Usually this would be the last day of reports before the game, but with a 7pm start time, I think I’ll find time to churn out another round-up tomorrow.

In the “behave or else” category of security, there is this piece on the WVU players asking the fans to stay in the stands. There is also this attempt at what I’m guessing humor or to rip on Pitt in the student paper.

Collapsible goal posts? If West Virginia beats Pitt, is that really considered an upset?

That’s giving Pitt too much credit.

I have two words: Notre Dame. Pitt got dropped, at home mind you, by Notre Dame. That’s the same Notre Dame that needed a last-second field goal last weekend to beat Navy.
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But really, all the talk of post-game debauchery is out of place because beating Pitt shouldn’t warrant tearing down goal posts. West Virginia should beat Pitt.
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If Pitt beats West Virginia, that’s an upset.

So the goal post stuff can be put to rest. So can Grant Avenue turning into Andre Rison’s old house. After beating Tech, I was all for destruction and burning stuff, but the prospect of beating Pitt doesn’t excite me nearly as much.

This coming from a kid who watched his team go down to the Cincinnati Bearcats? Glass houses you idiot. Add in the fact that in his last line, he clearly doesn’t get the Backyard Brawl.

You want examples of what the Backyard Brawl means to real WVU fans? How about straight from the official Hoopie website. Pitt Preview, Campus Connection and Pitt Week, all written by John Antonik, an alum of WVU and Director of Internet Services for the site. Personally, I think it’s cool that the WVU site actually has some real opinions written for the site, rather than nothing but press releases. But read the pieces, especially “Campus Connection.” A really solid, personal piece recollecting the games he’d seen. It really helps get the flavor for what it means to Hoopie fans, and gets you in the mood for the game.

Another retrospective on the Backyard Brawl from ex-coaches: Don Nehlen and Jim Carlen from WVU and Johnny Majors of Pitt.

A few player pieces. Two on Pitt QB, Rod Rutherford. Then one on WVU QB Rasheed Marshall coming back from a concussion.

Then there is the Dominion Post top 5 list of the day, on the 5 worst games.

Finally, some nauseatingly good natured camaraderie between the WVU and Pitt Chancellors. Screw that I want drinks in the face, threats made, and punches thrown. I want Cheney going after Calipari in a post-game interview. Blood! Blood! Blood!

Lee’s solid analysis can be found here.

This will be the 4th straight Big East team Pitt has faced with a solid running game. In only the Syracuse game, did Pitt hold the leading rusher to under 100 yards — because Syracuse coaches are idiots and didn’t run Reyes for 20+ times. So here’s the first thing. Pitt will not be able to keep WVU RB, Quincy Wilson, under 100 yards if he touches the ball for 22 or more carries (he averages about 4.7 yds/carry). He may still be a bit tender with a bruised lung, but I wouldn’t count on it. WVU runs the spread, and runs it well. That means quick or no substitutions on defense at many points and with a speedy QB, Rasheed Marshall, that is a threat to take off, the defense can be worn down by the 4th quarter — something that happened to Miami a month ago. Marshall, though is not a particularly accurate passer. He has a sub-.500 completion percentage and has rushed more times than he has completed passes (68-64). Adding to his speed, he has only been sacked 8 times all year (by comparison Rod Rutherford has been sacked 25 times), giving you a good idea about just how good WVU’s O-line can be in providing protection. Wit Pitt’s history of overpursuit, I wouldn’t be surprised to see Marshall end up running for 60-80 yards in the game. Of course, if that happens, Pitt will likely lose the game.

Pitt will have to keep Marshall in the pocket and keep him from turning the corner. Forcing WVU to win with the passing game is a big key for Pitt’s Defense. WVU has a good young receiver in Chris Henry, but not much of note behind him. This of course doesn’t help Marshall’s completion percentages.

On the Pitt offense, well there is still a lot of talk about WVU’s 3-5-3 defense. The pressure, though will be on their secondary — which is talking cocky. Pitt’s O-line has shown a steady improvement since it’s collapse against Notre Dame — at least in protecting Rutherford. Considering you never know if WVU will be coming with 3 to 8 men, it will have to continue it’s improved play. Pitt is obviously keyed by it’s passing game. Rutherford has had only one bad game — Notre Dame — otherwise he has been very, very accurate. His completion percentage is near 62% and that is with 288 attempts in 9 games. He has also been showing flashes of his old speed when he decides to take off. This will be very important given Pitt’s running game.

