College Football Predictions – Purdue Boilermakers 2017 NCAA Football Preview
2016 Recap
2016 Record – 3-9
2016 ATS – 6-6
You know you might be getting old when you still remember when Purdue was good. And then you realize it was a lonnnng time ago. Last season the Boilers struggled to a 3-9 mark bringing their four-year record to a mind-boggling 9-39. The 2016 campaign ended with a string of seven consecutive losses. New HC Jeff Brohm comes over from Western Kentucky to try and get this program back to a respectable level.
2017 MEGALOCKS Opening Power Rating
Big 10 – TBD
West Division – TBD
OFFENSE
Purdue is in good shape at QB in our opinion. David Blough had good numbers last season (3,352, 25 TD) except for the HEINOUS interception total (21). We think that Jeff Brohm can help him become a more reliable passer. He is just a junior and has plenty of upside. The bad news ? Purdue is undergoing a reload at WR and Blough will have to develop chemistry with an entire new group of players. It’s doable but may take a bit of time.
The running game needs to get a lot better after picking up just 96 (!) yards per game rushing in 2016 (LAST Big 10 by wide margin). The entire RB group returns this season, and theoretically, that has to be a good thing. We are a bit worried about the OL returning only a pair of starters while learning a new system.
There are some decent pieces to work with on offense. Hopefully it will not take long for the Boilers to figure it out.
DEFENSE
Purdue has been atrocious on defense the past two seasons allowing 38 and 36.5 points per game. We believe they can take a decent step forward as eight starters return to the stop unit and all three levels of the defense have experience. They have nice size on the interior of the DL and the LB group looks solid including last season’s leading tackler Markus Bailey. The secondary features a pair of decent CBs. They will not be great but think can get back to the 2014 statistical level in terms of points allowed (31.7).
SPECIAL TEAMS
The Boilermakers have continuity across the board. The kicking game should be at least average and we are hopeful that they can uncover some additional spice on KR and PR.
Potential ATS Trouble Spot
November 18 – at Iowa. If Purdue has been eliminated from bowl contention this feels like a lie down and die spot. The big rivalry game with Indiana is on deck.
MEGAmazing Tidbits
Purdue has just THREE Big 10 wins in the past FOUR seasons combined. That seems almost impossible but we did have our SNEAKY HOT INTERNS double check the stats.
MEGALOCKS ATS Value Rating (10) 5.0
MEGALOCKS says:
Overall, we give the BOILERMAKERS a 5.0 ATS Value Rating (Average) this season.
The “average” rating surprises us. And we are the ones who came up with it.
We like the QB situation and a defense that is sure to be improved. HC Jeff Brohm will have them playing with more confidence. There are some big question marks but you can’t have everything.
DEGENERATE NATION typically has little interest in adding Purdue to their weekly betting card and that means VALUE at times. Here is a fun stat – Despite being a MONUMENTAL TRAIN WRECK over the past number of seasons – Purdue is 11-3 ATS as a road dog the past three years. Use caution but don’t just fade these guys automatically every week.
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News
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