Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/377020
GAME PREVIEW: PURDUE the occasion or the bowl-like feel, the Shamrock Series off-site "home" game has bought out the best in Notre Dame since its debut in 2009. While the opponent usually hasn't been daunting, other than last year's contest with Arizona State, Notre Dame has averaged 38 points per game while winning by an average margin of 23 points. 2009 in San Antonio: Notre Dame 40, Washington State 14 — The Irish improved to 6-2 — but it would be the final victory of the Charlie Weis era. 2010 in Yankee Stadium: Notre Dame 27, Army 3 — The defense holds Army's triple-option attack to 135 yards after getting shredded by Navy earlier. 2011 in Washington D.C.: Notre Dame 45, Maryland 21 — The ND offense totals 296 yards passing, 212 rushing and zero turnovers. 2012 in Chicago: Notre Dame 41, Miami 3 — The 587 yards of total of- fense (376 rushing) represent the most so far during the Brian Kelly era. 2013 in Dallas: Notre Dame 37, Ari- zona State 34 — The Irish had a strong rebound against a 10-win team after losing a week earlier at home to Okla- homa. ✦ Predictions Douglas Farmer: Notre Dame 38, Purdue 17 No matter how many starters Purdue replaces on a team that didn't beat a Football Bowl Subdivision foe in 2013, the issues that plagued the Boilermakers a year ago still linger. Poor line play, a thin receiv- ing corps and a young secondary don't all go away in one offseason, and it doesn't look like head coach Darrell Hazell successfully fixed any of those issues. Meanwhile, Notre Dame improved. Tom Loy: Notre Dame 41 Purdue 20 The Boilermakers are overmatched at nearly every position, and that will show itself in Indianapolis in the Shamrock Series. Purdue has a strong rushing attack, but the speed and talent on the Notre Dame defense, led by linebacker Jaylon Smith, will be too much to overcome. Quarterback Everett Golson should have a field day against an average Purdue secondary. Andrew Owens: Notre Dame 37, Purdue 10 The Irish barely survived their last two meetings against subpar-to-dreadful Purdue teams, but Brian Kelly will tell you there's no such thing as a bad victory against a Big Ten team. Led by quarterback Everett Golson and the three-man attack at running back, Notre Dame will extend its winning streak over the Boilermakers to seven with the series set to take a temporary hiatus. Lou Somogyi: Notre Dame 45, Purdue 20 Generally I anticipate at least a bit of a letdown after facing Michigan, and the Irish had one last year at Purdue through the first three quarters. They were pushed to the limit by the Boilermakers each of the last two seasons … so expect Notre Dame to be alert and sharper this time. It should be a Rice-like game on the road.