Second year Purdue coach Darrell Hazell is searching for his first Big Ten Conference home win.  The Boilermakers haven’t won at Ross-Ade Stadium since 2012, where they beat an Indiana team that was struggling just as much as them.  In his last press conference, Hazell had said, adjustments in the blocking scheme should give them a better running game and fully expects the passing game to improve because of it. 

The Boilermakers have only 3 wins this season, but they have managed to put together a 6-3-1 ATS record helping ease the pain for loyal Purdue bettors.  In fact, they are 5-1-2 ATS in their last 8 games following a S.U. loss.  With Purdue coming off a Wisconsin defeat where they struggled (like most teams) to stop Melvin Gordon, I’m expecting the defense to give a much better effort towards a Northwestern team that averages only 125 yards rushing a game. 

Purdue has spent two weeks preparing for their last home game of the season and 21 seniors will be honored prior to the matchup against Northwestern.  A lot of people believe “Senior Day” is overrated with diminished betting value, but I disagree (what a surprise), especially when the team will not make the post-season…this is their bowl game.  With the Wildcats coming off an impressive win over Notre Dame in South Bend, I believe it sets up nicely for Boilermakers to finally get that victory.

Consider: Purdue -1

Greg Smith is a sports handicapper at Only Best Bets and writer for The Saturday Edge. You can follow Greg on Twitter throughout the college football season @onlybestbets.