They will NOT control us, WE will be victorious !

Cork (IRE) - Pull up a seat ladies and gentlemen. What you are about to witness will either be the make or break of the Notre Dame football season. The Notre Dame Fighting Irish roll into Ross-Ade Stadium in Indiana this weekend for the annual brawl with the Purdue Boilermakers.

• Series: Notre Dame 54-26-2 
• Game date / time: 8:00 pm ET, Saturday, October 1st 
• Location: Ross-Ade Stadium, West Lafayette, Indiana 
• TV channel: ESPN/ESPN3 
• Spread: Notre Dame favored by 13

Brian Kelly leads his Fighting Irish(2-2) into West Lafayette this Saturday, coming off a lackluster performance against the Pittsburgh Panthers. In contrast, the Purdue Boilermakers (2-1), are full of bounce and swagger following its demolition of SE Missouri State. Many expect this to be an open and shut case......just like last week at Pittsburgh.

This will not be the usual Purdue type team that the Irish defenses have become accustomed to in the past few meetings. The Boilermakers come in with the number 10 ranked rushing game in the nation led by Juniors Ralph Bolden (39 carries, 223 yards) and Akeem Shavers (29 carries, 186 yards).

Purdue also see the return of Robert Marve threw a touchdown pass and was nearly perfect last week in his return from a knee injury. And what better way to complete the comeback in the Black & Gold game for Purdue under the lights, and it will make for aesthetically pleasing scenery for even the hardest to please 'ball fans. If that was not enough to get the Boliermaker fans riled up for the showdown with Notre Dame, this game comes with an emotional attachment also:

Playing For Sean

Fifth-year Purdue running back Sean Matti passed away on Sunday, July, 3, 2011. The Shoreview, Minn., native will be missed by his family, friends, coaches and teammates. The Boilermakers have dedicated their season to him and will honor him with a 22 decal, Sean's number, on their helmets.

“Oh, this is their Super Bowl,” ND head coach Brian Kelly said on Wednesday. “This is the biggest game on their schedule by far. Again, we’re going to get everybody’s best shot, we know that. I think I was referring more towards we have to make sure on our end that we take care of our players and don’t do too much (that it becomes a drain). There are so many things we could work on. We could be out there three hours. We’re [out there] 90 minutes in practice right now. Some coaches would want to be out there for two and a half or three, yet you’d lose that [intensity] on Saturday.”

Avoiding the NIGHTMARE scenario !!!!!!!

Purdue Offense vs Notre Dame Defense:

No doubt the strength of the Notre Dame football team this season is it's defense. Both Irish losses have come by way of a combined SEVEN points. The strength of this unit is undoubtedly in the front 7, and significant improvement has been made this season with the emergence of Freshmen Aaron "Beast" Lynch and Stephon Tuitt. Neither have actually started a game so far this season, but both have had a huge impact when they get on the field.

If Purdue's ground game get's past the DL into the next level, then they will have to contend with superstar MLB Manti Te'o and hard-nosed S Harrison Smith. It is not yet known who will start at the QB position for Purdue, either Robert Mavre or Caleb TerBush, but if the Boilermakers run is shut down from the outset, then expect a change up by way of QB.

It don't take an Einstein to figure this one out........stop the run.....then have some fun !

Advantage: Irish

Notre Dame Offense vs Purdue Defense:


Tommy Rees really struggled last week vs Pitt. His number one target, Michael Floyd, was double covered all game and he also had trouble by way of not enough time, to check down from a blitzing secondary. This, in my opinion, has set a template for the rest of the season, and if Kelly or Rees cannot find a way past this then things could get very ugly up the track. Assuming Purdue, who has had two weeks to prepare for this game, try to rattle Tommy in the same way Pitt did......then I expect the Irish to be ready for this! Oh....and did I mention that the secondary is the strength of the Purdue defense ?

Step forward Theo Riddick. Riddick was once described by Brian Kelly as "Before he leaves here, he is going to be something special....". Well, it's not been this season, thats for sure. The 5-11, 198lbs Junior has had an absolute nightmare on the punt return game that has cost the Irish dearly. Surely it is time for this firecracker to step up and take some of the heat off Rees/Floyd/Eifert.....and I have a feeling in my Irish bones that this is going to be his break-through game.

Advantage: Evens

Notre Dame Special Teams vs Purdue Special Teams:

Punter Cody Webster and kicker Carson Wiggs might be the best kicking duo that the Irish will face all season. Wiggs is 5 of 7 in field goals, including a 50-yarder against Middle Tennessee. Webster has averaged 49.8 yards per punt his season. The Notre Dame punt return game is the worst seen in a long time. Teo Riddick was yank from return duties after dropping 2 punts in the oppening two games deep in their own end. He was replaced by "good hands guy" WR John Goodman who also dropped a punt in the Michigan State game.

David Ruffer continued his inconsistent start as well when a botched snap and hold led to a missed field goal against the Panthers. George Atkinson III provided some hope for the future with a second straight impressive week in the kick return game.

Advantage: Purdue

Prediction : Notre Dame 28-21 Purdue

FOUR LEAF CLOVER OFFENSE : Theo Riddick

FOUR LEAF CLOVER DEFENSE : Manti Te'o