Okay, one of the big match-ups in the game will be the Cinci secondary vs. the Pitt receivers.

That’s because the Bearcats (8-2, 4-1) feature three of the Big East’s best defensive players in cornerbacks DeAngelo Smith and Mike Mickens and safety Brandon Underwood.

The trio has combined to intercept seven passes and break up 19 others, and all three are among the team’s six leading tacklers. Mickens, who is a four-year starter and has been an all-Big East selection three times, leads the Bearcats with 65 tackles, 43 of them solo.

That the Bearcats can trust their secondary to go man, keys the rest of their defense.

“Having those types of DBs in the backfield not only allows us to have one-on-one matchups and blitz quarterbacks more,” Cincinnati defensive end Connor Barwin said, “but a lot of our sacks are coverage sacks.”

Mickens and Smith have combined for six interceptions this season and 26 in their careers. They also have 16 pass breakups between them this fall, which will force Pitt quarterback Bill Stull to make sound decisions.

“We’ve been talking all week about their D-backs,” Stull said. “They’re definitely a very, very talented defense.

“I just need to be smart. Maybe some throws I think might be there, they might not, and I have to hit a check-down. I have to make sure I don’t force anything.”

It might also help, not to stare down the receiver this game. It’s one of the legitimate criticisms of Stull. He does tend to lock on a receiver.

Zeise calls tonight’s game an elimination game, not a championship game.

That’s why tonight’s game at Nippert Stadium is probably more accurately defined as a Big East elimination game than a Big East championship game.

“We all know it is a big game and there is a lot at stake,” said Pitt fullback Conredge Collins. “But at the same time, it isn’t our last game and we have a few more big ones after it so we need to be focused on winning this one.”

Although the losing team will not be mathematically eliminated from title consideration, it would need so many things to go right in order to have a chance.

Well, Cinci would not necessarily get to the BCS game, but they would still have an excellent shot at claiming a share of the Big East title. Just have Pitt and WVU split their final two games. Either way, both teams need/want this game.

An interesting thing with Elijah Fields and the hard time for him to get on the field.

Q: I keep hearing rumors that Elijah Fields doesn’t get more playing time because he doesn’t know what he is doing (assignments etc.) out there. How can this be possible? He has been here for 3 years now. Is Bennett’s defense that much different that Rhoads?

ZEISE: That is not entirely true and it is more complicated than what it sounds like. Elijah Fields is being asked to play a number of different positions and coaches believe he can help them more playing a hybrid safety/linebacker type of position than limiting him to a safety spot. He has been asked to play a different position in all of the sub packages and different defenses and he has been used in different games with different matchups. They like his ability to cover and his ability to stop the run because of his size and they think they are wasting him if he is not doing more than just hanging back as a safety. So he’s being asked to absorb a lot of stuff and his playing time has increased tremendously over the past two games. I’d expect him to see the field a lot tonight because of the matchup with Cincinnati’s spread offense.

I know, why question success of a team with only 2 losses. Here’s what’s bothering me about this. Fair or not, Fields has long had his ability to learn to play within the system questioned. To know the plays and not just freelance. Whether it’s an issue of learning it, or not just relying on instinct. If that is true, wouldn’t the worst thing, would be to have him playing too many other positions other than safety? To have to know multiple assignments and responsibilities. Wouldn’t that be an additional hindrance to his development and getting on the field?

Special teams ace, Andrew Taglianetti gets a puff piece. Helps to have a relatively famous father in the area.

Cinci fans have been ticked at their local paper’s website this week, because apparently they’ve had too many pictures of Dave Wannstedt. This piece on Wanny didn’t help.

Bearcat fans excited like never before.