Minnesota Football

Minnesota vs. Purdue Preview: Week 8 - The Boilers Are Heating Up

In what is becoming a common theme, Purdue comes into this Saturday playing better than the beginning of the season.

By GoAUpher@GoAUpher Oct 17, 2014, 2:09pm CDT

Opening Thoughts

Oh look, another team that has decided to play better before playing Minnesota. Thanks Purdue. Seriously though, this game is more interesting (relative term, some would say fear inducing) than it looked like it would be just a few weeks ago. Michigan State definitely did things to keep Purdue in the game last week, but no one should allow read that and suddenly think Purdue's improvement is a mirage.

At the same time, I really don't think people should be worried. Wary perhaps, but Minnesota is still the better team. The strengths of this Gophers team still match up well with Purdue's weaknesses. Can Purdue win? Certainly. Will they win? No, they won't. And yes, despite this being the game the Gophers have always "Gopher'd" in the past I believe that wholeheartedly.

Gnome #TAKES

What does Football Helmet Gnome think of Purdue?

Ok, I guess the FHG thinks Purdue is on mushrooms or acid or something. Though that would explain Purdue Pete's eyes...

Light Pre-Preview Reading

TDG Links

Models & Bottles - Purdue

Throwback Thursday - 100 Years Of Homecoming

Rival Blogger Q&A - Hammer and Rails

Gophers Depth Chart - Week 8

Enemy Links

Q&A with The Daily Gopher

Purdue vs. Minnesota - H&R Staff Picks

When/Where

Date: Saturday, October 18th

Kickoff Time: 11 AM CT

Where: TCF Bank Stadium, Minneapolis, MN

Watch/Listen

TV: Big Ten Network

Streaming Video: BTN2Go

Radio: KFAN (100.3 in the Twin Cities) and the Gopher Radio Network (Radio Affiliates).

Streaming Audio: Locate KFAN on IHeartRadio (or the IHeartRadio app for your mobile device)

Satellite Radio: SiriusXM 196; Sirius 119; XM 196

Odds

Spread: Minnesota by 13.5 - 14

O/U: 48.5-49

Weather Forecast:

For the tailgate:

At kickoff:

For the postgame party:

Cool and sunny. Sounds like a perfect day for a football game!

THE ENEMY

Where Are They From? West Lafayette, IN...The Hoosier State

All Time Series: MN leads 34-32-3

Last Game: 44-28 win by Minnesota at home in 2012. Otherwise known as "The Sluggo Game" by...well, probably just me and Matt.

SB Nation Blog: Hammer and Rails

Last Season:

2014 Season to Date:

3-4, with closer than anticipated losses to Notre Dame, Iowa, and Michigan State.

Head Coach: Darrell Hazell (2nd season, 4-15 overall, 1-10 B1G)

Players to Watch:

1) Austin Appleby (QB - Sophmore): This is the guy Purdue fans seem to be crediting with their recent turnaround.

2) Akeem Hunt (RB - Senior): I just have a feeling he's going to have a better game then we'd like. #gutcalls

3) Well shoot, my plane is boarding. #3 is any defender capable of making an interception happen. I don't like you faceless defender and I want you to not be good at intercepting things tomorrow.

Keys to the Game:

- Make Purdue pay for stacking the box. Did I use this last week? Yes. Is it still extremely important? Yes, unless Purdue is content to let Cobb run all over them.

- No turnovers. The Gophers beat teams that aren't as good as they are when they don't turn the ball over. Period.

- Field position. I am 100% on board with a "pin them deep and let the D hold them off" win if that's what it comes to.

How Afraid Am I?

On a scale of 1 to 5 "Brewsters on his face" (1 being not a afraid, 5 being very afraid)?

2 Tim Brewsters.

I'm feeling good, what can I say?

Completely Worthless Prediction:

I think Purdue comes out hot, maybe even giving us a scare. But the Gophers assert themselves, take control, and the 4th quarter never feels in doubt even if the score is closer. Minnesota 24 - Purdue 14.