SE Missouri St. @ Purdue preview

THE STORY: Purdue looks to head into its open week on a winning note when the Boilermakers host Southeast Missouri on Saturday at Ross-Ade Stadium in West Lafayette, Ind. Purdue (1-1) has had both of its games this season decided on a blocked field goal on the final play of the game, while Southeast Missouri faces its first-ever Big Ten Conference opponent.

TV: Big Ten Network LINE: Purdue -22.5

ABOUT SOUTHEAST MISSOURI (0-1): Southeast was off last week after dropping its season opener at home to Southern Illinois, 38-10. The Redhawks are the defending Ohio Valley Conference champions. Quarterback Matt Scheible will be making his 26th consecutive start on Saturday. He rushed for a game-high 91 yards on nine carries and completed 14-of-23 passes for 144 yards and a touchdown in the loss to SIU. Southeast Missouri won its first conference championship in 105 years of football and made its first-ever playoff appearance in 2010.

ABOUT PURDUE (1-1): The Boilermakers are coming off a tough 24-22 loss to Rice in Houston last Saturday, a game in which Purdue had a potential game-winning 31-yard field goal blocked on the final play. In the first two games, Purdue has rushed for 383 yards and passed for 403. First-year starting QB Caleb TerBush has been solid for the Boilers, completing 37-of-64 passes for 403 yards and three touchdowns while throwing only one interception. Terbush is expected to split time with Robert Marve, who started the first three games last season before injuring his knee. Linebacker Joe Holland has led the Purdue defense the first two games, compiling 24 total tackles and adding two pass breakups.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Danny Hope, who was the head coach at Eastern Kentucky of the Ohio Valley Conference before coming to Purdue, was 4-1 vs. Southeast Missouri during his five years at EKU.

2. Tony Samuel, in his sixth season at Southeast Missouri, was an assistant at Purdue in 2005 before being named head coach at Southeast in 2006.

3. Southeast Missouri is 1-15 all-time against FBS opponents, with their only win coming against Middle Tennessee of the Sun Belt Conference in 2002.

PREDICTION: Purdue 41, Southeast Missouri 17 - The Boilermakers should not need to go down to the final play in this one as they overpower the Redhawks.