Purdue @ Minnesota preview

Last Meeting ( Oct 8, 2011 ) Minnesota 17, Purdue 45

Call it a crossroads game for two Big Ten teams who have suffered through tough Octobers after promising Septembers when Minnesota hosts Purdue on Sautrday. Both teams carry three-game losing streaks into the contest and need a win to keep their bowl aspirations realistic. Purdue, which hasn't won in Minneapolis since 2007, can even the all-time series that began in 1894 with a win as Minnesota holds a 33-32-3 edge.

TV: 3:30 p.m. ET, Big Ten Network. LINE: Purdue - 3.5

ABOUT PURDUE (3-4, 0-3 Big Ten): The Boilermakers will try and bounce back from a devastating 29-22 overtime loss at Ohio State last week. The Buckeyes, behind backup quarterback Kenny Guiton, rallied to tie the game with three seconds left with a touchdown pass and two-point conversion before pulling it out in overtime. Purdue's defense, ravaged in back-to-back home losses to Michigan (44-13) and Wisconsin (38-14), held Ohio State to only 342 total yards and knocked Heisman Trophy candidate Braxton Miller out of the game. The inconsistent Boilermakers also gave another undefeated team - Notre Dame - a scare before losing 20-17 in South Bend on Sept. 8.

ABOUT MINNESOTA (4-3, 0-3): With senior MarQueis Gray still nursing a sprained left ankle and sophomore Max Shortell knocked out a week earlier at Northwestern after taking a shot to the head, second-year coach Jerry Kill decided to burn the redshirt of freshman quarterback Philip Nelson last week at Wisconsin and hinted he will stick with him the rest of the year while moving the athletic 6-foot-4 Gray back to wide receiver. Nelson, the 2011 Minnesota Mr. Football award winner at Mankato West High School, completed 13-of-24 passes for 149 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions in a 38-13 loss to the Badgers.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Minnesota's pass defense is ranked No. 6 in the FBS allowing 154.4 yards per game. The Gophers have allowed only four passing touchdowns this year.

2. Purdue DT Kawann Short ranks third nationally among active FBS players in career tackles for loss (42.5) and is tied for 16th in career sacks (16.5).

3. Purdue WR Antavian Edison has caught a pass in 28 straight games.

PREDICTION: Minnesota 21, Purdue 14