THURSDAY'S FOOTBALL Pittsburgh defense to face Louisville's high-scoring 'O'

The schools are playing for the first time since 1994.
PITTSBURGH (AP) -- Pitt coach Dave Wannstedt glanced at the Big East Conference statistics, noticed that Louisville averages 64 points per game at home and immediately issued a challenge to offensive coordinator Matt Cavanaugh.
"These guys do move the ball," Wannstedt said. "They explode. Sixty-four points per game at home? Matt Cavanaugh's got his work cut out for him figuring out how to score 65."
Especially with a Pitt offense that hasn't scored more than 38 points against a Division I-A opponent this season. Not that Pitt (4-4, 3-1 in Big East) would expect to win a fast-break game at Louisville (5-2, 1-2), where the Cardinals are 20-point favorites for Thursday night's conference game.
What's anticipated
But while Louisville is expected to win and win big, it is Pitt that is playing for something in the first game between the schools since 1994. Louisville losses to South Florida and West Virginia effectively knocked the preseason favorite Cardinals out of the Big East race, but Pitt still has a chance to win the conference after beating Cincinnati, South Florida and Syracuse in its last three games.
It would take two major road upsets to accomplish, but Pitt could repeat as the Big East's BCS bowl representative by beating Louisville, Connecticut (4-3, 1-2) and No. 18 West Virginia (6-1, 3-0). Pitt must win two of the three to play in a sixth consecutive bowl game, a difficult task since it likely will be favored only against UConn.
"But we know we're in no position to look any further ahead than this week," Wannstedt said. "And that's how we're approaching it. We need to make sure we're taking care of what we're trying to get done."
This week, that means slowing Louisville quarterback Brian Brohm (2,102 yards, 14 touchdowns, 3 interceptions), running back Michael Bush (116.1 yards per game) and an offense that has scored 63 points (Oregon State), 61 points (Florida Atlantic) and 69 points (North Carolina) at home.
A comparison
Wannstedt said Louisville's offense compares favorably to Notre Dame's, and that could be an ominous note for the Panthers. Pitt fell behind Notre Dame 35-13 by halftime of their Sept. 3 season opener and lost 42-21 at Heinz Field as the Irish ran for 275 yards and Brady Quinn threw for 227 yards and two touchdowns.
"Notre Dame's offense is more vertical, down the field. Louisville is more of a ball control team, even though they score more points and put up more yards," Wannstedt said. "You don't complete 70 percent of your passes like Brohm is doing without taking what the defense gives you."
Pitt quarterback Tyler Palko probably isn't interested in taking what Louisville defensive end Elvis Dumervil has planned for the Panthers. Dumervil has set a Big East record with 19 sacks, five short of the NCAA record, and says he will dance if he sacks Palko.
Palko, who has thrown for five touchdowns and run for three during Pitt's three-game winning streak, is more concerned with what Dumervil does during plays rather than what he does after them.
"He can dance, he can do an Irish jig, he can call [Bengals wide receiver] Chad Johnson and dance with him," Palko said. "I mean, he's leading the country in sacks."