Purdue At Notre Dame: Escape From South Bend Game Thread

Today is one of those infamous "Good Feeling" games. Everything logically says Purdue should lose today. We're employing the dreaded Musical Quarterbacks Strategy. History has not been kind to us in South Bend. The front seven for the Fighting Irish is pretty nasty. We turned the ball over way too much last week and they are a team that can and will take advantage of that. Special teams was a disaster at time last week, and the Irish have a history, especially in South Bend, of making us pay dearly for that.

Still, something is niggling at me that I something very good can happen today. I guess I am saying it to go on record in case it actually does happen. if it doesn't, well, we're a double-digit underdog anyway. Here are the predictions from the H&R crew, with the TV schedule for the day:

Steve Landery

After a beatdown of Eastern Kentucky, the Boilers take their talents North to the crusty city of South Bend: home of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. This early game is easily one of our biggest, and will tell us a lot about our team going forward. Senior quarterback Caleb TerBush has been given the starting job, but I think he'll see some struggles early on that's when Robert Marve will be swapped in. If we want to stay in this game we are going to have to keep turnovers to a minimum, stop Notre Dame's ground game, get a running game of our own going, and make ND QB Everette Golson uncomfortable with our pass rush and coverage; which will be a daunting task with the talent The Irish have on the o-line. We'll need big games from Akeem Shavers, Marve, Antavian Edison, O.J. Ross on the offensive side and Kawann Short, Ricardo Allen, Ryan Russell, and our whole linebacking corps on defense. I have a feeling in my bones that this is going to be a very frustrating, stressful, and gut-wrenching game where I swear a lot. It's going to be a close one, but I think Purdue has what it takes to pull off a win in 'The Bend' for the first time since '04. Final score: Purdue: 27, ND: 24, Steve: Celebratory double-hand-suck-it-crotch-chop

Myles Madey

Purdue looks to bring a talented, experienced football team that is ready to fight up to South Bend today. It has been talked about a lot, but it needs to be restated that this game is huge for the Boilers, and it will likely determine the rest of the season for them. Notre Dame has some serious weapons on both sides of the ball, like Everett Golson, Tyler Eifert and Manti Te'o. These guys can pose huge problems for our O and D, but I think Purdue is one of the most underrated teams in the Big Ten this year. Specifically, I think our defense is arguably the best in the conference this season, and it should show all season long AND today. Expect the talented Domer offense to move the ball on us quite a bit, but also expect the Purdue D to come up with some huge stops and turnovers. On the other side of the ball, Caleb TerBush has been given the start at QB, but we should also see plenty of Robert Marve and Rob Henry. If CaRobRob MarHenBush can collectively given a solid performance and the O-Line can push around the ND defensive front a bit, look for our receivers and running backs to do the rest of the work and contribute to a solid offensive day for Purdue. Overall, I think our entire team is talented enough this year to at least challenge Notre Dame on the road and give them a football game that will be tough for them to win. If our O, D and special teams can play like they should, I can't help but think we will leave South Bend with the Shillelagh Trophy. Purdue: 31, ND: 27

Juan Crespo

Purdue vs Just Notre Dame: I am taking the OTE approach. Last year, they started referring to Northwestern as "Just Northwestern" or "jNW". After my article, I've decided to start calling Notre Dame "Just Notre Dame" or "jND" until they prove themselves worthy to be considered a National Powerhouse again (as in actually win a BCS Bowl, or not get blown out) and actually not be over hyped. But I digress. Unfortunately for Purdue, they haven't beaten jND since 2007 when Jimmy Clausen was beginning his candidacy for the Heisman Trophy to be Cam Newton's backup for the Carolina Panthers. Even worse for Purdue, they haven't won in South Bend since 2004, and before, Purdue hasn't won in South Bend since jND actually had less than 11 National Titles and were actually still winning them (so a really long time ago). Though Just Notre Dame's secondary is rather young, Purdue may be able to get some passing yards against them, but I don't think it will be able to stay on track with jND's powerful offense. Yes, just Notre Dame has a freshman quarterback, yes, they may have some slight jet lag still (though that can be overcome in about 2 days if you do it right), but it won't be enough to slow them down enough in their home opener. Could Purdue catch jND sleeping while they are looking forward to the Michigan game next week? Probably, but it's unlikely. I think Notre Dame will score first, Purdue can respond, but that will be as close as Purdue gets as Notre Dame will go into halftime with a decent lead. Purdue will score in the closing minutes of the 4th quarter to make the final score not look as bad, but the game will probably be a blow out in the box score. Prove me wrong, Boilers.
Notre Dame: 35, Purdue: 17.

Riley Schmitt

Game should be extremely close all the way throughout. Purdue has the advantage on the edges, while ND can take it right up the gut. Expect a big special teams play to determine the winner of this matchup.

Robert Marve will play more than CTB and have a couple of key scoring drives and Raheem Mostert will break a long return to help seal a 24-20 Purdue victory in South Bend. A man can dream, right?

John Wadas

It's hard for me to predict a win for Purdue in South Bend, since even the great Brees wasn't able to accomplish the feat. Keeping that in mind, I do not think the Boilers will roll over and wet the bed as last year. The Boilers keep it close, but just can't make enough plays to finish.

ND 28 Purdue 24

SATURDAY'S TOP GAMES
11:00 AM	Miami at Kansas State		KSU -7
11:00 AM	Penn State at Virginia		UVA -10
11:00 AM	Auburn at Mississippi St.		MSU -3
11:00 AM	Central Florida at Ohio St.		OSU -18
2:30 PM	Purdue at Notre Dame		ND -14
2:30 PM	Air Force at Michigan		UM -21
2:30 PM	Southern Cal at Syracuse		USC -18
2:30 PM	Iowa State at Iowa		IOWA -4
2:30 PM	Florida at Texas A&M		A&M -1
3:00 PM	Wisconsin at Oregon State		WIS -7
6:00 PM	Washington at LSU		LSU -24
6:30 PM	Nebraska at UCLA		NEB -5
6:45 PM	Georgia at Missouri		UGA -2
9:30 PM	Oklahoma St. at Arizona		OSU -10
All times Central

Spencer Hall's Rootability Index: Week 2

Not sure who to root for? With its return this week, the Rootability Index attempts to help the non-invested college football fan lean one way or another in this week's slate of games using the same logic the random fan uses: that is, none at all.

Week 2 Point Spreads

Loving that Oklahoma State line? Feeling like a man? Before you put money down, compare point spreads and game totals from online and Vegas-based sports books, updating live in real time.

.

Complete Week 2 Television Schedule

Get the complete listings for all 57 college football games being televised this Saturday.