We are nearing kickoff of the Little Caesars Pizza Bowl here at Ford Field in Detroit.

For Purdue, the key in its first bowl game since 2007 will be disrupting Western Michigan's dangerous pass attack. That starts with players like Kawann Short getting pressure up front. The Boilermakers will be without leading tackler Dwayne Beckford at linebacker, so the team could utilize more nickel packages to try to offset a Bronco passing offense ranked No. 8 nationally.

Offensively, it will be interesting to see how effective Purdue's rushing game is without injured Ralph Bolden. Western Michigan is ranked No. 107th against the rush, so that could mean plenty of carries for Akeem Shavers and Akeem Hunt.