Free Live Odds - Scores and Odds - Sports News - Sports Information - Live Scores - Sports Statistics - Sports Articles - Sports Standings - Live Scor

FACTS & STATS: Site: Ross-Ade Stadium (62,500) -- West Lafayette, Indiana. Television: Big Ten Network. Home Record: Middle Tennessee 0-0, Purdue 0-0. Away Record: Middle Tennessee 0-0, Purdue 0-0. Neutral Record: Middle Tennessee 0-0, Purdue 0-0. Conference Record: Middle Tennessee 0-0, Purdue 0-0. Series Record: First meeting.

GAME NOTES: Middle Tennessee will try to reverse its fortunes against Big Ten opponents when it travels to West Lafayette, Indiana this weekend for a non- conference matchup with Purdue.

The Blue Raiders are 0-3 all-time against the Big Ten Conference, which includes a 24-17 loss against Minnesota in the 2010 opener. Middle Tennessee was the Sun Belt favorite in 2010, but was beat up with injuries early and relied on a midseason revival that included wins in the final three games to sneak into bowl contention. Middle Tennessee finished 6-7 and lost 35-21 to Miami (Ohio) in the GoDaddy.com Bowl.

Purdue hasn't played in a bowl game since 2007, and last year was the third straight mediocre season for the Boilermakers, who finished 4-8. Danny Hope's club lost a lot of talent prior to 2010, especially on offense, including the loss of running back Ralph Bolden after he tore his ACL before the start of the season (Purdue then suffered early season-ending injuries to top receiver Keith Smart and quarterback Robert Marve.) Purdue has a majority of lettermen back in 2011, and will play a Sun Belt opponent for the first time in school history.

Middle Tennessee finished last in turnover ratio a year ago, as three quarterbacks combined for 24 picks and 14 fumbles. Head coach Rick Stockstill installed sophomore Logan Kilgore as his starter early in fall camp; Kilgore has three career starts and he battled injuries a year ago so his numbers may be deceptive (50-80, 540 yards, three TDs, five INTs) but he does have a quality trio of receivers in Sancho McDonald, Tavarres Jefferson and Malcom Beyah, all who have started nine games or more in their respective careers.

The running back position will feature junior benny Cunningham, who averaged 4.6 yards per carry and will have four returning offensive lineman to run behind against Purdue.

The Blue Raiders' defensive line will feature four players who are making their first collegiate start against Purdue. The linebacking corps has two solid sophomores starting in Corey Carmichael at middle linebacker and Craig Allen at outside linebacker, after both saw extensive action as freshman.

Darin Davis will be the undisputed leader of the group after a career year in 2010 (81 tackles, 9.5 TFLs, 3.5 sacks and three INTs) and the Blue Raiders possess one of the Sun Belt's premier shut down corners in Arness Inker, who started 12 games a year ago (56 tackles, one interception in 2010.)

For Purdue's offense, finding stability at quarterback will be vital early in the season. The Boilermakers will go with their fourth different starter in as many years to begin 2011. Projected sophomore starter Rob Henry tore his ACL in practice in late August. The talented Marve, who transferred to Purdue from Miami (Fl.) in 2009, is still a question mark after tearing his ACL a year ago.

The Boilermakers will turn to junior Caleb TerBush to start against Middle Tennessee, after sitting out last year because he was academically ineligible. Bolden is back after earning all Big Ten honors in 2009, when he rushed for 935 yards in 12 starts, and he'll have four upperclassmen starters returning on the offensive line.

The Boilermakers desperately need playmakers to surface on the perimeter to compensate for the inexperience at quarterback. Only one returning receiver, Antavius Edison had more than 30 catches a year ago (32 grabs, 316 yards four touchdowns) so Purdue will need some younger and unproven players to step up at the position. Watch out for sophomore OJ Ross to emerge as a threat, as he showed flashes as a true freshman (11 catches, 149 yards, one TD) despite missing a portion of the 2010 season to injury.

Replacing consensus All-American defensive end Ryan Kerrigan is going to be tough for Purdue, but the defensive line has two interior players back (including all-Big Ten tackle Kawann Short) and senior end Gerald Gooden (12 starts, 35 tackles, four TFLs in 2010) is healthy following a sports hernia injury this offseason.

The back seven has a solid group of returners including senior captain Joe Holland at middle linebacker, who posted 73 tackles and 7.5 TFLs in 2010, and sophomore corner Ricardo Allen, who started all 12 games as a true freshman in 2010. Allen was a Freshman all-American, and proved himself as a bona fide star in the Big Ten, as both a physical player in run support and a quality cover man (73 tackles, seven passes defended, three interceptions), taking two picks back for touchdowns.

Even without a proven quarterback, Purdue will have its way with a raw and inexperienced Middle Tennessee defense, especially now that Bolden is healthy. It will be interesting to see what TerBrush and the wide receivers can bring to the table on opening day, while Middle Tennessee should also find out a lot about its offensive identity with Kiglore and Cunningham.

Sports Network Predicted Outcome: Purdue 42, Middle Tennessee 10