A closer look (11/16/06) …

The Teams: A three-game losing streak has the Pitt Panthers (6-4 overall, 2-3 Big… The Teams: A three-game losing streak has the Pitt Panthers (6-4 overall, 2-3 Big East) reeling. They’ll look to stop the bleeding and dispose of a bitter rival in the process when No. 8 West Virginia (3-1, 8-1) comes to Heinz Field tonight for the 99th edition of the Backyard Brawl. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m.

Broadcast: For the third consecutive year, the game will be televised nationally by ESPN. 3WS 94.5 (WWSW-FM), FM NewsTalk 104.7 (WPGB-FM), Fox Sports Radio 970 (WBGG-AM) and the Pittsburgh ISP Sports Network. As with every Pitt game, SIRIUS Satellite Radio will pick up the action on channel 123.

The Coaches: The recent slide has dropped second-year head coach Dave Wannstedt’s record to 11-10 at Pitt. After a rocky start at WVU, Rich Rodriguez has ridden three strong seasons to a 47-23 record heading the Mountaineers.

Last Time Out: Last year’s meeting proved to be the most embarrassing loss for Pitt in years, a 45-13 drubbing on Thanksgiving night. Pat White (220 yards, 2 TDs) and Steve Slaton (179 yards, 2 TDs) led a WVU rush attack that gathered 451 yards, 21 more yards than the entire Pitt offense. The Mountaineers have won three of the last four meetings.

In A Rush: White’s 220 yards on the ground in last year’s win over Pitt set a Big East record for rush yards in a game by a quarterback. That mark didn’t last too long, though. He broke his own record with 247 yards on the ground in a win over Syracuse this year.

Ground Games: The Panthers have, to put it lightly, had trouble stopping the run all season, a bad sign with WVU coming to town. In the team’s four losses, it has given up 330 yards to Michigan State, 268 to Rutgers, 190 to South Florida and 317 to Connecticut. The Mountaineers’ rush attack ranks second in the country, averaging 318 a game.

Shootout Thursday: West Virginia (40.2 points per game) and Pitt (32.6 points per game) rank second and 15th in scoring, respectively, in the nation. Still, Pitt hasn’t eclipsed the 40-point mark against the Mountaineers since a 41-38 overtime win back in 1997. In that stretch, WVU has gone over 50 three times and scored 45 in another, winning all four contests.

Seeing Red: One of the very few positives during the Panthers’ three-game losing streak has been the offense’s efficiency in the red zone. Pitt has scored on all nine of its red zone stints, seven of those of the touchdown variety. On the season, Wannstedt’s bunch is 29-for-33 inside the red zone, with 23 touchdowns and zero turnovers

Still something to play for: Pitt has essentially played itself out of contention for the Big East title, but WVU’s hopes remain very alive. The Mountaineers still have a showdown with unbeaten and seventh-ranked Rutgers in Morgantown on Dec. 2.