Purdue at Northwestern Week 12 College Football Matchup Purdue at Northwestern Matchup - Week 12
Sat, Nov 18 2023 · Week 12 · 🏟 Ryan Field Evanston, IL · Turf · 47,130 cap
Purdue✈ 119 mi-1 hr TZ
Away
15 23
Final
📊 Punt & Rally Projection
Purdue
21
NW -2.5
Northwestern
27
P&R Line Northwestern -6.5
P&R Total O/U 48
Confidence 86 High
Vegas Northwestern -2.5 · O/U 47.5
Matchup Prediction
Northwestern has the edge in this matchup
Both Momentum Control (CSS) and Game Control metrics favor Northwestern entering this game.
Momentum Control
58.4%
Northwestern wins
Lean
Game Control
58.6%
Northwestern wins
Lean
Vegas Spread
Northwestern -2.5
O/U 47.5
ESPN Bet
Advanced Stats
PPA + Success Rate agree → Purdue · 73.9% ATS historically
↓ See full breakdown
Purdue 2023 Schedule
Purdue's 2023 Schedule
DateMatchupSpreadTotalResultO/UCover
Sat 9/2Purdue vs Fresno State-4.0L35–3947.0L35–39ON
Sat 9/9Purdue at Virginia Tech+1.5W24–1749.0W24–17UY
Sat 9/16Purdue vs Syracuse+1.0L20–3556.5L20–35UN
Fri 9/22Purdue vs Wisconsin+5.5L17–3854.0L17–38ON
Sat 9/30Purdue vs Illinois-1.0W44–1954.0W44–19OY
Sat 10/7Purdue at Iowa+2.5L14–2038.5L14–20UN
Sat 10/14Purdue vs Ohio State+17.5L7–4153.0L7–41UN
— Bye Week —
Sat 10/28Purdue at Nebraska-1.0L14–3139.5L14–31ON
Sat 11/4Purdue at Michigan+32.5L13–4152.5L13–41OY
Sat 11/11Purdue vs Minnesota+1.5W49–3048.5W49–30OY
Sat 11/18Purdue at Northwestern+2.5L15–2347.5L15–23UN
Sat 11/25Purdue vs Indiana-2.5W35–3155.5W35–31OY
Northwestern 2023 Schedule
Northwestern's 2023 Schedule
DateMatchupSpreadTotalResultO/UCover
Sun 9/3Northwestern at Rutgers+5.0L7–2439.0L7–24UN
Sat 9/9Northwestern vs UTEP-1.0W38–740.0W38–7OY
Sat 9/16Northwestern at Duke+17.0L14–3848.0L14–38ON
Sat 9/23Northwestern vs Minnesota+11.5W37–3439.5W37–34OY
Sat 9/30Northwestern vs Penn State+27.0L13–4148.0L13–41ON
Sat 10/7Northwestern vs Howard-23.0W23–2051.0W23–20UN
— Bye Week —
Sat 10/21Northwestern at Nebraska+10.5L9–1740.0L9–17UY
Sat 10/28Northwestern vs Maryland+14.0W33–2748.5W33–27OY
Sat 11/4Northwestern vs Iowa+4.5L7–1030.5L7–10UY
Sat 11/11Northwestern at Wisconsin+9.5W24–1043.5W24–10UY
Sat 11/18Northwestern vs Purdue-2.5W23–1547.5W23–15UY
Sat 11/25Northwestern at Illinois+5.0W45–4346.5W45–43OY
Sat 12/23Northwestern vs Utah+6.5W14–744.5W14–7UY
Advanced Stats
Advanced Analytics Matchup
Matchup-adjusted (offense vs opponent defense) · 2023 season
Purdue PPA Edge
Agreement Signals — When All Metrics Agree
Elite · 83.1% ATS
PPA + PPO + SR + Havoc
Split
Metrics disagree
Elite · 82.4% ATS
PPA + PPO + Havoc
Split
Metrics disagree
Elite · 73.9% ATS
PPA + Success Rate
Both Agree
→ Purdue
Individual Factors — Ranked by Predictive Strength
PPA Overall
Points added per play · Elite predictor
Purdue #86
+0.293
Northwestern #113
+0.291
Purdue Edge
PPA Passing
Pass efficiency edge · Strong predictor
Purdue #89
+0.438
Northwestern #100
+0.505
Northwestern Edge
Havoc Total
Def. disruption rate · Strong predictor
Purdue #48
0.170
Northwestern #115
0.141
TFLs, sacks, PBUs, forced fumbles — higher is better
Purdue Edge
Points Per Opp
Drive-finishing edge · Strong predictor
Purdue #112
+6.861
Northwestern #48
+8.395
Northwestern Edge
Success Rate
Play consistency edge · Solid predictor
Purdue #60
+0.855
Northwestern #110
+0.785
Purdue Edge
Field Position
Avg start (lower=better) · Solid predictor
Purdue #65
70.6
Northwestern #57
70.3
Avg yards from own endzone to average start — lower is better · longer bar = better field position
Northwestern Edge
Advanced stats sourced from CFBD · 2023 season · Edges are matchup-adjusted (offense vs opponent defense)
Power Ratings
Team Power Ratings
Overall · Offense · Defense ratings · Updated as season progresses
Northwestern Rated Higher
Overall Power Rating
Purdue
-3.9
Northwestern
-0.6
Offense Rating
Purdue
13.6
Northwestern
16.0
Defense Rating (lower = better defense)
Purdue
17.5
Northwestern
16.6
Power ratings updated throughout the season as results accumulate
Momentum Control (CSS)
Consecutive Scoring Sequences Who builds scoring momentum? Northwestern Edge
Avg sequences created per game
Purdue #91
0.50
Northwestern #47
1.22
Avg sequences allowed per game (lower is better)
Purdue #78
1.10
Northwestern #35
0.67
Northwestern +0.72
CSS Edge (season-to-date)
Teams with this edge win 58.4% of games historically
Based on 9 games this season
Game Control (GC)
Win Probability Dominance Who controls games start to finish? Northwestern Edge
Avg GC score per game (offense)
Purdue #1
30.1
Northwestern #1
35.3
Avg GC score allowed per game (lower is better)
Purdue #123
56.2
Northwestern #67
45.8
Northwestern +5.2
GC Edge (season-to-date)
Teams with this edge win 58.6% of games historically
Based on 10 games this season
Actual Result
CSS Battle
Northwestern
1 — 0 sequences
✓ Predicted correctly
GC Battle
Northwestern
76.3 — 10.3 GC score
✓ Predicted correctly
Game Result
Northwestern won by 8
✓ Model called it
Spread Context
ATS Historical Context
Based on 2021–2025 backtest · FBS vs FBS · Regular season

