Michigan State vs Purdue Boilermakers Game Preview

Michigan State will travel to Purdue this week after hosting and defeating rivals Michigan in a top-10 battle on Saturday. Predictions are they’ll be favored by less than a field goal against Purdue.

According to bookmakers, the Spartans were 2.5-point favorites over Purdue on Sunday. The Boilermakers are 5-3 on the season, but they have already beaten a top-5 opponent. Purdue defeated then-No. 2 Iowa 24-7 three weeks ago. Purdue then proceeded to defeat Nebraska 28-23 on the road on Saturday.

After defeating Michigan 37-33 on Saturday, Michigan State climbed into the top five in the Associated Press poll. The Spartans were four-point underdogs in that game and instead won by four.

5 Keys To Purdue Vs Michigan State 

Nailor’s Status Is Uncertain

The Spartans lost Jalen Nailor to a right-hand injury near the conclusion of the first half on Saturday. Tucker would not speak about the incident after the game, but he returned to the bench after half-time with his hand firmly wrapped in neon green tape and dark green tape around his middle fingers.

Nailor and Jayden Reed have combined for 1,074 yards, 54 receptions, and 11 touchdowns on the ground. Keep an eye on junior Montorie Foster, who filled in for Nailor against the Wolverines and made two 15-yard receptions.

Late-game Shambolic Defence

MSU’s defense struggled once again on third down, enabling the Wolverines to convert 8 of 17 opportunities and a fourth-down conversion. The Spartans are 76th in the country and 12th in the Big Ten for allowing opponents to convert over 40% of third-down tries.

On fourth down, they rank 109th with a conversion percentage of 65.4%. MSU’s offense is also having trouble converting third downs, going 4 of 12 on Saturday and converting just 34.3% of its third-down tries this season, ranking 111th in the country. Purdue’s defense ranks fourth in the Big Ten, allowing only 33.3% of opponents’ third-down attempts to be converted.

Problems with Passing

Payton Thorne didn’t throw any touchdown versus Michigan and had only 196 passing yards, two interceptions, and three sacks. The sophomoric quarterback will face a Purdue team that is second in the Big Ten and tenth nationally in pass interceptions, allowing only 174.0 yards (0.16 km) per game.

The Boilermakers have a league-low 52.2% completion and are tied for 14th in the Football Bowl Subdivision with 10 interceptions. Thorne has thrown for 1,897 yards, 15 touchdowns, and six interceptions this season. Four of those interceptions came in his past two games when he failed to exceed 200 yards passing against Indiana and Michigan.

Mel Tucker To Bring the Receipts:

After upsetting top-10 Michigan, Michigan State faces unranked Purdue in a match-up ripe for a trap game. But their head coach, Mel Tucker, is well-versed in the team’s history. Purdue has more wins over top-five teams as an unranked team (16) than anybody else in NCAA history. That’s according to Tucker.

Heartbreakers or Boilers?

Purdue’s most recent shock victory occurred a few weeks ago when the unranked Boilermakers defeated then-No. 2 Iowa 24-7 as 11-point underdogs. Tucker is well aware that this is the kind of fate his team must avoid.

Odds for Purdue Vs Michigan State 

When the No. 5 Michigan State Spartans (-3) (8-0, 0-0 Big Ten) play the Purdue Boilermakers (+3) (5-3, 0-0 Big Ten) at Ross-Ade Stadium on Saturday, November 6, 2021, the bookmakers favor the Spartans. Michigan State is a three-point favorite. The event also has a 54-point over/under.