The game between the Pitt Panthers and the Cincinnati Bearcats Friday night in Cincinnati is not only the battle for the “River City Rivalry Trophy” but now it’s a Big East Conference game. Friday night’s clash is the first time the Bearcats have hosted Pitt since joining the league. Cincinnati and Pittsburgh are meeting on the gridiron for the sixth time in a series that dates back to 1921, a span of 84 years. Each of the past three meetings has taken place in Pittsburgh.
Pitt is favored by most Las Vegas sports- books at an 8-point chalk with the total set at 45, is seeking its first 2-0 start since the 2003 campaign. The Panthers are also looking to win their Big East opener for the first time since 2003. Pitt has won 22 of its last 31 Big East games dating back to a 33-7 victory over Temple in 2001.
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The match up of the two 1-0 teams features an experienced Bearcat defense facing a talented Panther offense. UC’s defense stole the show in the Bearcat’s 31-0 season opening rout over Eastern Kentucky last Saturday posting the school’s first shutout in 123 games. The lopsided win came against what would be considered a soft opponent from the NCAA Div 1AA, Ohio Valley Conference. Pitt enters the game after rolling up 38 points in a 38-13 victory over ACC power Virginia.
The Bearcats will likely continue their two-quarterback offense against Pittsburgh. Last week the duo of Dustin Grutza and Nick Davila produced four touchdowns, each throwing for a TD score. UC recorded the school’s first shutout in 11 seasons in the 31-0 win over Eastern Kentucky.
Against Virginia, Pitt QB Tyler Palko completed 77% of his passes, 17 for 22, for 283 yards leading Pitt to victory. Palko threw TD’s of 1, 72 and 78 yards. To set the tone early Palko led a methodical 14 play, 65 yards TD drive to open the game, completing all seven of his passes to six different receivers. Palko’s 78 and 72 yard TD passes are the two longest Pitt pass plays in Heinz Field history. In 2005, Palko completed 193 of 341(56.6%) for 2,392 yards, 17 touchdowns and 9 interceptions. Palko also led Pitt with six rushing TD’s.
The Pitt-Cincinnati game will be nationally televised by ESPN2. Bob Wischusen (play by play), Rod Gilmore (color), Trevor Matich (color) and Rob Simmelkjaer (sideline) form the broadcast crew.
In the Big-East Conference, the Louisville Cardinals and West Virginia Mountaineers are favored to battle it out for the conference crown and a BCS berth however some have tabbed Pitt as a sleeper. The Panthers are loaded with returning talent including QB Tyler Palko. The Panthers should cover the 8 pt line however the Bearcats have historically been an occasional giant killer at home in Nippert Stadium. And Pitt has been known to occasionally lay an egg as a heavy road favorite, i.e. the loss to the Ohio Bobcats in front of an ESPN2 national audience in 2005 and also on a Friday night.
Pitt Panthers vs Cincinnati Bearcats Match Up Preview
Sept 8th, 2006
7 PM Eastern
Nippert Stadium, Cincinnati Ohio
LINE Pitt –8 Total 45
THE PICK Over 45
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