Obviously the receiving corp starts with Larry Fitzgerald. He will get his touches, and even with the 3-5-3 will pull extra coverage his way. The issue will be how TE Kris Wilson and #2 WR, Princell Brockenbrough play. One of the things about the 3-5-3 is it can clog the passing lanes, meaning the pass and the route have to be more precise. This could be a problem with Brockenbrough, who is not the most precise route runner (and has a propensity to run before he has possession). Wilson, though, is a very good route runner, so expect him to be the second leading receiver for Pitt in this game.

Pitt’s running game actually looked pretty good against Virginia Tech. Jawan Walker and Tim Murphy seemed to provide a good mix of running styles that helped eat the clock and keep drives going. Add in fullback Lousaka Polite for short yardage pushes, and I am cautiously optimistic that the Pitt running game can go for more than 100 yards between the three of them.

Pitt has a rep for a quick strike offense because of its passing game and Fitzgerald’s ability. This game, with the way the spread offense can wear out a defense, though, will require Pitt to chew the clock. Surprisingly, this is something Pitt has been doing the last 3 games. A lot of this has been because Pitt has taken early leads (except the BC game). If Pitt can get a quick lead and force WVU to throw more, the final score may not reflect how tough a game I believe this will be.

The game is a pick-em at this point, so I have to go with Pitt in a win that doesn’t look as close due to a late interception returned for a score. Pitt 31 WVU 20.

Because the dislike for the other side never truly goes away.

Steelers running back Amos Zereoue is upset over comments made by 49ers running back Kevin Barlow, a former Pitt player, about Zereoue’s diminished role in the Steelers’ offense.

Yesterday, Zereoue, who played at West Virginia, fired back at Barlow, who has never been able to beat out Garrison Hearst as the 49ers’ No. 1 back since being drafted on the third round in 2001.
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Barlow, who played at Peabody High School, said he knows Zereoue from playing against him in college. He also said he ran into him a few times in the Strip District.

But Zereoue contends even that is not the case.

“I played against him when he was like a freshman, but I wasn’t really … he wasn’t making any noise for me to be paying attention to him like that.”

Barlow said he was going to call Zereoue and bet him $500 on the Pitt-West Virginia game. Zereoue said not to bother.

“We could have made a bet earlier, but what’s the point,” Zereoue said.

Barlow was drafted in 2001. Zereoue in 1999.

Before looking at the game, just an idle thought. I have no idea when I’ll be able to think of the Crimson Tide without stifling a snicker about Mike Price and “Roll Tide!” OK, juvenile thought out of the way.

Alabama does not look to be a good team this year. They lost three 4-year starters from last year, and will be very young and inexperienced. The counterpoint, of course, is that they so underachieved the last 2 years that losing the seniors may not be such a bad thing. This is likely a rebuilding year for ‘Bama, and they will play their first game of the year in Madison Square Garden. Between the SEC and a tough non-conference schedule, Alabama will struggle to get to .500 this year. They do, however, have several talented young freshmen who could see some significant playing time.

Pitt, while losing 3 starters from last year, is still a top-25 team. All of the starters have experience, and with the exception of point guard, there isn’t a huge drop-off in talent or depth. Pitt regularly plays in MSG in conference against St. John’s and in the Big East Tournament. Plus, several of their players are New York area natives. Pitt shouldn’t be intimidated by the surroundings — and so they shouldn’t have any excuses.

The biggest deal for Pitt, is their new head coach, Jamie Dixon. Already the subject of this coach puffing piece. The players all love him, and wanted him to be elevated from assistant to head coach last year. Well, they got it. Now the hard part. Vindicating the decision that has many Pitt fans nervous.

While I don’t think this game will be a “cakewalk” for Pitt, they should win the game. They are stronger on the inside boards and overall are a better team. The local Pittsburgh papers are trying to pump up Alabama by pointing to their previous two NCAA tournament appearances, and that this is the toughest opener Pitt has had in ages — which is more an indictment of Pitt’s piss-poor, Kansas State-like non-conference scheduling.

Still this is Pitt’s only ESPN/ESPN2 game until late December, so it will be the only game I actually see for a while.

7 pm ESPN2.