Experts predict another dismal Purdue football season

WEST LAFAYETTE — College football's preseason magazines are down on the Boilermakers. What else is new?

Athlon, The Sporting News, Lindy's and Phil Steele are predicting coach Darrell Hazell's third season will end similar to his first two years – at the bottom of the Big Ten.

• ATHLON

Big Ten West: 7th

National forecast: 84th

Projected record: 3-9 (1-7 Big Ten)

Rising star: RB Markell Jones

Key Boilermakers: WR Danny Anthrop, LB Ja'Whaun Bentley, CB Frankie Williams

Preseason All-Big Ten: Bentley (3rd team), Williams (3rd team), K Paul Griggs (3rd team)

Comment: With 16 returning starters and an experienced core on place, Purdue hopes to take a step forward in Darrell Hazell's third season. The Boilermakers are just 1-15 in Big Ten games under Hazell and lost seven games by 14 points or more last year. While improvement should be expected, Purdue won't make too big of a move without better play from its quarterbacks.

Big Ten East predictions: Ohio State, Michigan State, Penn State, Michigan, Maryland, Indiana, Rutgers

Big Ten West predictions: Wisconsin, Nebraska, Minnesota, Iowa, Northwestern, Illinois, Purdue

Big Ten bowl projections: Ohio State (College Football Playoff); Illinois (Arizona); Maryland (Armed Forces); Wisconsin (Citrus); Minnesota (Foster Farms); Penn State (Holiday); Iowa (Music City); Nebraska (Outback); Michigan (Pinstripe); Northwestern (Quick Lane); Michigan State (Rose)

First-team All-Americans on the schedule: DE Shilique Calhoun (Michigan State); PR De'Mornay Pierson-El (Nebraska)

National top 5: Ohio State, Alabama, Baylor, Auburn and Texas Christian

Purdue opponents in top 25: No. 7 Michigan State; No. 19 Wisconsin. Indiana State is No. 25 in FCS poll.

• THE SPORTING NEWS

Big Ten West: 7th

Difference-maker: DT Jake Replogle

Top signees: QB Elijah Sindelar, OL Matt McCann, WR Anthony Mahoungou

Bottom line: The early season schedule is tricky with a trip to Marshall and Virginia Tech (at home) before the Big Ten opener at Michigan State. It's going to be a challenge to build momentum with that slate.

Big Ten East predictions: Ohio State, Michigan State, Michigan, Penn State, Maryland, Rutgers, Indiana

Big Ten West predictions: Wisconsin, Nebraska, Minnesota, Iowa, Northwestern, Illinois, Purdue

Big Ten bowl projections: Ohio State (College Football Playoff); Michigan State (Rose); Wisconsin (Citrus); Michigan (Outback); Nebraska (Holiday); Penn State (TaxSlayer); Minnesota (Pinstripe); Maryland (Armed Forces); Iowa (Foster Farms); Northwestern (Quick Lane); Rutgers (Heart of Dallas)

Big Ten Preseason MVP: RB Ezekiel Elliott (Ohio State)

Overrated: Northwestern

Underrated: Minnesota

First-team All-Americans on the schedule: DB Kendall Fuller (Virginia Tech); PR De'Mornay Pierson-El (Nebraska)

National top 5: Ohio State, Texas Christian, Auburn, Oregon, Alabama

Purdue opponents in top 25: No. 8 Michigan State

• LINDY'S

Big Ten West: 7th

National forecast: 79th

Preseason All-Big Ten: K Paul Griggs (3rd team)

Best and brightest: WR Danny Anthrop (MVP); LB Ja'Whaun Bentley (emerging star); RB Markell Jones (top newcomer)

Top three NFL prospects: CB Frankie Williams; C Robert Kugler; DT Jake Replogle

Top three newcomers: LB Wyatt Cook; OL Matt McCann; DE Chazmyn Turner

Big Ten East predictions: Ohio State, Michigan State, Michigan, Penn State, Rutgers, Maryland and Indiana

Big Ten West predictions: Wisconsin, Nebraska, Iowa, Minnesota, Illinois, Northwestern, Purdue

First-team All-Americans on the schedule: C Jake Allen (Michigan State); DE Shilique Calhoun (Michigan State); CB Kendall Fuller (Virginia Tech)

National top 5: Ohio State, Texas Christian, Alabama, Oregon, Baylor

Purdue opponents in top 25: No. 6 Michigan State, No. 16 Wisconsin, No. 24 Virginia Tech

• PHIL STEELE

Big Ten West: 7th

Preseason Power Poll: 78th

Preseason All-Big Ten: C Robert Kugler (3rd team); K Paul Griggs (3rd team); CB Frankie Williams (4th team)

Interesting note: Phil Steele is projecting David Blough as the starting quarterback.

Comment: They could be favored in four or five games, meaning that if they take care of business they are only an upset or two away from getting to a bowl. They made a lot of improvements in Hazell's second year and if they make the same strides this year, they could get there.

Big Ten East predictions: Ohio State, Michigan State, Penn State, Michigan, Indiana, Rutgers, Maryland

Big Ten West predictions: Wisconsin, Nebraska, Minnesota, Iowa, Northwestern, Illinois, Purdue

First-team All-Americans on the schedule: CB Kendall Fuller (Virginia Tech); PR De'Mornay Pierson-El (Nebraska)

National top 5: Ohio State, Texas Christian, Southern California, Alabama, Baylor

Purdue opponents in top 25: No. 9 Michigan State, No. 13 Wisconsin, No. 16 Virginia Tech

• HOW MANY WINS?

CG Technology, which runs eight sportsbooks, has released over and under win totals for 67 college football teams.

Purdue's number? 4.

If you believe the Boilermakers will win more than four games, you would have to risk $125 to win $100. If you think Purdue will win less than four games, you would risk $110 to win $100.

The number is tied for the lowest in the Big Ten along with Illinois. It's not the lowest among the 67 teams. Kansas is listed at 1.5, followed by UNLV (2.5), Wake Forest (3.5) and Vanderbilt (3.5)

• BIG TEN OVER AND UNDER WIN TOTALS

Ohio State: 11.5

Michigan State: 9.5

Wisconsin: 9.5

Nebraska: 8

Penn State: 8

Iowa: 7.5

Michigan: 7.5

Minnesota: 6

Northwestern: 6

Indiana: 5.5

Rutgers: 5

Maryland: 4.5

Illinois: 4

Purdue: 4