Pitt hopes to slow Bearcats’ offense

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Cincinnati’s undefeated Bearcats generate offense like they’re playing a video game, scoring 41 or more points three times in their last five games. Their starting quarterback goes down, and the backup plays even better than the regular did.

No. 14 Pittsburgh couldn’t help but being impressed while watching No. 5 Cincinnati pile up 711 yards behind backup quarterback Zach Collaros during a 47-45 victory over Connecticut, a team the Panthers trailed by 15 points before rallying to beat.

“They’re throwing the ball all over the place,” Pitt defensive lineman Gus Mustakas said.

Throw it all over Heinz Field on Saturday, and the No. 5 Bearcats (11-0, 6-0 in Big East) will be trying to unleash their dare-you-to-stop-us offense in a BCS bowl.

Regardless, Pitt (9-2, 5-1) hasn’t spent the week trying to rig up some gimmick defense to slow quarterback Tony Pike or wide receiver Mardy Gilyard, the players most responsible for Cincinnati’s 28-21 win over the Panthers last season. Pike has thrown eight TD passes in his last two games, six against Illinois on Friday, but Pitt knows there is only one way to effectively control him:

Don’t let him get the ball.

While the Bearcats don’t give up yards and points as quickly as they produce them, they yield a lot — 1,338 yards and 102 points in their last three games. If the Panthers avoid turnovers, get a big day from freshman running back Dion Lewis (1,446 yards) and Bill Stull (19 TD passes, 6 interceptions) spreads the ball among his receivers, their best defense against Cincinnati might be a good offense.

“Every time we go on the field, we think we can score on every possession,” coach Dave Wannstedt said. “That’s the way it’s drawn up. That’s how we practice. That’s what our kids believe.”

The Panthers played their poorest game of the season offensively while losing to rival West Virginia 19-16 on Friday, dropping them from No. 8 to No. 14 in the AP poll and making Saturday’s de facto Big East championship game less attractive nationally. Two Top 10 teams in a season-ending game would have been a showcase for the conference.

To avoid a second successive loss that would likely send a team that was in the Top 10 two weeks ago to a lower-tier bowl — a major disappointment given their 9-1 start — the Panthers know they must get their offense back in a hurry. They trail only Cincinnati in total offense in the conference.

“If it comes to a shootout, we think we can hang with anybody,” tight end Nate Byham said.

Cincinnati, which is trying to complete the first 12-0 regular season in school history, leads the Big East in scoring (39.4), total offense (472.7 yards per game) and passing offense (322 yards).