Staff Predictions: Michigan vs. Purdue

Who wants it more? We’re talking about the Little Caesar’s Pizza Bowl, of course - formerly the Motor City Bowl, formerly the Cherry Bowl, formerly someone’s really bad idea …

But now that it’s in good hands, with Detroit Red Wings owner Mike Ilitch in charge and former Michigan head coach Lloyd Carr as President, a new name and an outstanding sponsor, why not spend the day after Christmas in Detroit? Purdue, Saturday’s opponent, still has some work to do at 3-6, though it’s not completely unfeasible they could win out with a home game with Michigan State and a road game at Indiana still on the schedule (and you know the Boilermakers want it … they’ve been there before, so they know all the Detroit hot spots).

Michigan needs only one more victory to become bowl eligible, and though it still doesn’t seem likely, the Wolverines could be partying with their former coach and eating pizza with him as the festivities are said to include a Christmas night dinner with Carr and former Michigan State coach George Perles.

We only hope they’ve ironed out their differences. Picture it:

Carr: “Eddie Brown, George. You know he tripped Desmond in 1990!”

Perles: “You guys still rocking the ball on field goal snaps to draw guys offsides, like you did in 1989?”

Food fight!

Congrats to all of our crack staffers who picked the Illini to beat Michigan last week. Let’s list them here:

This week’s winner receives last week’s prize, whatever that was, and a week’s supply of Little Caesar’s crazy bread.

The picks:

Chris Balas: Freshman quarterback Tate Forcier always deflects questions about his size with references to former Purdue quarterback Drew Brees, followed by, “look what he’s doing!”

If Forcier plays like either of two Drews who squared off when Michigan played Purdue in 2000, Michigan wins handily. At this point U-M fans would settle for a former Iowa quarterback Drew Tate impression.

Michigan 26, Purdue 24

John Borton: The Yankees won the World Series. The economy remains in the tank. Michigan made Illinois’ offense look like it actually has some Juice. And we’re on the verge of four month’s worth of perpetual frostbite threat, barring global warming melting the polar icecaps and turning Michigan Stadium into Canham Natatorium II.

Can anything else go wrong? Almost, but not quite.

Michigan 30, Purdue 27

Michael Spath: Cue dramatic music. Sure, in theory Michigan could beat Wisconsin on the road or Ohio State at home, but the likelihood is if the Wolverines lose this weekend, they won’t be bowling in December. Win or start your holiday shopping early. It’s that simple.

Michigan 24, Purdue 21

Matt Pargoff: Meh - neither team looks very good right now, but someone has to win it. I’ll go with the home team by three.

Michigan 27, Purdue 24

Josh Helmholdt: It seems counterintuitive to pick a “winner” in this epic pillow fight. Here are two teams whose worlds have come crashing down around them in the last week. Call me crazy, but I see Michigan pulling out the narrow victory when the feathers settle in this one.

Michigan 30, Purdue 29

Jonathan Chait: Purdue and Michigan are the two most wildly inconsistent teams in the Big Ten. Predicting a game between the two of them is like predicting how a conversation between Dr. Jekyl and Two-Face would go. I could see a thirty-point blowout either way.

The play of the defense early will be crucial for Michigan. If Michigan has to pass, with a banged-up line against Purdue-front four, it could get very ugly. But Michigan should be able to run, and if the defense can hang in - hey, maybe even snag a turnover or two - then it should play out right. But, with these two unpredictable teams, I half-expect Forcier to throw for 400 yards.

Let’s call it:

Michigan 27, Purdue 26