Here's a link to interesting article by the stats masters at 538.

https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/upsets-happen-in-college-football-t...

Bottom line: No statistical basis exists for trap games before or following big match ups. Stats show the same level of upsets compared to ordinary match ups.

Instead we fall victim to apophenia, a common human bias of seeing patterns where none exist.

So go stick it, Purdue!