Game Preview: Pittsburgh at West Virginia

Game Preview:  Pittsburgh (9-1) at West Virginia (7-3), Friday at 7:00 PM

If West Virginia had won against Cincinatti this game would have had much more meaning.  As it is the Mountaineers can make next week’s clash between the Bearcats and Pitt meaningless by coming up with win in this year’s version of the Backyard Brawl.  This is Pitt’s best team since Dave Wannstedt took over as coach and they are staring down a potential BCS bid if they can win this one making this the biggest game of his tenure.

Pitt is enjoying a very good albeit under the radar system.  They haven’t lost since the fourth week of the season against NC State but are taking advantage of a down year in the Big East.  Freshman RB Dion Lewis has been sensational as the lead tailback.  He is a little on the small side but has not worn down, rushing for over 100 yards in each of the last 5 games, all wins by the way.  Pitt’s ability to run the ball and play very solid defense lets them wear you down until you make a mistake and speaking of mistake, they haven’t made many this year with Bill Stull throwing only four picks all season – a huge improvement over last year.

West Virginia is healthy coming into this game.  Noel Devine and Jarrett Brown have been banged up late in the year and this team relies on these two guys to make all of their big plays.  Devine can be electric and he will definitely be a test for the Panthers defense.  Can Brown and Devine lead the team to a victory in this late season conference rivalry showdown?  They definitely have a puncher’s chance if their defense can make Stull just a little uncomfortable and force him into a rare turnover.

Game Prediction: Pitt has won the last two including a crushing victory two years back that might have kept WVU out of the championship game.  This time the Mountaineers will return the favour leaning on their two stars to steal a victory at home and likely knock the Panthers out of a BCS bid.  I look for Brown to be the key.  The theme of the season is that Brown is no Pat White.  I think he will rekindle his spirit with a couple of key runs that will extend drives break the will of the Panthers.

Score Prediction:

West Virginia – 27
Pittsburgh – 24

News/Notes:
-no team has won more than 2 in a row in the series since 99 and Pitt has won last 2
-Pitt is on a 5-0 ATS run on Fridays
-In a close game FG are important.  WVU – 88%  PIT – 78%