Rutgers vs. Pitt In Big East Clash

Written by Benton Vale

Friday, 20 October 2006

Rutgers vs. Pitt In Big East Clash After a convincing 34-0 victory at Navy last weekend, No. 19 Rutgers (6-0, 1-0 BIG EAST) looks to start 7-0 for just the third time in 137 seasons of football Saturday on the road in BIG EAST action at Pittsburgh. The Scarlet Knights moved up five spots in this week’s USA Today/Coaches Top 25 and Associated Press Top 25 to crack the nation’s top 20 for the first time since 1977. Rutgers is 16th in this week’s BCS Standings and is one of three BIG EAST members in the top 16.

A win at Pitt would mark just the second victory in 12 tries in the Steel City. The last time Rutgers won at Pitt was in 1998 when the Scarlet Knights posted a 25-21 victory at Pitt Stadium. Pitt enters the game with a 6-1 record, including a perfect 2-0 mark in BIG EAST play. The Panthers have been hot of late, winning four straight games. Over the four-game win streak, Pitt has outscored the opposition 169-27, including last week’s 52-7 thrashing of Central Florida in Orlando.

Rutgers ranks in the top 25 in 10 different NCAA statistical categories, including first nationally in scoring defense (8.3 ppg), second in total defense (221.3 ypg) and fourth in pass efficiency defense (91.5).

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Pittsburgh enters Saturday’s game with a 6-1 overall record and atop the BIG EAST standings with a 2-0 conference mark. Its only loss came at home to Michigan State (38-23) on Sept. 16.

The Panthers, in their second season under head coach Dave Wannstedt, are coming off a 52-7 victory at Central Florida last Friday night. Pitt defeated Cincinnati (33-15) and Syracuse (31-21) in league play.

Senior quarterback Tyler Palko leads the nation in passing efficiency. He is averaging 237.3 yards per game, while completing 70.8 percent of his passes. Palko’s favorite target is junior WR Derek Kinder, who has caught 27 balls for 526 yards and scored six touchdowns this season. Palko has a solid offensive line in front of him that has allowed just five sacks all season. The Pitt offense ranks 20th nationally, averaging 409.3 yards per game. The Panthers are eighth nationally in scoring at 37.6 points per contest.

Sophomore running back LaRod Stephens-Howling leads Pitt’s ground attack with 563 yards and six touchdowns this season. Senior linebacker H.B. Blades is one of the top defenders in the nation, leading the BIG EAST and ranking eighth in the country with 78 tackles this season. He also has two fumble recoveries, a forced fumble, sack and interception in 2006.Pittsburgh ranks fourth nationally in kickoff returns, averaging 30.3 yards per return. Junior Lowell Robinson is averaging 34.4yards per return.

The Rutgers defense, in its second season with head coach Greg Schiano serving a dual role as defensive coordinator, has become one of the nations best. The Scarlet Knight defense ranks in the top 20 nationally in seven different categories. Rutgers features the nation’s top scoring defense, allowing just an average of 8.3 points per game.

Only two opponents have scored more than 10 points vs. the Rutgers defensive unit, with South Florida scoring a season-best 20 points. The Scarlet Knights defense will face a tough challenge Saturday vs. Pitt. The Panthers are eighth in the country in scoring (37.6 ppg) and have scored 45 or more points in three of their six victories.

Ray Rice has quickly developed into one of the top running backs in the nation just six games into his sophomore season and has put himself into contention for the Heisman Trophy. Rice, who rushed for 1,120 yards as a true freshman in 2005 - the fifth-best mark among true freshmen backs in the nation last season - has recorded five 100-yard games this season, including two 200-yard performances. Even more impressive, in 18 career games, Rice has 10 100-yard performances. Navy was the only team to hold Rice under the century mark. The New Rochelle native still posted 93 yards on 21 carries (4.4 average) in the 34-0 victory over the Midshipmen.

Both Pitt and Rutgers have covered well for bettors in 2006. The Panthers have covered five-of-six board game against the spread (ATS) and Rutgers has covered four-of-five ATS for its supporters.

Pitt comes into this game installed as a –6.0 favorite by BoDog.com, Online Sportsbook and Casino.

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