Spring practices are in the books and fall camps will be here before you know it so that means getting an early jump on the 2006 NCAA football season. Knowing the teams now will save you time in August and Matt Fargo is here to help you get a grasp of what to expect this upcoming year. We go from worst to first in this 2006 College Football Preview.

#29 Purdue Boilermakers 5-6 SU; 3-8 ATS

Fargos Take Purdue was arguably one of the most disappointing teams in the country last season. Big things were expected in West Lafayette especially from the defense that ranked 15th in scoring and 40th in overall in 2004 and was returning all 11 starters. The Boilermakers plummeted to 100th in total defense and 75th in scoring defense and they missed a bowl game for the first time in eight years. Changes have been made throughout the coaching staff and Purdue is poised to put 2005 in the past. The offense played well most of the season and with seven starters coming back, it could be even better. Similar to last season, the schedule is on Purdues side but we all saw how that helped last year. Head coach Joe Tiller is on the proverbial hot seat as his team needs to get back to the postseason or his 10th season in leading the program could very well be his last.

Returning Starters on Offense 7 The spread option attack that has flourished at Purdue should be strong once again. Sophomore Curtis Printers is the starting quarterback after starting five games as a freshman. He is a great runner and he possesses a strong arm that should boost the Boilermakers passing game that was disappointing down the stretch in 2005. He has weapons at receiver, led by Dorien Bryant who was the leading receiver in the conference last year with 80 receptions for 960 yards. The running game will be headed by two sophomores but Kory Sheets should be the main guy once again. Four starters, along with 2004 starter Uche Nwaneri, return along the offensive line, which paved the way for the best rushing average since 2002. New offensive coordinators are in place but dont expect too much change.

Returning Starters on Defense 4 Only four starters are back on defense and based on what the unit accomplished last season, or didnt accomplish, that is a very good thing. Holes need to be filled all over the place especially along the front line and in the secondary. Because of all of the youth, four JUCO transfers were brought in to try and ease some of that inexperience but its really hard to say how this defense will perform in 2006. The unit finished 111th in passing defense and three sophomores are expected to start in the secondary along with one of the JUCO players. The rushing defense was the strength a season ago but defensive end Anthony Spencer is the only returnee to the front four. The linebackers will be solid as they are the most experienced and they will have to likely carry this unit throughout.

Schedule The schedule makers must really like Purdue since this will be the second straight season that the Boilermakers dont have either Michigan or Ohio St. on the slate. Obviously, it didnt do much good last year but it should help this season. Overall, there are 13 games on the schedule meaning seven wins are a must to reach the postseason. The first three games are easy wins against Indiana St., Miami (Ohio) and Ball St., while the fourth is the Big Ten opener at home against Minnesota. Three straight road games are next, led off by Notre Dame followed by Iowa and Northwestern. Home games against Wisconsin and Penn St. and a game at Michigan St. could all go either way. The final three games are against Illinois, Indiana and Hawaii so the goal of seven victories is more than attainable.

You can bet on Things cant get any worse in Purdue than what was witnessed last season, or can it? Its possible this team has already peaked and now its time for the downward slide that most every team experiences at some point. Most likely, it was just one bad season as there is enough talent for the Boilermakers to be successful once again. After going 11-3-2 ATS in the Big Ten in 2002 and 2003, Purdue has gone just 5-11 against the number over the last two seasons in conference action. What that means for 2006 is value as this team will likely be on the right end of some very good numbers. Going 2-10 ATS since 1999 as road underdogs doesnt instill a lot of confidence in backing the Boilermakers but a complete turnaround of that could easily happen based on public perception from last season.