The Cincinnati Bearcats (6-1) play the final trophy game of the season
when they travel to Pittsburgh (2-4) to play the Panthers in a noon
kickoff. Saturday is homecoming for
Pitt as UC hopes to not only ruin the day for their alumni but also claim the
River City Rivalry trophy for the very first time. The Bearcats have not beaten Pittsburgh in six previous
tries.
Last year’s game with Pitt in Nippert Stadium turned on some big plays by
Panthers that will not be playing on the Heinz Field turf this Saturday. Wide receiver Derek Kinder scored on two
long Tyler Palko passes (80 and 55 yards) in the second half to give the
Panthers a 23-0 lead while Darrelle Revis put the icing on the cake with a late
touchdown on a Dustin Grutza interception (57 yards). Palko and Revis have graduated, Kinder
was lost earlier in the season to an injury.
After slipping in the national ranking from #15 to #23
after last week’s loss, the Bearcats understand they will drop completely out of
the Top 25 with another loss today.
This game matches the #27 Cincinnati offense against the #19 Pitt
defense. The Bearcats have a fairly
balanced attack averaging 179 yards on the ground and 269 yards through the
air. Pittsbugh gives up only 307
yards a game but has had three straight tough weeks (Connecticut-34 points,
Virginia-44 points and Navy-48 points in 2 OT). All three resulted in Panther
losses.
The real mismatch on paper is the Pitt offense ranked
#100 nationally up against a Bearcats defense that is ranked #49. The Panthers feature a couple of true
freshman in quarterback Pat Bostick (151 yards average passing) and running back
LeSean McCoy (111 yard average rushing).
Pittsburgh has had a whopping 10 balls
intercepted which could play right into the strength of the Bearcats
defense.
Now it time for our traditional post: IT’S GAME DAY, BEARCAT FANS!!! Time for Bearcat fans to strap on the
helmet, apply the eyeblack and DEFINITELY wear that cup because IT’S GAME DAY,
and ANYTHING can happen on GAME DAY!!!