Maine @ Pittsburgh preview

Maine at Pittsburgh

THE STORY: New coach Todd Graham’s fast-paced offense got off to a sluggish start in Pittsburgh’s 35-16 victory over Buffalo in the opener. The Panthers will try to get untracked early against Maine, an FCS school that's 1-8 all-time against FBS opponents. Ray Graham’s 201 rushing yards and three touchdowns sparked a second-half surge that helped Pittsburgh take control of the game after it led only 7-3 at the half. Maine, whose only win against an FBS team came against Mississippi State in 2004, defeated Bryant, 28-13, in its season opener.

This game marks the first-ever meeting between the schools.

TV: None. Line: NA.

ABOUT PITTSBURGH (1-0): Quarterback Tino Sunseri completed 16-of-28 passes for 179 yards and a touchdown last week, including a 17-yard strike to Mike Shanahan with 11 minutes left in the fourth quarter that helped the Panthers increase their lead to 28-16. Shanahan finished with 85 receiving yards to pace an offense that didn’t live up to its preseason hype against the undermanned Bulls.

ABOUT MAINE (1-0): Pushaun Brown rushed for 146 yards and two touchdowns to help the Black Bears take a 28-0 lead into the fourth quarter against Bryant. Maine was outgained, 322-290, by the Bulldogs, but forced a pair of turnovers en route to its ninth win in its last 11 home openers. Maine has played a Big East school in three of the last four years, losing 38-14 most recently to Syracuse last year.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Pittsburgh is 9-0 against FCS opponents, with the most recent victory coming against New Hampshire, 38-16, last year.

2. Maine has appeared in the FCS playoffs three times, most recently in 2008.

3. Maine's Brown has rushed for 100 or more yards in five straight games.

PREDICTION: Pittsburgh 42, Maine 13 – Graham’s uptempo offense will find its rhythm and the Panthers will cruise to an easy victory.