Michigan Football: Michigan at Purdue — GBMWolverine Staff Predictions
Posted at 6:00am — 10/6/2012
Michigan Football: Michigan at Purdue — GBMWolverine Staff Predictions
With Michigan having last week off it will be interesting to see how the team responds today at Purdue. The staff have made their predictions, how about you? Come to the message board and make your prediction and also comment on the thread.
CoachBT:
Michigan wins a close one
Michigan 34
Purdue 27
Doc4Blu:
This is a game that could go in many directions and certainly lacks confidence in outcome prediction. But that may be the way of the typical Big Ten game this year. The pains of the non-conference are over, and like the physician, Michigan needs to heal itself.
Michigan 27
Purdue 24
Sep 22, 2012; South Bend, IN, USA; Michigan Wolverines running back Fitzgerald Touissant (28) runs with the ball against the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Notre Dame Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-US PRESSWIRE
ErocWolverine
Well time to strap it back up today Maize and Blue!
Should be an interesting game and still haven’t decided how this team will react from the loss to Notre Dame.
Really think this team need the off week to not only get healthy, but emotionally get things back in order. The team took a massive hit both emotionally and physically after that game with a couple of wins later, and bad Notre Dame game that they was still in it even with all the problems/mistakes this should be the week to see how this team responds.
Purdue is a very good team and strong up the middle on defense. Their offense is fairly balanced compared to Purdue teams from previous years where they were pass happy and were easier for a Michigan team to defend.
Think Michigan comes out and kicks off the Big Ten schedule right with a win and still their #1 goal is still in place. The Big Ten Championship!
Michigan 37
Purdue 24
MaizeMan:
No prediction sent in this week.
Sep 29, 2012; West Lafayette, IN, USA; Purdue Boilermakers mascot Purdue Pete against the Marshall Thundering Herd during the first half at Ross Ade Stadium. Purdue defeated Marshall 51-41.Mandatory Credit: Pat Lovell-US PRESSWIREMike Fitzpatrick (TheMichiganManPodcast)
Even after a bye week, I’m no closer to figuring out this team than I was two weeks ago. Is Purdue a good team? Yes & no. The Boilers are yet another solid defense to challenge our inconsistent and turnover plagued offense. One of two things happens here. Michigan cuts down on turnovers, establishes Fitz in the running game, and uses the passing game sparingly, but with purpose. Or…we beat our heads against the wall, trying to run straight at the very strong Purdue front, not succeeding, then having to throw when we don’t want to. We’ve seen what happens when we have to do that. It’s not a pleasant thought considering the Boilers feature the two best cover corners in the conference. I guess what I’m trying to say is, I have no idea after four games what this offense is capable of, and don’t know what to expect.
Defense is another matter. I didn’t think I would say this three weeks ago, but based on the ND performance, this might be a game the defense has to win for us while the offense continues to find itself. Purdue has many issues on offense. The line is banged up and has no depth. They have not been able to run the ball with any consistency, even against some very bad defenses. Caleb Terbush has been slowed by injury and very inconsistent, and his receiving corp is an assortment of smurfs. They have rarely even attempted to throw a pass over 20 yards. So it would seem to me that the Michigan defense should be able to control this offense. I think!
Bottom Line – This is the swing game for Michigan in 2012. Win this one and it’s sets things up nicely for a Homecoming scrimmage with the puzzling and pitiful Fighting Illini, then the main course for October, a visit from Sparty to The Big House. Lose this game, and who knows what happens next. Today’s game boils down to one of those “win it however you can” type of games. I don’t care if we have to run Denard 30 times to do it. Just find a way to come home with a W. I hope that after this game I’ll be able to say..yes, I see the improvement, the direction this team is headed in. A sign, any sign that we are coming together. Until then…I’ll hope we do just enough to get by on the road against another opponent featuring a solid defense. I tend to be a worry wort, so as always, I hope I am dreadfully wrong, and this week Denard and the offense have their coming out party, and the defense does what they should do and smacks Purdue in the mouth.
Michigan 24
Purdue 17
SKWDCOP:
Michigan 38
Purdue 21
WerlsWolverine
Michigan 31
Purdue 20
Sep 29, 2012; West Lafayette, IN, USA; Purdue Boilermakers band members perform with the worldYostMeister
Purdue’s Ross-Ade Stadium can be a house of horrors for Michigan.
I see the defense playing better, again, and keeping the Maize and Blue close, although the defense against the spread has not been great.
The offense will have to stay patient against a very physical and active Purdue defense. It will rest on Denard’s ability to protect the ball. Ball possession will be key, as is the obligatory rhetoric on turnovers and execution.
I still have my doubts about this team’s ability to recover from their own inflicted wounds, but, based on the need to win this game…
Michigan 24
Purdue 20
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Written by GBMWolverine Staff
Go Blue — Wear Maize!