A Closer Look

The Teams – For the third week in a row, the Pitt Panthers (3-4 overall, 2-1 Big… The Teams – For the third week in a row, the Pitt Panthers (3-4 overall, 2-1 Big East) will take advantage of the schedule makers and play a Big East conference opponent at home when they welcome the Syracuse Orange (1-5, 0-3) to Heinz Field on Saturday. Kickoff is set for noon.

The Coaches – Dave Wannstedt has won two games in a row inside the Big East conference and has put the Panthers back in the Big East conference race in his first year as head coach. Also in his first year at the helm, Greg Robinson has the Orange at 1-5 and in last place in the Big East standings.

Last Meeting – In the 2004 matchup at the Carrier Dome, the Panthers handed away a chance to take a solid hold on the Big East title when the Orange stole a victory in double overtime, 38-31. Panther quarterback Tyler Palko threw for 342 yards and three touchdowns, one to Greg Lee, one to Joe DelSardo and finally to Erik Gill. Orange running back Damien Rhodes scored on a two-yard run in the second overtime to win it.

Fifty and Counting – In a series where the Orange have an all-time lead of 30-27-3, the two teams have met every year since 1955. The Panthers have won two of the last three contests.

Moving on Up – Former Panther quarterback John Congemi will broadcast Saturday’s game as part of an ABC regional crew. Congemi is fourth on the Panthers’ all-time passing list with 6,467 yards. Palko, who passed David Priestley for fifth all-time last week against South Florida, is almost 2,000 yards behind.

In Danger – A Panther wide receiver has led the Big East in seven of the last eight seasons, including 2004 when Greg Lee averaged just over 108 yards per game. That streak is in jeopardy, however, as Lee is currently second in receiving yards with 94.9 per game, less than two yards behind Louisville’s Mario Urrutia.

National Praise – The Panther defense continues to excel in the national rankings. This week, the Panthers are ranked in the top 30 in four different categories. They are 12th in pass defense (164 yards per game), 20th in pass efficiency defense (106.63 rating), 29th in total defense (322.57 game) and 29th in scoring defense per game (19.86).

Not So Fast – The Orange feature one of the nation’s best defensive backs in senior free safety Anthony Smith. Smith currently leads the nation in pass breakups with 1.83 per game and has four interceptions and seven pass breakups on the season.

Very Special Teams – The Big East conference’s two best punters will be on the field come Saturday. Syracuse’s Brendan Carney leads the conference with a 44 yards-per-punt average while Panther Adam Graessle stays hot on his heels, averaging 43.9 yards per punt. The two have also punted more times than any other punters in the conference.