Purdue @ Indiana preview

Last Meeting ( Nov 27, 2010 ) Indiana 34, Purdue 31

THE STORY: Purdue looks to secure bowl eligibility when the Boilermakers battle Indiana on Saturday at Memorial Stadium in Bloomington for the 114th meeting between the intrastate rivals. It will mark the 87th meeting in the quest for the historic Old Oaken Bucket. The Hoosiers rallied to knock off Purdue 34-31 in overtime in West Lafayette last year and look for back-to-back wins in the series for the first time in 17 years. Purdue, winless in four road games, plays a struggling, young Hoosier squad that has dropped eight straight.

TV: Big Ten Network LINE: Indiana +7.5

ABOUT PURDUE (5-6, 3-4 Big Ten): The Boilermakers will continue to play two quarterbacks with Caleb TerBush the starter and fifth year senior Robert Marve also seeing action. TerBush has passed for 1,612 yards and 11 TDs while starting all 11 games and Marve, who has played in eight games, has passed for 533 yards and three TDs. Ralph Bolden leads the Purdue ground attack with 620 yards rushing and five touchdowns this season. Purdue averages 164.0 yards per game and will go against an Indiana unit that ranks 117th (out of 120) against the run, allowing almost 240 per game.

ABOUT INDIANA (1-10, 0-7 Big Ten): The Hoosiers have been overmatched in conference play, being outscored by an average of 44-17. IU has played only one Big Ten opponent (Penn State) to less than 14 points and have been beaten by at least 21 points five times, and have allowed 40 or more points five times, including three games of allowing 50 or more. The Hoosiers are led by true freshman quarterback Tre Roberson, who has started the last four games. In that stretch, he has passed for 632 yards and three touchdowns while rushing for another 287 and a score.

EXTRA POINTS:

1. Purdue leads the all-time series 70-37-6, but the teams have split the last four meetings. The road team has won the last two contests.

2. Indiana has played 32 freshman this season, the most in Division I-A football, including 16 true frosh.

3. Purdue looks to become the 10th Big Ten team to gain bowl eligibility with a victory.

PREDICTION: Purdue 31 Indiana 30 - The Hoosiers will keep the game close, but Purdue will pull it out late and qualify for a bowl game.