Marshall @ Purdue preview

Purdue is off to a promising start in large part because of a stingy defense, which will be put to the test when the Boilermakers host Marshall on Saturday. The Thundering Herd, who defeated Rice 54-51 in overtime in their Conference USA opener last week, boast the nation's top passing attack at 383.5 yards per game. Defensively, though, Marshall allows 42.8 points, 118th among the 120 FBS teams. Purdue allows only 14.0 points - ranked 19th - and is only a 20-17 loss to then-No. 22 Notre Dame from a 3-0 start. This is the Boilermakers' final non-conference game before they dive into Big Ten play with games against Michigan, Wisconsin and at Ohio State. Purdue and Marshall have never met.

TV: 3:15 p.m. ET, Big Ten Network. LINE: Purdue -16.5

ABOUT MARSHALL (2-2): The Thundering Herd showed they can run the ball as well, piling up 334 yards last week as sophomore quarterback Rakeem Cato threw for a modest 259 yards and two touchdowns. Cato has completed 71 percent of his passes and has a pair of 400-yard games, including 413 in a 69-34 loss to West Virginia in the season opener. He has 10 touchdowns and two interceptions. Sophomore Tommy Shuler averages 10.4 yards on his 32 receptions and leads a receiving corps which boasts four players with 10 or more catches and four with 100 or more yards.

ABOUT PURDUE (2-1): Purdue, which allowed nearly 27 points per game last season, is led by tackle Kawann Short. He has three of the Boilermakers' nine sacks and could be a first-round NFL draft pick in 2013. Purdue's rushing attack, 28th in the country at 219 yards per game, faces a Thundering Herd defense which allows 243.8 yards on the ground (112th). Purdue is led by Akeem Shavers, who has rushed for 167 yards (5.1 per carry) and two touchdowns. Sophomore Akeem Hunt is a big-play machine. He has 138 yards on 11 carries with a 56-yard touchdown, and three receptions for 106 yards with a 50-yard touchdown.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Marshall is averaging 41.0 points, 16th in the nation; Purdue averages 39.7, 19th.

2. The Boilermakers have outscored opponents 26-0 in the first quarter this season.

3. WR Antavian Edison, who leads Purdue with four touchdowns and 186 yards, has caught a pass in 24 straight games.

PREDICTION: Purdue 48, Marshall 45 (OT)