New Purdue is 0-1 but I am 1-0. This week, Purdue travels to Virginia to play the Virginia Tech Hokies. What is a hokie you ask? It is basically a made-up bird.

Seconds

Looking at the last 10 seasons, Purdue is 7-3 in their second games and currently on a four-game win streak. Of those games, two games were away games (Connecticut and Illinois) and they won both of those games.

In short, Purdue usually does well in their second game of the season. However, the one time that Purdue played Virginia Tech, it was ugly.

A Hokie Game

In 2015, Virginia Tech came to West Lafayette and did hokey pokey all over Ross-Ade Stadium as they beat Purdue 51-24. In this game, there were a total of 21 penalties and each team returned a fumble for a touchdown. Virginia Tech finished the season with a record of 6-6 while Purdue finished with a record of 2-10.

Away in September

In the last 10 seasons, Purdue has played seven away games in September. In these games, Purdue was 3-4. In games against non-conference opponents, Purdue was 2-3. In those wins, Purdue beat their opponents by at least 32 points and held them to 3 points and under. In the three losses, Purdue loss by 3 points, 14 points, and 10 points.

Bird is the Word

Going back to 2013, Purdue has played in 16 games versus opponents with a bird mascot. In these games, Purdue was 6-10.

If you exclude the Iowa Hawkeyes, that leaves six games versus non-conference opponents. In these games, Purdue was 2-4.

Prediction

Despite the lopsided meeting in 2015, this feels like a coin flip. But I will lean into Purdue’s record versus birds.

Virginia Tech wins and then I spend the next week cherry picking stats to favor Purdue against Syracuse.