Purdue @ Indiana preview

Last Meeting ( Nov 24, 2012 ) Indiana 35, Purdue 56

Pride and the Old Oaken Bucket will be the only two things at stake when Purdue visits Indiana to close out their seasons on Saturday. Any bowl aspirations that either Big Ten foe once held have long since disappeared in what has been a disappointing season for both squads. The best that the Hoosiers can hope for is a third-place tie with Penn State in the Leaders Division while the last-place Boilermakers have a final shot to avoid going winless in the Big Ten for the first time since 1993.

Indiana has lost five of its last six to fall out of Big Ten contention and is coming off a 42-14 thumping at No. 3 Ohio State. While the Hoosiers' defense has been to blame this season, Indiana's offense ranks second to only the Buckeyes in the Big Ten at 491.8 yards per game and is tied with Wisconsin for third in scoring, averaging 36.8 points. Purdue has been ineffective on both sides of the ball, ranking last in the conference in total offense at 529 yards per game and ninth in total defense, allowing an average of 438.8 yards.

TV: 3:30 p.m. ET, Big Ten LINE: Indiana -21

ABOUT PURDUE (1-10, 0-7 Big Ten): The Boilermakers rank 122nd in the nation in Division 1 scoring, averaging only 13 points a game, and were shut out in back-to-back games by Michigan State and Ohio State. Freshman Danny Etling, who took over as starting quarterback in Week 5, was 20-for-29 for 163 yards and a touchdown in last week's 20-16 loss to Illinois. Akeem Hunt has been Purdue's most versatile threat with the ball, leading the team in rushing (449 yards), receptions (37) and even returning a kickoff 88 yards against Indiana State for a touchdown — his second career kickoff return for a TD.

ABOUT INDIANA (4-7, 2-5): Sophomore Nate Sudfeld leads the Big Ten in touchdown tosses with 21 and has passed for 2,505 yards, averaging 227.7 per game. Backup Tre Roberson has thrown for 855 yards and nine touchdowns while rushing for 269 yards and five more TDs. The Hoosiers have already set a single-season school record for both total yards (5,410) and touchdowns (54) while sophomore Tevin Coleman is the Big Ten's second-leading all-purpose back with 998 yards rushing, 198 yards receiving and 12 touchdowns on the ground.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Indiana is the first team in Big Ten history, and the only team in the FBS, with five career 1,000-yard pass-catchers playing together.

3. Purdue leads the series 73-37-6, including last year's 56-35 romp over Indiana, and leads the battle for the Old Oaken Bucket 58-27-3.

2. The Hoosiers are seven points shy of the school's single-season scoring mark of 412, set in 2007.

PREDICTION: Indiana 48, Purdue 20