DaytonDailyNews.com

Like many people who pay attention to college football, Ohio State linebacker Marcus Freeman is well aware of Purdue's powers on offense.

"Oh, yeah," Freeman said. "We get a lot of the stats."

Try these: 45.4 points per game (1st in the Big Ten and 8th nationally), 309.8 passing yards per game (1st, 14th) and 495.8 total yards per game (1st, 10th).

The fourth-ranked Buckeyes will see that successful offense up close Saturday night when they travel to face No. 23 Purdue. It is trumpeted as a matchup between the Big Ten's top offensive and defensive teams.

Purdue's offense starts with quarterback Curtis Painter, who leads the Big Ten in passing. In five games, the senior from Vincennes, Ind., has completed 67 percent of his passes for 1,542 yards and 18 touchdowns while following a line of successful signal-callers that includes Drew Brees and Kyle Orton.

"Painter obviously has got great command of what they do," OSU coach Jim Tressel said. "Tremendously quick release, great touch when he needs it, and he'll kill you with the run when they need it."

But they haven't needed it much. While beating Toledo, I-AA Eastern Illinois, Central Michigan, Minnesota and Notre Dame (combined record 7-18), Purdue has defeated opponents by an average of 25 points per game.

With so many passes flying around (six different Purdue players have double-digit catches), Painter often plays judge and jury to a group of hungry receivers in the huddle.

"That happens a lot," said junior receiver Greg Orton, the former Wayne High star who has 18 catches for 233 yards, third-best on the team in both categories. "He gets it a lot in practice. But sometimes we'll look at the film and I have to admit, 'OK, maybe I wasn't that open.' "

They're still asking, though.

"You have to pick and choose who you listen to," Painter said, "and when you listen to them."

There haven't been many pressure points. The Boilermakers have outscored opponents 137-20 in the first half this season with halftime leads of 14, 28, 31, 21 and 23 points. That margin shrinks in the second half (90-82), but by then the games have been well in hand.

That also means the offensive numbers could be better (or worse, if you're an opponent). Especially with a roster full of confident players that has piled up massive yards, the Boilermakers will face a different challenge against an Ohio State defense that has allowed 197.6 yards per game, best in the Big Ten and second nationally.

"I think I've made my case that if (the ball) comes to my side, I can do something with it," Orton said. "A lot of our offensive players can."

Contact this reporter at (937) 225-7389 or knagel@DaytonDailyNews.com.