FACTS & STATS: Site: Scott Stadium (61,500) -- Charlottesville, Virginia. Television: Local. Home Record: Pittsburgh 2-1, Virginia 2-0. Away Record: Pittsburgh 0-1, Virginia 1-1. Neutral Record: Pittsburgh 0-0, Virginia 0-0. Conference Record: Pittsburgh 0-1, Virginia 3-0. Series Record: Pittsburgh leads, 3-1.

GAME NOTES: The Pittsburgh Panthers will be trying to snap a two-game skid when they head to Charlottesville for a non-conference bout with the Virginia Cavaliers. Pitt is coming off last weekend's 34-14 loss at the hands of Connecticut. Coach Dave Wannstedt said earlier this week that Pat Bostic, despite throwing three interceptions last week, will start this week's contest. The head coach was critical of his offense during his weekly press conference, and for good reason, as the team ranks at the bottom of the Big East Conference in virtually every offensive category. The Cavaliers, who rank at the very bottom of the ACC in total offense, are also looking to get their offense kick- started. Despite the numbers, Virginia has ripped off three straight wins to start conference play. The team is 31-9 at home under head coach Al Groh, and the Cavs have won nine of their last 10 non-conference home games. Pitt has a 3-1 edge in the head-to-head series, including last season's 38-13 win over Virginia.

Pitt's offense went into hibernation last weekend at home against an undefeated UConn team. In that game, the Panthers were held to 17 first downs and 289 yards of total offense. The team rushed for only 72 yards, but that had more to do with play selection than performance, given the team's 27-7 halftime deficit. Wannstedt dialed up 23 running plays, compared to 51 passing plays. LeSean McCoy was effective, running for 70 yards and a touchdown on 11 carries. But his impact will once again be negated if the Panthers fall behind early against Virginia. On the season, he is averaging 104.2 rushing yards per game and has scored five touchdowns.

The defense is the glue that holds the Panthers together. Pitt is allowing only 250 total yards per game, which ranks 11th in the country. The team is allowing just 95 ypg on the ground (25th) and 154 through the air (12th). Despite giving up a 34-spot to UConn last weekend, the Panthers still rank 18th in the country in scoring defense at 16 ppg. Scott McKillop is the leader of this group, as his 42 tackles are tops on the team by a 20-tackle margin. Joe Clermond (three sacks) and Rashaad Duncan (two sacks) excel at making plays behind the line of scrimmage. Those two spearhead a pass rush that ranks third in the conference with 13 sacks, but all that pressure has translated into only four interceptions on the season.

Contrary to what their perfect conference record might suggest, the Cavaliers have plenty of work to do on offense. The unit ranks 111th out of 119 teams in total offense (170 ypg passing, 112 ypg rushing). The Cavs have more or less had to scratch and claw their way to 3-0 in the ACC, considering they are scoring less than 20 ppg on the season. That figure is skewed a bit by a season-opening 23-3 loss to Wyoming. No matter how ugly the statistics may appear, the Cavaliers boast a stud running back in Cedric Peerman, who is averaging 153.7 rushing yards over the last three games. Rest assured, the Pitt defense can expect a heavy dose of Peerman in this one.

The strength of the UVA defense is on the defensive line. Defensive end Chris Long, the son of legendary Oakland Raiders end Howie Long, is the spark plug. He is already second in the nation with six sacks. Fellow defensive end Jeffrey Fitzgerald was named the ACC Defensive Lineman of the Week after recording an interception return for a touchdown, five tackles including three for loss, a sack, and a forced fumble. Fitzgerald, in addition to his five sacks on the year, actually leads the team with two interceptions. The UVA defense buckled down in key situations in last weekend's 28-23 win over Georgia Tech, holding the Yellow Jackets to 3-of-15 on third downs and 0-of-2 on fourth downs.

Neither offense appears ready to put a whole bunch of points on the board, and both defenses have some big-time playmakers on that side of the ball. With Peerman, the Cavaliers have a little more potency on offense. And with their solid record at Scott Stadium under coach Groh, the Cavs have the overall advantage.

Sports Network Predicted Outcome: Virginia 24, Pittsburgh 16