Northwestern at Purdue College Football Picks and Predictions 8/30/2018

Thursday, August 30, 2018

Ross-Ade Stadium

Get todays College Football Odds & Lines on this game

The Northwestern Wildcats travel to Ross-Ade Stadium to take on the Purdue Boilermakers on Thursday, August 30, 2018. The opening line for this game has Purdue as 3.5 point favorites. The Wildcats had an ATS record of 9-4-0 last season while their over/under record was 5-7-1. The Boilermakers had an over/under record of 4-9-0 and they were 9-4-0 against the spread.

Valuable Northwestern Wildcats Betting Trends

The Northwestern Wildcats were 5-7-1 against the over/under last season

The Northwestern Wildcats were 9-4-0 against the spread last year

Important Purdue Boilermakers Betting Trends

The Purdue Boilermakers were 4-9-0 against the over/under last season

The Purdue Boilermakers were 9-4-0 against the spread last year

Key Northwestern Wildcats Injuries

06/25/18 QB Clayton Thorson Knee is "?" Thursday vs Purdue

Key Purdue Boilermakers Injuries

08/04/18 DT Keiwan Jones ACL is out indefinitely
07/28/18 RB Richie Worship ACL is out indefinitely
07/28/18 RB Tario Fuller Foot is probable Thursday vs Northwestern

Useful Offensive Statistics

The Northwestern Wildcats were 54th in Division 1 in points scored with 380 last year. They ran 997 plays last season for 5,304 yards, which ranked them 59th in the nation in total offense. The Wildcats averaged 5.3 yards per play, which was 95th in college football. As a team they accumulated a total of 296 1st downs last year, placing them 30th overall as an offensive unit. On the ground Northwestern ran for 2,265 yards as a team, which ranked 50th in the country. They ran 537 times, averaging 4.2 yards per carry as a rushing unit. The Wildcats were penalized on offense 64 times for 637 yards last season, which had them 99th in the nation in penalties. Clayton Thorson threw for 2,844 yards last season. He completed 262 passes on 434 attempts for a completion percentage of 60.4%. His quarterback rating last year was 121.3. He averaged 6.6 yards per pass attempt and 6 adjusted yards per throw.

Defensive Statistics

Northwestern was 18th in the nation in points allowed on defense with 261 last season. They surrendered a total of 4,646 yards on D, which was 38th in Division 1. The Wildcats were ranked 23rd in yards per play allowed with 5. Opposing offenses completed 283 passes on 495 attempts against the Northwestern Wildcats defense last season, placing them 122nd and 126th in the country. The Northwestern pass defense also gave up a total of 3,244 yards through the air, which was 106th overall in total pass defense. Their rushing defense allowed 430 attempts for 1,401 yards last year, putting them in 6th place in D-1 against the run. The Wildcats committed 68 penalties for 636 yards on the defensive side of the ball last season. That ranked them 54th in the nation.

Special Teams Stats

Northwestern was ranked 108th in the nation in punt returns with 13 last year. They accumulated 94 punt return yards and averaged 7.2 yards per return, which was 67th in college football. They returned 25 kicks for 478 yards on special teams, ranking 124th in kick return yardage. The Wildcats averaged 19 yards per kick return and they were 69th in the country in all-purpose yards with 5,876. The Northwestern Wildcats attempted 16 field goals last season and made 13, which was 76th in D-1. Their kickers had a field goal percentage of 81%. Northwestern Wildcats kickers made 98% of their extra points, going 46 for 46 last year. Their punters totaled 2,955 yards on 69 punts, averaging 43 yards per punt. That placed them 40th in Division 1 in punting average.

Useful Offensive Statistics

The Boilermakers ran for 1,970 yards as a team last year, which ranked 74th in the nation. They ran 447 times, averaging 4.4 yards per rush as a unit. The Purdue Boilermakers were penalized on offense 77 times for 658 yards last year, which had them 63rd in the country in penalties. They were 85th in Division 1 in points scored with 328. They ran 939 plays last year for 5,240 yards, which ranked them 41st in the nation in total offense. The Boilermakers averaged 5.6 yards per play, which was 70th in college football. As a team they accumulated a total of 282 1st downs last season, ranking them 43rd overall as an offensive unit. David Blough completed 102 throws while attempting 157 passes for a completion percentage of 65% last year. He passed for 1,103 yards. He averaged 7 adjusted yards per throw and 7 yards per pass attempt. His quarterback rating last season was 137.8.

Defensive Statistics

The Purdue Boilermakers rush defense gave up 486 attempts for 1,732 yards last season, putting them in 33rd place in the country against the run. They had 90 penalties for 777 yards on defense last year. That placed them 101st in Division 1. Purdue was 24th in college football in points surrendered on defense with 267. They gave up a total of 4,885 yards on D, which was 63rd in the nation. The Boilermakers were 45th in yards per play allowed with 5.3. Opponent offenses completed 248 throws on 437 attempts against the Purdue defense last season, ranking them 87th and 97th in the country. The Purdue Boilermakers pass defense also surrendered a total of 3,153 yards in the air, which was 95th overall in total pass defense.

Special Teams Stats

The Purdue Boilermakers tried 23 field goals last year and made 17, which was 37th in college football. Their kickers had a field goal percentage of 71%. Boilermakers kickers made 97% of their extra points, going 35 for 36 last season. Their punters accumulated 2,954 yards on 73 punts, averaging 41 yards per punt. That ranked them 92nd in the NCAA in punting average. Purdue was 54th in the country in punt returns with 20 last season. They totaled 62 punt return yards and averaged 3.3 yards per return, which was 124th in D-1. They returned 30 kicks for 514 yards on special teams, which put them 122nd in kick return yardage. The Purdue Boilermakers averaged 17 yards per kick return and they were 73rd in the nation in all-purpose yards with 5,816.

Who will win tonight's Wildcats/Boilermakers college football game against the spread?

Guy's Pick: Take the Wildcats +3.5

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