GoldandBlack.com Predictions: Purdue's Saturday night game at Northwestern

Again this season, GoldandBlack.com shares its willy-nilly predictions and half-baked takes in advance of each of Purdue’s football games, starting with Saturday’s meeting with Ball State, the onset of the Barry Odom Era with the Boilermakers.

Scarred by years of predicting uncompetitive games and understanding of the modern gambling climate — please, bet responsibly and leave the damn athletes alone on social media, losers — we are incorporating BetMGM spreads into our predictions this season.

GoldandBlack.com members, share your predictions, no matter how stupid and inane, at Knucklehead Central.

BRIAN NEUBERT, GOLDANDBLACK.COM BLOWHARD

This is the week progress turns into outcomes.
My biggest question: How is the weather? Lakeside conditions have bit Purdue before.
Most important player: Ryan Browne. Purdue needs to strike a more even balance between the positive-impact plays and the alternative.
Prediction: Purdue 27, Northwestern 23

TOM DIENHART, GOLDANDBLACK.COM FOOTBALL REPORTER

Purdue is in the meat of its schedule. And by “meat” I mean games it has a decent chance to win. The Boilers let a golden opportunity slip away last week at Minnesota. Now, a trip to plucky Northwestern looms. And Purdue is headed to Evanston at the wrong time. The Wildcats have won three in a row and are coming off a big win at Penn State. It’s pretty simple for Purdue. It can’t A) keep losing the turnover battle B) keep getting penalties C) keep dropping passes.
My biggest question: Does Purdue know how to win? At some point, it has to make plays to win a game. Gonna be tough to do that vs. a scrappy Wildcat squad.
Most important player: Devin Mockobee. He is coming off a 98-yard rushing effort. It will be vital to get him going again to keep an underrated NU defense off balance.
Prediction: Northwestern 27, Purdue 24

ALAN KARPICK, GOLDANDBLACK.COM CHIEF EXECUTIVE

Not much more to be said here, Purdue really needs a win over the next two weeks to be able to show tangible improvement in the program, though to be fair, Purdue football is in a far better place now than it was 12 months ago.
My biggest question: Can Purdue, which will match up well with the Wildcats on the talent scale, find a way not to beat itself on the shores of Lake Michigan late Saturday afternoon?
My most important player: Nitro Tuggle: Much has been said about his drops (and the drops of some of his colleagues at receiver). But Purdue needs enough big plays to overcome methodical Northwestern, and Tuggle can deliver them.
Prediction: Purdue 28, Northwestern 24

DUB JELLISON, GOLDANDBLACK.COM FOOTBALL REPORTER

It’s make-or-break time for Barry Odom and Purdue. After last week’s loss that slipped through the Boilermakers’ fingers, two golden opportunities await to capture some much-needed momentum. 
While Northwestern is riding a three-game winning streak, I don’t see the Wildcats as good as their 4-2 record may suggest. That gives Purdue as good of a chance as it had a week ago in Minneapolis.
My biggest question: Can Purdue make winning plays? Too many times this season, the story has been about the mistakes leading to a loss. Purdue needs to come up big in key situations. 
My most important player: Devin Mockobee. In what looks like a rainy day in Evanston, the ground game could decide things. The Purdue offense was humming with Mockobee toting the rock a week ago. We’ll see if the Boilermakers can replicate that success.
Prediction: Purdue 31, Northwestern 27.

JORDAN JONES, GOLDANDBLACK.COM DITCH-DIGGER

Purdue missed a golden opportunity to pick up a victory last week. Now, it has another one. Northwestern is 4-2, but there’s a reason this is only a three-point spread. If you believe in the concept of “must-win games,” this is it.
My biggest question: Does Purdue show any type of hangover from a crushing defeat last week? Purdue cannot let Minnesota’s fourth quarter beat it twice.
My most important player: Ryan Browne. It isn’t easy to win on the road without strong quarterback play.
Prediction: Purdue 27, Northwestern 21