Purdue Boilermakers vs. Fresno State Bulldogs Picks & Preview | NCAAFB Week 1

The Fresno State Bulldogs will visit the Purdue Boilermakers on Saturday at 12:00 PM ET.

The Boilermakers are favored, but by less than a touchdown (-3.5), versus the Bulldogs. The over/under for this matchup is 47.5 points.

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Game Info for Purdue vs. Fresno State

• Game Day: Saturday, September 2, 2023
• Game Time: 12:00 PM ET
• TV Channel: BTN
• Location: West Lafayette, Indiana
• Stadium: Ross-Ade Stadium

Purdue Pick Insights

• Purdue compiled a 5-9-0 record against the spread last season.
• Purdue covered the spread twice when favored by 3.5 points or more last season (in six opportunities).
• Last season, the combined scoring went over the point total nine times in Purdue games.

Purdue Stats & Insights

• Last year, Purdue scored 7.2 more points per game (26.6) than Fresno State allowed (19.4).
• Purdue was 5-5 against the spread and 7-3 overall last season when the team scored over 19.4 points.
• Purdue averaged 399.8 yards per game last year, 61.2 more yards than the 338.6 Fresno State gave up per contest.
• In games that Purdue totaled more than 338.6 yards last season, the team was 5-5 against the spread and 7-3 overall.
• Last year Purdue piled up 121.6 yards per game on the ground, 28.3 fewer than Fresno State allowed per outing (149.9).
• Last season Purdue had a 2-2 ATS record and a 4-0 overall record in games the team ran for over 149.9 yards.
• Purdue turned the ball over 23 times last season, five more turnovers than Fresno State forced (18).

Purdue’s Best Players

• Last season Aidan O’Connell had 3,481 passing yards (248.6 per game), a 64.2% completion percentage, 22 touchdowns, and 13 interceptions.
• Last year Devin Mockobee took 196 carries for 968 yards (69.1 per game) and scored nine touchdowns. When it comes to receiving, he also caught 31 passes for 274 yards (19.6 per game).
• Dylan Downing churned out 351 yards on 93 carries (25.1 yards per game), with four rushing touchdowns last season.
• In the previous year, Charlie Jones grabbed 110 passes (on 159 targets) for 1,361 yards (97.2 per game). He also found the end zone 12 times.
• Payne Durham also impressed receiving last season. He collected 56 receptions for 560 yards and eight touchdowns. He was targeted 80 times.
• TJ Sheffield’s stat line last year: 480 receiving yards, 46 catches, four touchdowns, on 76 targets.
• Jack Sullivan’s hard work last season put together a stat line of 5.5 sacks, four TFL and 26 tackles.
• Last season Sanoussi Kane averaged 50 tackles, two TFL, and one sack.
• Jamari Brown collected three interceptions while adding 12 tackles, one TFL, one sack, and four passes defended last year.

Fresno State Betting Insights

• Fresno State put together a 7-7-0 record against the spread last year.
• Fresno State was an underdog by 3.5 points or more three times last year, and covered the spread in one of those matchups.
• Fresno State and its opponent combined to hit the over seven out of 14 times last year.

Fresno State Pick Insights

• Last season Fresno State scored 3.2 more points per game (30.6) than Purdue allowed (27.4).
• When Fresno State recorded more than 27.4 points last year, it was 4-4 against the spread and 7-1 overall.
• Fresno State averaged 402.6 yards per game last year, 35.2 more yards than the 367.4 Purdue gave up per matchup.
• When Fresno State picked up over 367.4 yards last season, the team was 3-5 against the spread and 6-2 overall.
• Last year Fresno State ran for 10 fewer yards per game (132.5) than Purdue allowed per outing (142.5).
• Last year Fresno State had a 3-2 ATS record and a 4-1 overall record in games the team ran for over 142.5 yards.
• Fresno State had 14 giveaways last year, while Purdue had 20 takeaways.

Fresno State’s Best Players

• Jake Haener completed 71.6% of his passes and threw for 2,896 yards and 20 touchdowns last season.
• Jordan Mims accumulated 1,370 rushing yards and 18 touchdowns on the ground during last year’s campaign.
• Malik Sherrod ran for two touchdowns on 433 yards a year ago.
• Jalen Cropper averaged 77.4 receiving yards and collected five receiving touchdowns over the course of the 2022 season.
• Nikko Remigio caught 74 passes last season on his way to 852 yards and six receiving touchdowns.
• Zane Pope averaged 44 receiving yards per game on 4.2 targets per game a season ago.
• Last year David Perales collected 11.5 sacks, 10 TFL, 32 tackles, and one interception.
• Levelle Bailey put together an excellent stat line last year, collecting 53 tackles and four TFL.
• A year ago Cameron Lockridge recorded 27 tackles, two TFL, one sack, and six passes defended as well as five interceptions.