Both metrics agree on Northwestern. Teams with this edge profile have covered 50.3% historically — essentially a coin flip against the spread.

ATS data is informational only. Past cover rates do not guarantee future results.

Coaching Matchup
Purdue
Ryan Walters #1
1–2 (33%) · Yr 1 at school
OC Graham Harrell Yr 1 #1
DC Kevin Kane Yr 1 #1
Staff Rating
0.00 #1
Northwestern
David Braun #1
1–2 (33%) · Yr 1 at school
OC Mike Bajakian Yr 3 #1
DC Vacant Yr 1 #1
Staff Rating
0.00 #1
About these metrics
Advanced Stats shows matchup-adjusted factor edges (offense vs opponent defense). Combination signals — when PPA, PPO, Success Rate, and Havoc all point the same direction — have historically predicted the SU winner in 95–97% of games and the ATS winner in 82–83% of games (2021–2025, FBS vs FBS, regular season).
Impact: Advanced Stats are the best performance based metric used to predict the outcome of games.

Momentum Control (CSS) measures consecutive scoring sequences — when a team scores, holds the opponent scoreless, then scores again. Teams entering a game with a CSS edge of +1.0 or more have won 71–78% of games historically (2021–2025, FBS vs FBS).
Impact: Momentum Control is a great measure for predicting game outcome but NOT an ATS advantage, data shows this is already considered when lines are set.

Game Control (GC) measures win probability dominance — how thoroughly a team controlled the game from start to finish. Teams with a GC edge of +12 or more have won 67–76% of games historically. When both metrics agree, combined confidence is higher. When they split, treat as a lean at best.
Impact: Game Control is another great measure for predicting game outcome but NOT an ATS advantage, data shows this is already considered when lines are set.

Power Ratings are a custom-built composite of a Teams Talent, Experience & Production, Coaching & Performance Metrics. These are updated constantly with roster changes, performance once the games start for the 2026 season, injuries the team is dealing with and scheduling situations.
Impact: There are a wide range of power ratings available, we think ours is the best, you can decide for yourself