PURDUUUUUE!

Hi Purdue, we're the Iowa Hawkeyes. Remember us? I know we haven't seen each other since 2008, but we had met 8 straight times before this 2 year break. I guess that's how the Big Ten scheduling cycle goes...until now! Now, we will be playing you guys every year. Hear that? Every year. Thanks to the highly intelligent executives in the Big Ten, we finally can preserve the heated rivalry that is the Iowa-Purdue game. That was the best idea since the Legends and Leaders naming. Try not to get too excited, or they might just add a another trophy on to this game too

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Shonn Greene stiff arms a Purdue defender
in Iowa's 2008 win at Kinnick

So let's just get to the point; there's a lot at stake for both of us when we pay a visit to West Lafayette this Saturday. Purdue, it's been awhile since you represented the Big Ten in bowl season, but this year you've got a real shot. With a 5-5 record, you're a game away from bowl eligibility, which would be your first bowl season since 2007. On the other hand, the stakes are high for us Hawkeyes too; we have 6 wins, but we really need another one for some insurance before we head into Lincoln next week for our regular season finale with the Huskers.

We hear that your offense is pretty balanced this season. You average 170.3 yards a game on the ground, and 196 a game in the air. You rank 7th in the conference in both passing and rushing offense. You may have heard about Iowa's offensive attack this year, which puts up over 30 points and 387 yards a game.

However, rumor has it that your defense is a little shaky. You give up 390 total yards a game. We Hawk fans can totally relate to that, as our D gives up 398 a game. Expect both offenses to have their way with some of the weaker defenses in the Big Ten.

Your Boilermaker special teams could be an X-factor, as your kickoff returns are the best in the conference, averaging 27.4 yards per return. We too have an X-factor here at Iowa, and his name is Marcus Coker. Expect to hear his name a lot in Ross-Ade Stadium, considering your rush defense is terrible, and Coker averages 115.8 yards per game.

Overall, we are looking forward to this important cross-over match-up. We both need a win, so it should be a highly competitive effort by both teams. Who knows, maybe it will even have the intensity of a cross-over rivalry game!

-Sincerely, Iowa

P.S. Prediction- Iowa 35 Purdue 28 GO HAWKS!