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2008 Purdue College Football Picks & Predictions

Written by Jimmy Boyd

Head coach Joe Tiller is expected to hang it up after the 2008-09 season after 11 years at Purdue. Will his players rally around him to send out him out on a high note? Find out in Jimmy Boyd’s 2008 Purdue Boilermakers predictions and season preview.

Offense

Tiller has coached some good quarterbacks during his tenure as Purdue head man and QB Curtis Painter is the latest gun slinger. Painter is poised to become the Big Ten’s all-time leading passer this season. He needs 3,030 yards to do it and that will be no problem if he stays healthy. Former Purdue great Drew Brees currently holds the record at 11,792 yards. Purdue tried a no-huddle offense in last season’s 51-48 bowl victory over Central Michigan and I expect Tiller to show that look quite often during this season. The only way it won’t work is if the receivers don’t hold up on their end of the bargain. Greg Orton has been a good one over the past two seasons with 125 receptions, but he is the only returner with any experience. Purdue has not just been a pass-only team either. The running back duo of Jaycen Taylor and Kory Sheets have combined to rush for over 1,000 yards each of the past two seasons. The line could be an issue cramping the style of the offense as all three returning starters were recovering from surgeries in the spring.

Defense

This is the side of the ball where the Boilermakers need some work. There’s no way that a Big Ten squad should be giving up 48 points to a MAC team like Purdue did in the Motor City Bowl last season. A veteran front line should help Purdue improve some. Talented tackles Alex Magee and Ryan Baker lead the charge up front. The Boilermakers are very thin at linebacker and that could cost them. Anthony Heygood is the only returning starter at the position and he was a running back just two seasons ago so his instincts aren’t always the best. There is talent and some depth in the secondary, but there is also an injury bug floating around. Safety Torri Williams will try it again after being sidelined each of the past three seasons with a broken leg, shattered knee, and torn Achilles’. Two more safeties are also recovering from surgery.

Special Teams

Place kicker Chris Summers looked to be a bust in his freshman season when he made only eight of 20 field goal attempts, but he bounced back strong to convert 18 of 22 in 2007. I expect him to continue to put up good numbers. He also may take over the punting duties.

Prediction – 8th in Big Ten

Purdue will put one of the most feared offenses on the field, but its defense will hold it back again this season. Having to play Ohio Sate, Iowa, and Michigan State on the road will also make it very tough to send Tiller out with a bang. I still think they are a better team than Indiana or Minnesota though.

Jimmy Boyd’s college football predictions articles are here to help you futures bettors find where the value lies when taking your conference winners at the betting booth. They are also here to help you gain a keen sense of each major conference team prior to the season so that you can start beating your sportsbook from game one instead of waiting to feel the teams out. If you’re ever looking for a helping hand with your college football betting, Jimmy’s football picks won’t let you down!

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