Boiling Points – Week 14 – Thanksgiving Edition

Before I get into the preview of the Indiana at Purdue game, I want to take a moment to wish everyone throughout the Empire a very happy Thanksgiving. I hope each and everyone of you will spend some time with family, friends, and loved ones. While our school’s sports teams clash on the field, pitch, court, mat, track, diamond, etc., Thanksgiving is a time to reflect on the blessings we have received, and the importance others play in our lives. In the end, we all will need to work together, yes, even with the Michigan fans.

Sadly, not everyone is as fortunate and the Thanksgiving and holiday seasons are an opportunity for each of us to give a little back, be it time as a volunteer or food to help those who are hungry. Every little bit helps. I ask that everyone please look around your communities for small, local charities who are making a difference. If you know of one that could use a little help from a Sherman Grant, please let Alma Otter ([email protected]) know.

With the important matters out of the way, I can move on to this week’s battle between Indiana and Purdue for the Old Oaken Bucket on Friday evening at 6:30 pm GTZ in Ross-Ade Stadium and on NBC.

The overall series is heavily tilted in Purdue’s favor, though Indiana is looking for a second straight win to keep the bucket in Bloomington and a perfect 12-0 season.

I have been following Purdue football since 1984 and don’t recall such a large disparity between the talent on/quality of the two teams. Indiana has the top scoring offense (43.3 pts/game) in the B1G and is second in yardage (478.0 yds/game), 1.2 yards/game behind the leader, USC. The Indiana defense is second in points allowed (11.6 pts/game) in the B1G and are third in yards allowed (249.0 yds/game), 0.3 yards/game behind second place Oregon. Purdue’s offense and defense are pretty much where you would expect the units for a last place team to be: 16th in points per game, 11th in yards/game, 15th in points allowed, and 17th in yards allowed. Needless to say, Purdue is a huge home underdog (+28.5) and there may be more red than black in Ross-Ade Stadium on Friday night.

Once again, Purdue will need to play a perfect game AND have a lot of help from Indiana in the form of turnovers, penalties, missed tackles, etc. to have a shot at an upset. Unfortunately, Purdue has not shown the ability to play a perfect game this season. Purdue had a terrible performance in Seattle two weeks ago, so I expect them to come out and play much harder and better. However, turnovers, penalties, missed tackles, missed assignments, not playing hard, etc. are why Purdue is where they are. Can they at least give the fans a little hope for next season?