Big Ten Championship Game 2022: Early Preview, Predictions for Michigan vs. Purdue

For the second straight year, Michigan closed out the regular season by beating Ohio State in a high-stakes matchup. Once again, the Wolverines appear to be on their way to a Big Ten championship and a spot in the College Football Playoff.

Before looking ahead to the CFP, Michigan will focus on trying to defeat Purdue in this year's Big Ten Championship Game. The Wolverines and Boilermakers are set to face off on Saturday at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. The matchup is scheduled for 8 p.m. ET on Fox.

It's been clear for quite some time that the winner of Michigan-Ohio State would likely finish first in the Big Ten East and reach the conference title game. But it's a bit of a surprise that Purdue made it here, as it needed three straight wins to finish 6-3 in Big Ten play and at the top of the Big Ten West.

The Wolverines are looking to win back-to-back Big Ten titles. Meanwhile, this will be the Boilermakers' first appearance in the conference championship game, which began in 2011. Purdue hasn't won an outright Big Ten title since 1929, and it last won a share of the championship in 2000.

Here's everything else you need to know heading into this year's Big Ten Championship Game.

Junior running back Blake Corum is typically the star of Michigan's offense. He put himself in the Heisman Trophy conversation by rushing for 1,457 yards and 18 touchdowns through the Wolverines' first 11 games of the season.

But Corum is now dealing with a knee injury that limited him to two carries for six yards in the regular-season finale vs. Ohio State. The Wolverines proved they can run the football even without Corum, though, as sophomore Donovan Edwards returned from a hand injury to rush for 216 yards and two touchdowns against the Buckeyes.

Purdue's defense has been middle of the pack in the Big Ten against both the run and the pass. So the Boilermakers will need to have players step up if they're going to slow a Wolverines offense with a ton of big-play potential.

Don't overlook Michigan sophomore quarterback J.J. McCarthy, either. His numbers aren't flashy (2,215 yards and 17 touchdowns), but he's only thrown two interceptions this year. And he stepped up against Ohio State by accounting for a season-high four TDs (three passing and one rushing).

If McCarthy is forced to throw a lot, he can rise to the occasion and perform well. But Michigan's rushing attack has been the best in the conference (largely because of Corum), and it will be difficult for Purdue to stop, whether it's facing Corum, Edwards or both.

Purdue mostly relies on its passing attack to move the ball. Senior quarterback Aidan O'Connell has thrown for 3,124 yards and 22 touchdowns in 11 games this season, but he's also been intercepted 11 times, so he's prone to making the occasional mistake.

O'Connell's favorite target has been senior wide receiver Charlie Jones, who has 97 catches for 1,199 yards and 12 touchdowns. When the Boilermakers keep the ball on the ground, it typically goes into the arms of redshirt freshman running back Devin Mockobee, who has run for 849 yards and eight touchdowns.

Although Purdue has had some offensive success, it hasn't faced many defenses as talented as Michigan's. On Saturday, the Wolverines gave up 492 total yards to Ohio State, which has a top-tier offense. Before that, Michigan ranked first in the Big Ten in both run and pass defense, and it isn't likely to have two down performances in a row.

This is a matchup that's likely to go in the Wolverines' favor, especially because the Boilermakers turn the ball over a bit too frequently. Michigan's defense should make some big plays that are likely to keep the momentum on its side for much of the contest.

Purdue had an impressive finish to the regular season to make it to this point. It seemed for a while like Iowa, Minnesota or Illinois would end up atop the Big Ten West and play for the conference title, so the Boilermakers should be pleased with the year they have had.

But the Big Ten Championship Game likely isn't going to be close. Michigan is one of the top teams in the country, as it just proved with a statement road victory at Ohio State. And the Wolverines should dominate all facets of Saturday's game.

Michigan can run and pass the ball well, and it typically doesn't let its opponents do either successfully. Plus, this is a team that has some experienced players, having won the Big Ten title and reached the CFP last season.

Wolverines head coach Jim Harbaugh has done an impressive job to get the program back to this level. They'll soon be back in the College Football Playoff, too.

Expect Michigan to control the Big Ten Championship Game from start to finish and win handily.

Prediction: Michigan 42, Purdue 17