GoldandBlack.com Predictions: Notre Dame at Purdue

Purdue’s first marquee game of the season is here, as 18th-ranked Notre Dame returns to the schedule and visits Ross-Ade Stadium Saturday afternoon.

Our GoldandBlack.com staff predictions …

MIKE CARMIN, CONTRIBUTOR

Overall Thought: We still don’t know who the Boilermakers are after beating Indiana State, but they won’t find a better situation against a marquee opponent for the rest of the season. A week off after the 56-0 victory. As close to a full and healthy roster as possible. A home game inside a juiced Ross-Ade Stadium against a program America wants to see lose. It’s all there for the taking. Notre Dame is playing for College Football Playoff survival in mid-September.

*The* Key To The Game: Both lines of scrimmage. Purdue must establish a ground game with Devin Mockobee leading the way. The defensive front has to win the battle against Notre Dame’s shaky offensive line and make life uncomfortable for quarterback Riley Leonard, who hasn’t thrown a TD in the first two games.

Your Pick To Click (offense): Hudson Card. The quarterback will be a popular choice in this space but doesn’t need to be 24 of 25 to lead Purdue to a victory. But Card must avoid turnovers, keep the offense on the field and produce a handful of big plays down the field.

Your Pick To Click (defense): Kydran Jenkins. These are games when future NFL players must shine. The star linebacker is a future NFL player. When the Boilermakers become the Spoilermakers it’s because NFL-caliber talent shows up on the biggest stage.

Spiciest Take: How long until the student section starts chanting, “NIU, NIU.”

Predicted Score: Purdue 22, Notre Dame 19. I snickered at Alan Karpick’s suggestion that the Boilermakers would win this game three weeks ago, but I have joined the man who signs the paychecks. 

TOM DIENHART, GOLDANDBLACK.COM

Overall Thought: This game couldn’t set up any better for Purdue. It checked about every box in a 49-0 opening laugher. It had an off week to get healthy. Notre Dame looks vulnerable after an upset home loss. You get the picture. Carpe diem!

*The* Key To The Game: Make ND QB Riley Leonard beat you throwing the ball.

Your Pick To Click (offense): RB Devin Mockobee. Thought I was gonna say “Hudson Card,” didn’t you? But the key to make the attack go will be Purdue’s ability to run the ball. NIU did it vs. ND. Can the Boilers? If so, the offense should shine.

Your Pick To Click (defense): CB Tarrion Grant. The staff loves the true frosh, who will get a baptism by fire. He’ll rise to the occasion by making his first INT, as the Irish will test him time and again.

Spiciest Take: Spencer Porath will nail a 50-yard field goal. The last 50-yarder by a Boilermaker? J.D. Dellinger drilled a 53-yarder in 2019 vs. TCU.

Predicted Score: Notre Dame 28, Purdue 27

ALAN KARPICK, GOLDANDBLACK.COM

Overall Thought: It’s showtime for Purdue.

*The* Key To The Game: Purdue’s ability to average 4.5 yards per rush.

Your Pick To Click (offense): Devin Mockobee

Your Pick To Click (defense): Will Heldt

Spiciest take: My score prediction below.

Predicted Score: Purdue 24, Notre Dame 23

JORDAN JONES, CONTRIBUTOR

Overall Thought: Eleven years ago, Darrell Hazell-led Purdue somehow hung in a game against a Notre Dame team fresh off a BCS National Championship Game appearance. A lot has changed for both programs since the Fighting Irish last visited West Lafayette, but one thing remains the same: Purdue enters as a double-digit underdog with a huge opportunity for a young coach.

*The* Key To The Game: Make Notre Dame throw the ball. Maybe Riley Leonard will beat Purdue through the air, but that’s better than the slow death of a dominating run game. 

Your Pick To Click (offense): Hudson Card. The stage is set for Card to have his own classic Purdue quarterback moment on a big stage. Notre Dame’s secondary is elite, but for Purdue to have a chance, Card needs to have his A-game.

Your Pick To Click (defense): Dillon Thieneman. Something about the in-state kid who Notre Dame didn’t offer out of high school. He snags one from Leonard.

Spiciest Take: In a flashback to the 2017 Michigan game, Purdue hangs around for 40 minutes or so, but Notre Dame’s physicality and defense win out.

Predicted Score: Notre Dame 24, Purdue 17

BRIAN NEUBERT, AREA MAN

Overall Thought: Purdue doesn’t need these games as much as it used, but nevertheless, anything that puts Purdue in the spotlight is important, and a golden opportunity.

*The* Key To The Game: Discipline. Purdue has to tackle and block at Notre Dame’s level if not above it, and must keep containment on defense and not let their quarterbacks steal too many third downs with their legs, or by penalty.

Your Pick To Click (offense): This has to be Hudson Card‘s best for Purdue to win, but everybody else has to be good for him to be great. These are the games where your hand-picked, high-end quarterback have to shine.

Your Pick To Click (defense): Kydran Jenkins. Notre Dame’s approach will test his traditional middle linebacker acumen. Can he avoid and/or shed blocks? Can he handle head-on contact and move people backward? Notre Dame would probably prefer this to be a between-the-tackles sort of game.

Spiciest Take: Rudy was off-side.

Predicted Score: Notre Dame 28, Purdue 23

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