GoldandBlack.com Predictions: Purdue vs. Nebraska

Big Ten play opens for struggling Purdue on Saturday, as Nebraska visits Ross-Ade Stadium

Our GoldandBlack.com staff predictions …

MIKE CARMIN, CONTRIBUTOR

Overall Thought: Playing Nebraska within a one-score window should benefit the Boilermakers since the Huskers struggle in those situations. But can Purdue convert third downs, and will the defense hold an opponent under 30 points? The difference between 2-2 and 1-3 is enormous for this program this season.

*The* Key To The Game: Avoid red-zone turnovers. And score first.

Your Pick To Click (offense): Hudson Card. Purdue’s quarterback needs a big game to shake the doldrums of the last two weeks.

Your Pick To Click (defense): Will Heldt. The defense needs to get after Nebraska quarterback Dylan Raiola and with Huskers starting left tackle Turner Corcoran out with an injury, Heldt could make a difference.

Spiciest Take: The Boilermakers will attempt at least one field goal.

Predicted Score: Nebraska 30, Purdue 18

TOM DIENHART, GOLDANDBLACK.COM

Overall Thought: Another week, another chance to get this train back on track.

*The* Key To The Game: While finding a pass game is critical, fixing the defense is a bigger issue. When will the bleeding stop vs. the run? Set. The. Edge.

Your Pick To Click (offense): Devin Mockobee. Go with the hot hand, right? Mockobee will face a Husker run defense that has had some holed punched it.

Your Pick To Click (defense): Kydran Jenkins. He had a big game in Lincoln last year that included a scoop and score. Maybe we see him more off the edge this week.

Spiciest Take: Twenty-five percent of the stands will be red.

Predicted Score: Nebraska 29, Purdue 27. Freshman QB Dylan Raiola makes some senior plays late to win it.

ALAN KARPICK, GOLDANDBLACK.COM

Overall Thought: Rinse and repeat — it is now or likely never for Purdue in 2024. The Boilermakers must find a way to leave it all on Rohrman Field tomorrow. Anything less and a long season is a reality.

*The* Key To The Game: Purdue’s mental frame of mind. It was the same thing I said last week. Effort and intensity are key to the long-term viability of the Walters regime.

Your Pick To Click (offense): Devin Mockobee may be Purdue’s ticket out of the doldrums, especially on a day that may not be great weather-wise. Somehow, some way, the Boilermakers need to find a way to get Nebraska off balance.

Your Pick To Click (defense): Kydran Jenkins. Purdue has to hope it can fluster uber-freshman Dylan Raiola in the quarterback’s first game away from Lincoln. Jenkins put up big numbers in Corvallis last week, put can he cause the Boilermakers’ first turnover in 2024?

Spiciest take: Purdue will have a second-half lead in this game.

Predicted Score: Nebraska 31, Purdue 21

JORDAN JONES, CONTRIBUTOR

Overall Thought: Big Ten play begins. Non-conference play didn’t go as Purdue had hoped, and the program desperately needs some positive momentum. Can Purdue show signs of life after consecutive disappointing defeats?

*The* Key To The Game: If Purdue can’t stop the run, Big Ten play won’t be a good time.

Your Pick To Click (offense): Devin Mockobee. One of the lone bright spots in Corvallis, Mockobee eclipsed the 2,000-yard mark for his career. The former walk-on ran like his hair was on fire, and I’d expect that continue against a potentially vulnerable Nebraska run defense.

Your Pick To Click (defense): Will Heldt. Purdue has to make Dylan Raiola uncomfortable in his first road start, and Heldt is the one to do that.

Spiciest Take: Two firsts for the 2024 Boilermakers: They force a turnover, and they attempt a field goal.

Predicted Score: Nebraska 34, Purdue 17

BRIAN NEUBERT, RUNZA CHEF

Overall Thought: Things are never as bad as they seem, nor as good as they seem. Nebraska already proved the latter in its loss to Illinois; Purdue now has a chance to embody the former.

*The* Key To The Game: Keep Dylan Raiola in the pocket. Purdue obviously wants to disrupt the quarterback, and that’s what its defense is meant to do, but it’s a moot point if the QB is running around and making plays against a bunch of dudes with their backs turned. I’m not an NFL personnel guy — not that they know what they’re doing with quarterbacks anyway — but that’s an NFL quarterback Purdue will see Saturday.

Your Pick To Click (offense): Hudson Card. Has to be.

Your Pick To Click (defense): Dillon Thieneman. He’s due.

Spiciest Take: Purdue needs to make Raiola throw. Sounds counterintuitive, I know, but you can’t get sacks and turnovers when the opponent is just slow-bleeding you with the run.

Predicted Score: Nebraska 31, Purdue 23

CHAT GTP, STAFF AI BOT

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