Notre Dame picked up a two-touchdown win over Purdue 34-21 while Boilermaker backers get a cover (+16) and the Total goes under (61) in the football game between the two Indiana rivals at South Bend on Saturday afternoon. With the win, Notre Dame goes to 4-1 straight up (SU) but against the spread (ATS) is only 1-3-1 in 2006.
The 12th ranked Irish survived an aerial onslaught led by Purdue quarterback Curtis Painter who connected on 23-of-46 passes for 398 yards. Selwyn Lymon caught eight of Painters passes for 238 yards, the most receiving yardage by a single player allowed in the history of Notre Dame football. Irish quarterback Brady Quinn answered Painter’s performance by throwing for 316 yards while tailback Darius Walker ran for 146 yards leading Notre Dame to its best offensive game of the season.
The Irish offense, which had played inconsistently in its first four games, finally looked like last season's record-setting group. They opened a 28-7 lead late in the first half, when they had 19 first downs – matching the season-high they had for an entire game in a 41-17 win over Penn State.
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Wide receiver Rhema McKnight added a career-high 10 catches for 120 yards and two touchdowns as the Fighting Irish, who scored on four of their first five possessions, had a season-high 454 total yards.
Purdue, which had 490 total yards, had several big plays, including an 88-yard touchdown pass from Painter to Lymon late in the first half. But the Irish defense came up with big plays when it had to, including Terrail Lambert forcing Dustin Keller to fumble on the Notre Dame 37 when the Boilermakers were threatening to cut into a 21-7 lead.
The Irish opened a 28-7 lead late in the second quarter with a faked field goal when Jeff Samardzija, the holder, picked up the ball and ran untouched for a 5-yard TD.
The Boilermakers cut the score to 28-14 just 32 seconds later, on the long hook up between Painter and Lymon. Notre Dame safety Tom Zbikowski and cornerback Darrin Walls both had a shot at Lymon at the Notre Dame 38, but Lymon broke free for the score.
But the Irish scored on their first possession of the second half, a 12-yard pass from Quinn to McKnight, and the Boilermakers never got any closer than two touchdowns.
Notre Dame looks to pick up its fifth win on Saturday (Oct 7) when the Stanford Cardinal comes to South Bend for a 2:30 p.m. (EDT) kickoff. The Irish have been installed as a heavy favorite at a –31-point chalk.
The Boilermakers return to Big-Ten action Saturday when they travel to Iowa City to take on Iowa. Purdue opened as a +10-point underdog to the 19th ranked Hawkeyes.
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