Finally a Rivalry: Pittsburgh-Cincinnati Preview

A football game on a cold November evening, a team from Pittsburgh, and a team from Cincinnati playing a game with everything on the line: has to be between the Bengals and Steelers, right? 

Not quite, Saturday's showdown between the Pitt Panthers and the Cincinnati Bearcats has all the above. Plus, there's a pretty sweet rivalry trophy, minus the actual rivalry part.

Saturday's game is probably the game of the year in the Big East.  The winner has the inside track to win the conference title, and the opportunity to play in a BCS bowl.

The 8-2 and 19th rated Bearcats come into this game riding a streak of emotional wins.  The Bearcats beat Louisville last Friday for the first time since 2002, taking back the Keg of Nails trophy from one of their biggest rivals.

Two weeks ago, in Morgantown, the Bearcats went beat West Virginia for the first time since joining the Big East.

The 7-2 20th rated Panthers come into this game well rested. They had a bye last week to get ready for this game.  The week before the Panthers dominated Louisville at home.

But however they come into this game, both teams will be ready to play come Saturday night. This game has been called the biggest in Cincinnati history, with the Bearcats essentially clinching the Big East title with a win, needing only to beat lowly Syracuse at home next week to clinch...if they beat the Panthers. 

This might not be the biggest game in the Panthers history, but it is a very important one for them this season. Pittsburgh must win this game if they want to win the Big East title.

However, their road to the championship is not nearly as easy as it would be for the Bearcats. If they do beat the Bearcats, the Panthers would still have to go and beat West Virginia in the Backyard Brawl next week and then play Connecticut the following week.

There are two key matchups this week that will probably play a huge factor in who wins this game. The first is talented Pitt running back LeSean McCoy against a Bearcat defense who, although has gotten better the past few weeks, has struggled at times this season against the run. 

The other key matchup will be the Pitt defense against the Cincinnati passing attack.  The Bearcats boast the best passing attack in the conference and must try to attack a team that gave up six touchdowns to Rutgers quarterback Mike Teel earlier this season.

This game will be special. The atmosphere in Cincinnati is sure to be electric. This is what all teams and fans dream of: the opportunity to play, or watch, a game between the best two teams in a conference. Maybe this is a rivalry after all.