continues to play so well, Michigan should continue its resurgence.

Purdue has had some trouble stopping the run this year, and Michigan will be the best rushing attack they have faced. The Wolverines should be angry and ready to go in this coming off a bye week. I think Michigan rolls in this game.

Free College Football Pick: Michigan -13.5
Score Prediction: Michigan 34 Purdue 13

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By Kyle Hunter

Kyle Hunter sports picks – A degree in finance and a great ability to follow important trends and statistics set him apart from the rest. Totals are Kyle's specialty, so look for a lot of totals picks from NBA, NCAAF, & the NFL. Check out his plays today.