Staff Predictions: Michigan football vs. Purdue, Big Ten title game

Raise your hand if you picked Michigan vs. Purdue in the Big Ten championship game.

And if you did, congratulations … but you’re either a liar, or you’re like that NCAA Tournament office pool person who picks the teams based on mascots or their “pretty color scheme.”

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Michigan wasn’t exactly a huge stretch, though it was unanimous among 35 writers in a preseason poll that Ohio State would reclaim their spot at the top of the Big Ten. They didn’t, of course … and as expected, they didn’t handle it very well. Unfortunately, many of the signs for mental health support on campus had the ‘M’ crossed out, so Columbus area dental health clinics were inundated with calls when Buckeyes fans couldn’t put 2 and 2 together.

We’re hopeful they got the help they needed (and at the very least, it solved at least some of the “bad teeth” problem in the state). We can’t imagine how bad it will be after next year, when J.J. McCarthy, Donovan Edwards and Co. make it three straight.

But back to the Purdue “don’t call us spoilermakers” Fighting Brohms, who survived the Big Ten West and emerged with a winning record, which consequently was good enough this year. It was going to be Wisconsin, Illinois, Iowa — even Nebraska got a few votes from the uninformed — before Purdue came out of nowhere to be this year’s sacrificial lamb.

That’s how it appears, anyway. But they’ve got nothing to lose, and a playbook of tricks thicker thank Coach Klein’s in The Waterboy.

You never know.

Congratulations to Anthony Broome, the only one with the cajones big enough to pick a Michigan win in Columbus. He’s on a roll. This week’s winner receives our respect and a Philly Original and cheese fries from Mr. Spot’s, the best comfort food in town.

The Picks:

CHRIS BALAS: Michigan isn’t healthy … but hell, they didn’t need to be to beat Ohio State in Columbus, either. The Wolverines have enough in the tank to beat Purdue for their second Big Ten title in two years (and counting?). Michigan 34, Purdue 17

JOHN BORTON: The Big Ten West is inching ever closer to a breakthrough in the conference championship game. Anyone dreaming that Michigan can pull off a 42-3 rout like it did against Iowa in last year’s title contest is dreaming.

Sure, the Wolverines put Ohio State in its place during a dominant second half, but that’s starting to become the norm. This is Purdue, with the cumulative pride of the Big Ten West on the line. The Boilermakers and their Big Ten West brethren aren’t waiting for USC and UCLA to come in and bail them out. They’re ready to assert themselves NOW. Michigan 38, Purdue 13

CLAYTON SAYFIE: Purdue is 3-0 against top-five teams under head coach Jeff Brohm (they don’t call ’em the Spoilermakers for nothin’), and the Boilermakers will be playing with nothing to lose. That house money will run out, though, against a Michigan team determined to finish the season 15-0 with a national championship. 

The Boilermakers have a formidable passing attack, but Michigan’s defense has proven it can shut those down. And the Purdue defense has struggled against above-average opponents. We’ll see more of quarterback J.J. McCarthy, who has an increased confidence level following the Ohio State game, Donovan ‘The Don’ Edwards and others stepping up with Michigan still a bit banged up. Michigan 42, Purdue 17

ANTHONY BROOME: Michigan has come too far to let things slip away now. This is a group that does not ride emotional highs or get too bent out of shape when things do not go their way. Purdue is probably the preferred team of any they could have seen from the West, but they can score on you and throw the ball a bit. This is a Michigan group that is on a happy mission, and it should continue with another step towards their ultimate goal of a national title. Michigan 38, Purdue 20

DOUG SKENE: Will Michigan take Purdue lightly?  That question has been raised in the last few days.  When a championship trophy is on the line there will be no letdown.  Purdue’s QB can sling it so the challenge will be real.  Michigan is going to run the football then run it some more. Michigan 38, Purdue 16