Purdue-Michigan at a glance

The Associated Press Comments 0
Published: November 4, 2009

Line: Michigan by 5½.

Series Record: Michigan leads 41-13.

Last meeting: 2008, Purdue 48-42.

Michigan desperately needs a sixth victory to become eligible for a bowl. If the Wolverines lose to Purdue at home for the first time since 1966, they could turn a 4-0 start into a 5-7 flop and Rich Rodriguez would have another miserable offseason. Purdue has to win to keep its postseason hopes alive after a 1-5 start. The Boilermakers have dropped 11 straight road games.

Michigan QB Tate Forcier vs. Purdue DE Ryan Kerrigan. If Forcier has time to throw and room to run, he'll have a chance to play as he did earlier in the season. If Kerrigan does what he did against Ohio State — three sacks — it could lead to another disappointing day for Forcier. In Big Ten games, Purdue has given up a conference-low 155 yards passing a game.

Purdue: QB Joey Elliott had the worst game of his career in last week's 37-0 loss at Wisconsin. The fifth-year senior was 5 of 23 for 59 yards with an interception and was benched. He should have chances to bounce back against Michigan, whose defense has given up 430 yards a game in the Big Ten.

Michigan: DE Brandon Graham leads the Big Ten with 17 tackles for losses this season and he's behind only Kerrigan with 4½ sacks in conference games. Forcier has not thrown a touchdown in the last three conference games, all losses.