Northwestern is hoping that a change in venue will prove to be a good luck charm on Saturday when it takes on Purdue at historic Wrigley Field.

The Wildcats have lost two games at home and two on the road during their current four-game losing streak, so maybe playing a neutral-site game will snap them out of their funk.

Of course, the last time the Wildcats played in the Chicago Cubs' national landmark ballpark didn't go so well. The confines were anything but friendly in 2010, when Illinois laid a 48-27 beatdown on them.

Will languishing Northwestern (3-7, 1-6 Big Ten) rise to this special occasion in a special venue and upset the 11-point favorite Boilermakers (6-4, 4-3), or will the Wildcats' nightmare of a season continue with a fifth consecutive loss?

Here are our staff predictions:

MORE: JT's Keys: Northwestern vs. Purdue l The skinny on Purdue l Turnovers continue to plague Northwestern offense

My take: I'm still holding out hope that the Cats will surprise me.

For much more on how the Cats can beat the Boilers, see JT Keys: Northwestern vs. Purdue.

Fearless forecast: Northwestern 24 Purdue 21

Confidence level: 4 (out of 10)

My take: This game is fittingly at the home of the Cubs because it might take Northwestern’s offense 108 years to find the end zone.

The Cats’ offense hasn’t done anything productive since September and that will continue at the Friendly Confines. Similar to how the Cubs traded away their championship core this summer and embarked on a rebuild, NU is struggling to replace program stalwarts on both sides of the ball.

NU would need multiple defensive scores to stand a chance in this game. That’s a lot to ask of a unit who will have their hands full with David Bell. Purdue has a lot to play for and NU’s next meaningful game will be in 2022. This is a wasted season, and will continue as such.

Fearless forecast: Purdue 27 Northwestern 6

Confidence level: 10

My take: Purdue is having the type of year that Northwestern aspired to, playing Big Ten opponents close and striking fear into the hearts of the elite with upset wins over Iowa and Michigan State. Even after a loss to Ohio State, the Boilermakers are chugging along with plenty of momentum heading into Wrigley on Saturday. Northwestern on the other hand, has struggled.

The offensive struggles by Northwestern will continue despite getting a welcome respite from the elite defenses of Iowa and Wisconsin. The Wildcats will keep it close by keeping the Boilermakers and especially star receiver David Bell in front of them, but a familiar refrain will take over: the offense won't sustain drives, and the defense can't stay out there forever.

Fearless forecast: Purdue 24, Northwestern 14

Confidence level: 10

My take: It's been more than a month since the Wildcats tasted victory, and they've been outscored 126-40 during their current four-game losing streak.

But I think Northwestern will hang around and keep it close against the Boilers on Saturday. What's been killing the Cats defensively is the running game, and the Boilers hardly run at all; they rank last in the Big Ten and 128th in the country in rushing. And while Purdue's defense is pretty salty (49th in FBS), they are nowhere near as daunting as the last four opponents NU has faced, which all rank among the top 12 nationally.

If the Cats can run the ball to eat some clock and keep QB Aidan O'Connell, WR David Bell and the Purdue offense on the sideline, they will be able to make it a game. The problem is the Boilers are likely to score more than 21 points, and NU hasn't scored more than that in a game since Sept. 25 against Ohio.

Fearless forecast: Purdue 27 Northwestern 17

Confidence level: 8