BOWL PREVIEW Continental Tire Bowl

PITTSBURGH (8-4) VS. VIRGINIA (7-5).
Where: Charlotte, N.C.
When: 11 a.m. Saturday.
TV: ESPN.
Coaches: Walt Harris (44-40 in 7th year at Pittsburgh) and Al Groh (21-17 in third year at Virginia).
Payout: Each school receives $750,000.
Bowl records: Pittsburgh is 10-12. Virginia is 5-8.
Last bowl appearance: Pittsburgh beat Oregon State, 38-13, in last year's Insight.com Bowl. Virginia beat West Virginia, 48-22, in last year's Continental Tire Bowl.
Series history: Pittsburgh leads, 2-0.
Last meeting: Pittsburgh won, 18-7, in 1955.
Last game: Pittsburgh lost at home to Miami, 28-14, on Nov. 29. Virginia beat Va. Tech, 35-21, on Nov. 29.
Stat that matters: In four losses, Panthers were out-gained 1,029 yards rushing to just 118.
Game facts: Panthers WR and Heisman runner-up Larry Fitzgerald (87 catches, led nation with 1,595 yards receiving, 3rd with 22 TDs) could have field day with jump balls vs. smallish Cavs' secondary. QB Rod Rutherford set Big East records with 3,433 yards passing, 35 TDs. Run defense (88th in nation, 184.1) can be atrocious. That's where Cavs are likely to got at with ball-control attack featuring RBs Wali Lundy, Alvin Pearman (combined 1,378 rushing, 13 TD runs, 85 catches, 8 TD catches), QB Matt Schaub's (2,708 passing, 17 TDs, 9 ints., 70.8 pct. completions) short passes to TE Heath Miller (66 catches, 5 TDs). Gritty 5-8 CB Almondo Curry (6 ints., 1 TD return) will need help on Fitzgerald if Cavs hope to win bowls in consecutive seasons for first time since 1994-95.
-- Scripps Howard