Cincinnati @ Pittsburgh preview

Last Meeting ( Dec 4, 2010 ) Pittsburgh 28, Cincinnati 10

THE STORY: Cincinnati looks to maintain the inside track to the Big East title and a BCS bowl bid when it travels to face conference rival Pittsburgh. The No. 22 Bearcats held on for a 37-34 victory at South Florida last week, while the Panthers routed Connecticut 35-20 to snap a run of four losses in its previous five games.

TV: ESPNU. LINE: Cincinnati -3.5.

ABOUT CINCINNATI (6-1, 2-0 Big East): The Bearcats have achieved success the old-fashioned way in 2011 - by taking care of the ball and stopping the run. Cincinnati is third nationally in turnover margin (plus-1.86) and ranks second among FBS schools in rushing defense (72.71), yielding only 2.18 yards per carry. Pass defense (285.71 yards) has been a weakness, but opponents aren't taking full advantage - Cincinnati has surrendered more than 16 points only twice.

ABOUT PITTSBURGH (4-4, 2-1): The Panthers have been a Jekyll-and-Hyde outfit for much of the season, exploding for 35 points or more in each of their four wins but averaging less than 16 in their four losses. Mistakes have doomed the offense - Pittsburgh ranks 110th in the nation in turnover margin (minus-.88), and quarterback Tino Sunseri has been erratic, throwing three interceptions at Rutgers before rebounding with a career effort against UConn last week (29-of-42, 419 yards, two touchdowns).

EXTRA POINTS:

1. Pittsburgh leads the "River City Rivalry" series 8-2, and is 5-1 at home. The Panthers earned a 28-10 victory last season after back-to-back losses.

2. The road team has won the last two meetings, including Cincinnati's thrilling 45-44 comeback victory at Pittsburgh in 2009.

3. The Bearcats have a combined 154-61 scoring edge in the first and second quarters this season, but have been outscored 26-23 in the first halves of their last three games.

PREDICTION: Cincinnati 27, Pittsburgh 24 - The turnover margin will likely decide what should be a hotly contested battle - and it's hard to see the Panthers coming out on top in that category.