We foreshadowed this a long while ago- Joe Tiller will have the chance to beat Fat Jack on Purdue's all-time winning list versus CMU tomorrow at high noon inside the friendly and probably roomy confines of Ross Ade Stadium. It is fitting afterall that he attains the record v. a MAC squad...that's if there's no hangover from last week's excruciating loss.

If my friends are any gauge of the interest among Purdue fans in this game, there will be about 50,000 present at kickoff. This is one of the games I didn't purchase, but said I'd attend if the seats were given to me...What do you know? I've been given not one, but three tickets so Mrs. Boilerdowd and Lil' Boilerdowd can attend as well. I'm now looking forward to it as it'll be a fun day with the family, but I'm not too excited about watching Purdue play a team with nothing to lose for the third time in 373 days.

While there should be plenty of entertainment for those who love offense, this one's far from ideal...but the game might be too close for comfort as CMU went from a seemingly easy victory, last fall, to a near defeat in the early winter. And get this, in case you need a reminder- Purdue had a 31 point lead in the first half the last time they faced the Chipps and gave the lead back over the next quarter and a half...a painfully-familiar script for our Boilers. Here's what we think will happen:

Tim Says:
I think it will be relatively low scoring in the first half, but Purdue will pull away in the second half after wearing CMU down. CMU doesn't have much of a running game to speak of, with the QB LeFevour getting more than half of the total rushing attempts. LeFevour does do a good job of spreading the ball around, but the new and improved secondary should be able to handle that. Painter should not have much trouble passing the ball against the Chips. That is, of course, assuming that Tiller doesn't go into the prevent offense mode after going up 3 - 0 and trying to hold out for the win.

Purdue 30
CMU 17

J Says:
Third meeting in a calendar year.... normally, even beating a team twice in a football season is difficult. Purdue did that, barely, last year. Beating a team three times in a year is considered even more difficult. However, Joe Tiller loves playing MAC teams and actually does seem to be willing to open things up against them. CMU is still led by Dan "I've got" LeFevour (eat that, Berman) so they'll score some points.... but their defense, from my limited eye, seems to be even more porous than last year. I see another shootout, with the Boilers scaring us yet again.

Winning a "no-doubter" would be great and this is their last chance of the season. But I don't see
it being an easy one.

Boilers 45
CMU 35

Boilerdowd says:
I saw an excellent analysis of this on GBI-

Will Tiller decide to continue riding the Sheets train or will he try to get Painter back on track versus a sub-par defense that he's feasted upon previously?

My suggestion, which matters not, is give the damned thing to Kory, then do it again, and again, and again...It'll control the clock, help keep the defense rested for the speedy attack of the CMU O and it will help guys like Zwilling, Sester and Plue get more and more comfortable with their counterparts in an offensive line that simply hasn't had a lot of chances to play as a complete unit.

What will probably happen is Painter will put the ball up at least 40 times...that has its positives too as this wide receiving corp desperately needs reps...they dropped way too many last week and this is the last chance for a few weeks to play an overmanned defensive backfield.

Part of me has a bad feeling about this game (but not the logical part), that said, it's just because of the bad taste in my mouth still hanging around from last week. I'm thinking the players act like young men and forget quick and emotionally heal quicker unlike old, fat alums

Tiller gets the record and does so formulaicly as he finds a victory scoring 40+ and versus a conference he's only lost to twice in the past 12 years.

Purdue 41
CMU 24