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Pitt, Cincy battle for top spot in Big East

Nov 22, 2008 - 11:24 AM (19) Pittsburgh (7-2) at (20) Cincinnati (8-2), 7:15 pm EST

CINCINNATI (Ticker) -- Pittsburgh has not been to a bowl game since coach Dave Wannstedt returned to his alma mater. Wannstedt and the 19th-ranked Panthers have their sights set on a BCS Bowl this year.

The Panthers look to grab the top spot in the Big East Conference on Saturday when they meet red-hot No. 20 Cincinnati.

Pittsburgh, which had a bye last week, scored a pair of defensive touchdowns and forced five turnovers to rout Louisville, 41-7, on November 8.

Ricky Gary returned a fumble 3 yards for a score and Scott McKillop had an 18-yard interception return for a touchdown in the fourth quarter for the Panthers (7-2, 3-1 Big East).

Bill Stull completed 15-of-27 passes for 216 yards and a score, while sophomore running back LeSean McCoy was limited to a career-low 39 yards with a touchdown on 17 carries.

It ended a streak of five straight 140-yard rushing performances for McCoy, who has rushed for 1,043 yards and a conference-best 16 touchdowns this season.

Saturday night's showdown will not be easy for McCoy and the Panthers, who face a Cincinnati team that has yet to lose at home in 2008.

After being hammered by Connecticut on October 25, the Bearcats (8-2, 4-1) have strung together three impressive victories to take over first place in the conference standings.

Following a home win over South Florida and a road triumph over West Virginia, Tony Pike passed for 250 yards and two touchdowns to lead Cincinnati to a 28-20 victory over Louisville last Friday.

The Bearcats have an outside chance to clinch the conference title with a win. They would also need Connecticut to lose at South Florida and West Virginia to get beat in Louisville.