Purdue at Northwestern Week 8 College Football Matchup Purdue at Northwestern Matchup - Week 8
Sat, Oct 18 2025 · Week 8 · 🏟 L&S Martin Stadium (Temp) Evanston, IL · Turf · 15,000 cap
Purdue✈ 119 mi-1 hr TZ
Away
0 19
Final
📊 Punt & Rally Projection
Purdue
15
NW -3
Northwestern
31
P&R Line Northwestern -16
P&R Total O/U 46.5
Confidence 86 High
Vegas Northwestern -3 · 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
71.6%
Northwestern wins
Solid
Game Control
58.6%
Northwestern wins
Lean
Vegas Spread
Northwestern -3
O/U 47.5
DraftKings
Advanced Stats
PPA + Success Rate agree → Northwestern · 73.9% ATS historically
↓ See full breakdown
🚌 Purdue 2nd straight Road Game
Purdue 2025 Schedule
Purdue's 2025 Schedule
DateMatchupSpreadTotalResultO/UCover
Sat 8/30Purdue vs Ball State-16.5W31–050.5W31–0UY
Sat 9/6Purdue vs Southern Illinois-19.5W34–1752.0W34–17UN
Sat 9/13Purdue vs USC+20.5L17–3359.5L17–33UY
Sat 9/20Purdue at Notre Dame+24.5L30–5651.5L30–56ON
— Bye Week —
Sat 10/4Purdue vs Illinois+7.5L27–4355.5L27–43ON
Sat 10/11Purdue at Minnesota+7.5L20–2749.5L20–27UY
Sat 10/18Purdue at Northwestern+3.0L0–1947.5L0–19UN
Sat 10/25Purdue vs Rutgers-2.5L24–2760.5L24–27UN
Sat 11/1Purdue at Michigan+21.0L16–2148.5L16–21UY
Sat 11/8Purdue vs Ohio State+29.5L10–3449.5L10–34UY
Sat 11/15Purdue at Washington+14.5L13–4951.5L13–49ON
— Bye Week —
Fri 11/28Purdue vs Indiana+28.5L3–5653.5L3–56ON
Northwestern 2025 Schedule
Northwestern's 2025 Schedule
DateMatchupSpreadTotalResultO/UCover
Sat 8/30Northwestern at Tulane+6.5L3–2347.5L3–23UN
Fri 9/5Northwestern vs Western Illinois-30.5W42–748.5W42–7OY
Sat 9/13Northwestern vs Oregon+25.5L14–3450.5L14–34UY
— Bye Week —
Sat 9/27Northwestern vs UCLA-6.0W17–1445.5W17–14UN
Sat 10/4Northwestern vs UL Monroe-12.5W42–743.5W42–7OY
Sat 10/11Northwestern at Penn State+20.5W22–2146.5W22–21UY
Sat 10/18Northwestern vs Purdue-3.0W19–047.5W19–0UY
Sat 10/25Northwestern at Nebraska+7.5L21–2844.5L21–28OY
— Bye Week —
Fri 11/7Northwestern at USC+14.5L17–3854.5L17–38ON
Sat 11/15Northwestern vs Michigan+10.0L22–2441.5L22–24OY
Sat 11/22Northwestern vs Minnesota-4.0W38–3541.0W38–35ON
Sat 11/29Northwestern at Illinois+7.0L13–2044.5L13–20UY
Fri 12/26Northwestern vs Central Michigan-13.5W34–743.5W34–7UY
Advanced Stats
Advanced Analytics Matchup
Matchup-adjusted (offense vs opponent defense) · 2025 season
Northwestern 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
→ Northwestern
Individual Factors — Ranked by Predictive Strength
PPA Overall
Points added per play · Elite predictor
Purdue #104
+0.284
Northwestern #83
+0.417
Northwestern Edge
PPA Passing
Pass efficiency edge · Strong predictor
Purdue #117
+0.372
Northwestern #85
+0.610
Northwestern Edge
Havoc Total
Def. disruption rate · Strong predictor
Purdue #78
0.152
Northwestern #83
0.150
TFLs, sacks, PBUs, forced fumbles — higher is better
Purdue Edge
Points Per Opp
Drive-finishing edge · Strong predictor
Purdue #120
+6.433
Northwestern #116
+7.240
Northwestern Edge
Success Rate
Play consistency edge · Solid predictor
Purdue #60
+0.881
Northwestern #57
+0.915
Northwestern Edge
Field Position
Avg start (lower=better) · Solid predictor
Purdue #114
72.5
Northwestern #82
71.5
Avg yards from own endzone to average start — lower is better · longer bar = better field position
Northwestern Edge
Advanced stats sourced from CFBD · 2025 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 #117
0.60
Northwestern #26
1.80
Avg sequences allowed per game (lower is better)
Purdue #126
1.60
Northwestern #44
1.20
Northwestern +1.20
CSS Edge (season-to-date)
Teams with this edge win 71.6% of games historically
Based on 5 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
40.5
Northwestern #1
48.9
Avg GC score allowed per game (lower is better)
Purdue #121
47.1
Northwestern #77
38.0
Northwestern +8.4
GC Edge (season-to-date)
Teams with this edge win 58.6% of games historically
Based on 6 games this season
Actual Result
CSS Battle
Northwestern
2 — 0 sequences
✓ Predicted correctly
GC Battle
Northwestern
88.8 — 5.5 GC score
✓ Predicted correctly
Game Result
Northwestern won by 19
✓ 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
Barry Odom #1
0–0 (0%) · Yr 1 at school
OC Josh Henson Yr 1 #1
DC Michael Scherer Yr 1 #1
Staff Rating
0.00 #1
Northwestern
David Braun #1
12–13 (48%) · Yr 3 at school
OC Zach Lujan Yr 2 #1
DC Tim McGarigle Yr 2 #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