Scarlet Sunrise: Occasional rain showers in forecast for Ohio State-Purdue

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Occasional rain showers in forecast for Ohio State-Purdue

The spotlight this week has been on the Ohio State run game. The No. 3 Buckeyes (5-0, 2-0 Big Ten) netted just 62 yards on the ground last week against Maryland, their fewest in a game since they recorded a mere 35 in a 10-7 loss to Michigan State in 2011.

Ohio State ranks 97th nationally in rushing offense (131.6 yards per game). But head coach Ryan Day made it clear Tuesday that his team isn’t abandoning the run.

They might not have a choice Saturday at Purdue (2-4, 1-2), anyway.

ICYMI: ‘We’ll keep swinging’: Despite struggles, Ohio State won’t abandon run game
ICYMI: Justin Frye evaluating scheme, coaching for ‘frustrated’ Buckeyes offensive line

Rain is expected at Ross-Ade Stadium, where the grass field could turn muddy quickly.

As of Friday night, here’s the hourly forecast in West Lafayette, via AccuWeather:

• 12 p.m. — 56º, 51% chance of rain, winds 10 mph, gusts 27 mph
• 1 p.m. — 56º, 47% chance of rain, winds 10 mph, gusts 25 mph
• 2 p.m. — 56º, 47% chance of rain, winds 10 mph, gusts 25 mph
• 3 p.m. — 55º, 51% chance of rain, winds 12 mph, gusts 29 mph
• 4 p.m. — 54º, 47% chance of rain, winds 14 mph, gusts 30 mph

If you’re going to the game, pack a rain jacket and something warm. Ohio State will have to pack its lunch pail.

Ohio State vs. Purdue: Game time, details

Ohio State leads the all-time series, 40-15-2. The teams have played just twice in the last decade, starting with an iconic upset in a sold-out Ross-Ade Stadium in 2018. Purdue thumped the then-No. 2 Buckeyes, 49-20, effectively knocking Ohio State out of College Football Playoff contention. The Boilermakers were playing for Tyler Trent, a 20-year-old Purdue student and Boilermakers Superfan who was dealing with osteosarcoma, a rare form of bone cancer. Trent passed in 2019, but his memory — and his team’s remarkable 29-point win over Ohio State — is an integral part of Purdue history.

Ohio State hosted Purdue back in 2021, and the Buckeyes came away with a 59-31 win. That time, it was a top-20 matchup between the Big Ten crossover opponents. The stars of the show in 2018 were Purdue quarterback David Blough, wide receiver Rondale Moore and running back D.J. Knox. In 2021, however, Buckeyes playmakers stole the spotlight, namely quarterback C.J. Stroud, wideout Garrett Wilson and the running back duo of Miyan Williams and TreVeyon Henderson.

• Time: 12 p.m. E.T.
• TV Channel: N/A (only streaming on NBC’s Peacock)
• Date: Saturday, Oct. 14
• Location: Ross-Ade Stadium, West Lafayette, Indiana
• Weather: At kickoff: 56º, 51% chance of rain, winds 10 mph, gusts 27 mph
• The line: Ohio State is a 17.5-point favorite, per FanDuel.
• Over/under: 52.5 points

Series fun fact

This stat is courtesy of Lettermen Row beat reporter Spencer Holbrook, and it’s not as much “fun” as it is interesting: If you’ve been the Ohio State head coach since 1947, you’ve lost a road game to Purdue. Urban Meyer lost at Purdue in 2018. Luke Fickell fell victim to the house of horrors that is Ross-Ade Stadium for the Buckeyes in 2011. Jim Tressel lost at Purdue in both 2004 and 2009. John Cooper’s 2000 Ohio State team suffered a defeat to the Boilermakers in West Lafayette.

Go back further, and you’ll see that Earle Bruce, Woody Hayes and Wes Fessler also lost road games to Purdue. Ryan Day isn’t on that list. He’ll try to keep it that way this weekend.

Ohio State vs. Purdue gambling notes, trends

• Ohio State is 2-2-1 against the spread this season, failing to cover against both Indiana and Youngstown State but covering against Western Kentucky and Maryland, while pushing at Notre Dame
• The Buckeyes have went over the total just once in their first five games
• Ohio State is 3-5 at Purdue since 2000
• Ohio State is 4-8 against the spread in its last 12 games against Purdue
• The total has gone under in five of Ohio State’s last seven road games at Purdue
• Purdue is 2-6 in its last eight games against the spread
• Purdue is 2-4 against the spread this season
• The total has gone over in three of the six games Purdue has played this season
• The Buckeyes are 2-4 against the spread in its last six Big Ten games

Bold predictions for Buckeyes against Purdue

The Lettermen Row staff expects Ohio State to handle Purdue in Week 7, even with the elements in play and the series of unfortunate events that have unfolded for the Buckeyes in West Lafayette over the years. But the crew went deeper than their score picks to make bold predictions about what will happen in Ross-Ade Stadium.

READ: Bold Predictions for Buckeyes in road trip to Purdue

Stick with Lettermen Row for wall-to-wall game-day coverage

Lettermen Row will be on site for comprehensive coverage of the latest Ohio State matchup, as the Buckeyes look to pick up their first win at Purdue in 10 years. Follow along on Twitter, Instagram and YouTube for experienced coverage.

Counting down

Buckeyes vs. Purdue: 0 days
Buckeyes vs. Michigan: 42 days

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