Purdue and UCLA kick off very late tomorrow night out in Pasadena. This will be a great opportunity for Purdue to find a Big Ten win somewhere out amongst the glitz and glam of Hollywood. It’s time for the staff to weigh in on the results.
Ledman (2-0):
This 11:00 PM kickoff will be the latest Purdue football kickoff since a similar 11:05 PM kickoff time for the Purdue game against Hawaii back in 2006. Purdue would go on to lose that game. This will also be Purdue’s third time playing in the Rose Bowl Stadium in 1967 and 2001. Purdue is currently 1-1 in those games. UCLA has not really impressed me in their first two games. They went into the halftime against San Diego State tied 0-0 before running off 28 points in the second half. They have not done much in the passing game (zero passing touchdowns), but man can they run the football. Are they one dimensional on offense or has the passing game just started out a bit slower? Plus, how confident do I feel about the Purdue defense stepping up and making the important plays? After last week, I’m not so sure. Giving up a 4th and 15 is devestating. Overall I just think Purdue doesn’t have enough to stop the UCLA running game and Purdue falls in a close one.
Purdue 24
UCLA 31
Travis (2-0):
I am suddenly very interested in this game. I didn’t think Purdue had much of a chance last week, but they impressed me. They were literally inches from the win (and they probably should have). Right now this program needs a victory like that. Yeah, beating Wake Forest at home on a steam September afternoon is vastly different from blowing out Alabama in the Rose Bowl, but we haven’t seen a win over a Power Conference team in three years. How will this team respond after being so close? Also, there is the Bob Chesney element, as he is the recent hire for UCLA from James Madison, where he learned much from Curt Cignetti.
Last week stung, but I think Purdue can compete in this one. Can they win? I absolutely think so, and I did not think that a week ago at this time. Look for Purdue to be competetive as it looks to take another step forward. UCLA 38, Purdue 34
Ryan (2-0):
So UCLA has a really good rushing attack and a mobile quarterback. Purdue has historically struggled against good rushing attacks and mobile quarterbacks. Will we see Purdue continue to build after a close loss last week? Only time (and then a few extra hours since this is Big Ten After Dark this week) will tell but I’m not holding my breath quite yet.
Purdue 20
UCLA 31
Jed (1-1):
Well, this very well could be the game that determines the course of the entire season. That’s not likely any sort of hyperbole, in all honesty.
Purdue should have won last week to get to 2-0 and their second half performance should have been enough to give them a ton of confidence heading into a winnable game on the west coast. Instead, the team is going to need to play their best ball in less than ideal circumstances as they kickoff at 11:00 PM Indiana time.
Luckily, Purdue has one of the best backs in the B1G in Fame Ijeboi. He is a player that can win Purdue games through his performances alone and that’s what the Boilers will need at UCLA. He is currently averaging over 100 yards per game and provides a legitimate chance to score every time he touches the ball. When you add in Browne’s 300 yards passing per game, the Boilers are the only program in the country with a 100 yard rusher and 300 yard passer on the same team.
The issue isn’t the offense…
It is a defense that can’t get make plays in the backfield or get stops when they are needed in the first half. At one point, going back to the Indiana State game, the defense gave up six (6) straight scoring drives. The defense doesn’t have to be lights out but they have to limit opponents in some regard early on in games.
Not sure the Boilers are able to rebound on the west coast as they have traditionally struggled immensely with those trips outside of 1968’s trip to the Rose Bowl.
Boilers: 27
UCLA: 38
Drew (1-1)
I’m stuck. Picking a team that hasn’t won a conference game since Indiana was bad at football, on the surface, is a poor choice
However, this isn’t a bad matchup for Purdue. UCLA’s passing game has been completely busted through 2 games and their run defense has been suspect.
Stop the run, don’t give up anything easy deep on defense and run the ball and find something easy deep on offense should be the distilled game plan.
My thinking is this. Purdue has to win a game at some point and I want to be able to say “see, I’m a genius!”while overlooking the fact that ive been on a 2 season losing streak.
I’ll never learn my lesson.
Purdue: 27
UCLA: 24
Kyle (1-1):
Purdue heads west for its first Big Ten matchup of the season against an undefeated UCLA team, and this feels like an important early-season test for the Boilermakers. After the disappointing double OT loss to Wake Forest, Purdue will need to clean up the defensive issues while continuing to lean on Ryan Browne and an offense that has shown plenty of explosiveness through the first two games. UCLA’s physical rushing attack will challenge Purdue’s defense, but I expect the Boilermakers to make enough plays through the air to keep the Bruins on their heels. Playing at the Rose Bowl and traveling across the country won’t make things easy, but I think Purdue responds well after the Wake Forest loss and finds a way to win on the road.
Prediction: Purdue 34, UCLA 31.
Casey (1-1):
How are you not hungover after that loss last week? What could have been a seismic shift with a come from behind win might just be the start of a collapse as Big Ten play comes calling. An excited, newly rebuilt UCLA team waits for an 11 pm kick off and this does not sound like a good time for the Boilers. Purdue’s defense still doesn’t seem up to the task of high conference football.
UCLA 45, Purdue 17
