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 him out on a high note? BetUS.com has the Purdue Boilermakers +15000 odds to win the 2009 BCS Championship. Find out in Expert Football Handicapper Jeff Alexander's 2008 Purdue Boilermakers predictions for Point-Spreads.com.
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 player returning 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.
College Football Predictions on the 2008 Purdue Boilermakers – 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.
Get a full season of college football picks from expert football handicapper Jeff Alexander today!
BetUS.com has posted college football predictions betting odds to win the 2009 BCS Championship:
LSU +1200
Southern Cal +300
California +4500
Ohio State +1000
Wisconsin +3000
Boston College +12500
Florida +600
Kentucky +10000
South Florida +5000
Oklahoma +900
Georgia +900
West Virginia +1600
Oregon +4500
Virginia Tech +1400
Texas +1200
Missouri +1400
South Carolina +4500
Arizona State +4000
Rutgers +8000
Clemson +2000
Nebraska +7500
Cincinnati +8000
UCLA +6000
Miami Florida +6000
Florida State +5000
Michigan State +7500
Kansas +3000
Kansas State +10000
Alabama +5000
Auburn +2000
Louisville +8000
Notre Dame +6500
Oklahoma State +12000
Penn State +5000
Tennessee +3000
Texas A&M +10000
Texas Tech +5000
Wake Forest +10000
Washington +10000
Iowa +10000
Illinois +3300
Georgia Tech +10000
Pittsburgh +8000
Purdue +15000
