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Published: November 7, 2009 3:00 a.m.

Purdue at Michigan

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When: Noon

Site: Michigan Stadium (106,201/turf), Ann Arbor, Mich.

TV: Big Ten Network

Radio: 1380 AM

Line: Michigan by 4

Records: Purdue 3-6, 2-3 Big Ten; Michigan 5-4, 1-4

Series: Michigan, 41-13

On the Web: For a video preview, go to “Boiling Point” at www.journalgazette.net

Purdue

Offensive statistics

Points per game: 24.6 (80th in NCAA)

Yards per game: 372.1 (65th)

Passing yards per game: 235.3 (42nd)

Rushing yards per game: 136.8 (73rd)

Defensive statistics

Points per game: 28.0 (84th)

Yards per game: 363.1 (65th)

Passing yards per game: 194.7 (34th)

Rushing yards per game: 168.4 (88th)

Keys

Top 3 offensive players: Keith Smith, WR, has team highs and is second in Big Ten with 60 catches and 779 yards; Joey Elliott, QB, has completed 58 percent of his passes for 2,081 yards, 14 TDs and 11 interceptions; Ralph Bolden, RB, has 757 yards and five TDs on 163 carries

Top 3 defensive players: Jason Werner, LB, leads the team with 63 tackles and 14.5 tackles for loss; David Pender, CB, has 11 pass break-ups; Ryan Kerrigan, DE, leads Big Ten and is ninth in country with nine sacks

Key to victory: The offense needs to bounce back after a dismal performance (141 total yards) against Wisconsin. Receivers need to secure passes, and Joey Elliott needs to be accurate and sure about his reads against a defense that can bring pressure.

Injury: WR Royce Adams (knee) questionable

Michigan

Offensive statistics

Points per game: 31.6 (27th)

Yards per game: 401.4 (39th)

Passing yards per game: 193.9 (91st)

Rushing yards per game: 207.6 (14th)

Defensive statistics

Points per game: 25.1 (70th)

Yards per game: 382.1 (81st)

Passing yards per game: 220.3 (63rd)

Rushing yards per game: 161.8 (85th)

Keys

Top 3 offensive players: Carlos Brown, RB, leads team with 465 yards rushing; Tate Forcier, QB, has thrown for 1,424 yards and nine touchdowns and ran for 214 yards and two TDs; Brandon Minor, RB, has rushed for five touchdowns and 322 yards

Top 3 defensive players: Obi Ezeh, LB, leads the team with 63 tackles; Brandon Graham, DE, has a team-high 6.5 sacks and 17 tackles for loss; Donovan Warren, CB, has three interceptions

Key to victory: Run the ball. Purdue couldn’t stop it last week against Wisconsin (266 yards), and Michigan leads the Big Ten in rushing offense and in points per game. The Boilermakers also have struggled against mobile quarterbacks, and the Wolverines have two in Forcier and Denard Robinson.

Injury: N/A

sclardie@jg.net

– Stacy Clardie, The Journal Gazette