Ohio State @ Purdue preview

Last Meeting ( Oct 23, 2010 ) Purdue 0, Ohio State 49

THE STORY: Nothing has come easy for Ohio State this season, but at least now they are winning. The Buckeyes have taken three straight to pull into a tie for second place in the Big Ten Leaders Division, two games behind beleaguered Penn State. One game behind Ohio State is Purdue, which has fallen off the pace with two straight losses and was embarrassed at Wisconsin last weekend. The Boilermakers have quickly fallen due to a lack of offense, averaging 17.5 points over the last four games. The Buckeyes have had trouble scoring at times this season as well but seem to have figured things out with run-first quarterback Braxton Miller, who has guided the team to back-to-back 30-plus point games. Miller will take aim at the Purdue defense when Ohio State travels to West Lafayette, Indiana, on Saturday afternoon.

TV: 12 p.m. ET, Big Ten Network. LINE: Ohio State -7.

ABOUT OHIO STATE (6-3, 3-2 Big Ten): Miller scampered for a quarterback school record 81-yard touchdown and was one of three Buckeyes to finish over 100 yards rushing last week in a 34-20 victory over lowly Indiana. Miller has rushed for multiple touchdowns in each of the last two games and has been efficient enough when he goes to the air, totaling just three interceptions in 2011.

ABOUT PURDUE (4-5, 2-3): The Boilermakers can look at their 4-1 home record for hope this week after each of their last two losses came on the road. Purdue will have to shore up a rushing defense that allowed the Badgers to run for 364 yards last week. Quarterback Caleb TerBush has not reached 200 yards passing since the season opener and is coming off a two-interception performance.

EXTRA POINTS:

1. The Buckeyes have taken three of the last four meetings, including a 49-0 drubbing in Columbus last October.

2. Ohio State has not lost four games in a season since 2004.

3. Boilermakers returner Raheem Mostert was named Big Ten Freshman of the Week on Nov. 7 after totaling 206 return yards against Wisconsin.

PREDICTION: Ohio State 28, Purdue 17. Miller is on a roll, and the Boilermakers can’t stop the run.