Middle Tennessee @ Purdue preview

THE STORY: Purdue head coach Danny Hope is feeling a bit of pressure after a second straight losing campaign, which brought his overall record to 9-15 since taking over in 2009. The Boilermakers haven’t qualified for a bowl game since 2007.

Middle Tennessee will try for its third straight bowl appearance but returns just 10 starters, including only three on defense.

TV: Big Ten Network. Line: Purdue -18.

ABOUT MIDDLE TENNESSEE (2010: 6-7, 5-3 Sun Belt): Middle Tennessee will have to replace Dwight Dasher, a three-year starter at QB who had a decorated — but also troublesome — career. Sophomore Logan Kilgore is the starter and junior Jeff Murphy is the backup. The key for Middle Tennessee under new coordinator Willie Simmons is to limit turnovers. The Blue Raiders finished dead last of all FBS teams with a minus-19 turnover margin in 2010.

ABOUT PURDUE (2010: 4-8, 2-6 Big Ten): Purdue’s 2010 season was derailed by injuries, including a season-ending injury suffered by starting QB Robert Marve in a late-September game against Toledo. While Marve is healthy this year, Rob Henry, who figured to share the workload at QB, tore his anterior cruciate ligament on Aug. 24 and is out for the year. That isn’t good news for a Purdue offense that already struggled to score points. The Boilermakers averaged a Big Ten-worst 19.7 points per game in 2010.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Purdue has won seven straight home openers but are 3-5 against nonconference opponents under Hope.

2. Middle Tennessee is 0-3 all-time against the Big Ten, which includes a 24-17 loss last year against Minnesota.

3. The Blue Raiders have lost six straight road openers.

PREDICTION: Purdue 27, Middle Tennessee 13 -- Don’t be surprised if the Blue Raiders hang around early as both offenses could struggle. But in the end, Purdue has too much firepower.