Washington Huskies at Purdue Boilermakers
Friday, October 16, 2026
8:00 PM ET, Ross-Ade Stadium
Purdue is a 3-point home favorite over Washington with a total of 52.5. My play is Purdue to cover.
Purdue is playing its best football of the season. The Boilermakers started 1-3 under Barry Odom, but they’ve won two straight and are 2-1 in the Big Ten. Last week they ran over Minnesota 41-13. Fame Ijeboi, a Minnesota transfer, ran for a career-high 195 yards and three touchdowns against his old team. Ryan Browne added 81 rushing yards and a score while throwing for 159 and another touchdown. That’s a team that has found an identity, and it’s one that travels poorly for opponents on a Friday night at Ross-Ade.
Washington is going the other way. The Huskies started 3-0 in non-conference play, then lost three straight once Big Ten play began: by three to Minnesota, by four to USC and 41-24 at home to Iowa last Friday. Kamari Moulton ran for a career-high 208 yards on 26 carries for Iowa, eight yards per attempt. A run defense that just got gashed like that now faces a Purdue team coming off a dominant rushing performance.
The quarterback situation adds to it. Demond Williams Jr. got hurt against Iowa, and Jedd Fisch doesn’t expect him to play Friday. Elijah Brown has taken first-team reps this week. To be fair, Brown played well in relief, completing 28 of 39 passes for 251 yards and three touchdowns, and he’s completed 71.4% of his throws this season. But a backup making his first start of the year on the road in a hostile Big Ten environment is a tough ask.
The risk is Purdue’s defense. The Boilermakers rank outside the top 100 in defensive success rate, and Washington’s offense has scored 24 or more in each of its Big Ten losses even while losing. If Brown keeps that going, Purdue will need 30-plus to cover. But Purdue’s run game can control the clock and keep Washington’s offense off the field, and the Huskies haven’t shown they can stop it. A 31-24 type of game is the most likely outcome, and that’s a Purdue cover.
The Pick: Purdue Boilermakers -3
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