Nov 27, 2009 11:24 am US/Eastern
102nd Backyard Brawl Preview
By: Casey Shea
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (KDKA) ―
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Dion Lewis will look to help lead the Pitt Panthers to a win in the 102nd Backyard Brawl and keep their BCS hopes alive.
Jared Wickerham/Getty Images
A college football tradition will take place for the 102nd time tonight as the
Pitt Panthers travel to West Virginia to take on the Mountaineers in
the Backyard Brawl.
The Panthers won last year's Brawl 19-15 at Heinz field and lead the all-time series with a 61-37-3 record.
This year's game carries potential BCS implications as Pitt enters the game with a 9-1 record and a 5-0 record in Big East play. They also are ranked eighth in the country in the Associated Press poll and are ninth in the BCS rankings.
The only other undefeated team in the Big East is No. 5 Cincinnati who holds a perfect 10-0 overall record and a 6-0 record in the Big East and will travel to Heinz Field next week to take on the Panthers.
West Virginia comes into the game with a 7-3 record and a 3-2 mark in the Big East and will look to upset the No. 8 Panthers.
The game will feature the conference's top two running backs in Noel Devine and Dion Lewis.
Lewis has 1,291 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns this season, while Devine has 1,098 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns.
The Panthers are riding high after knocking off the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Heinz Field on Nov. 14 to extend their winning streak to six games.
West Virginia is struggling a bit and comes into the game having lost two of their last three games.
The Mountaineers nearly upset Cincinnati on Nov. 13, but the game got away from them in the second half and ultimately lost 24-21.
Both teams should be well rested and prepared to compete in the Backyard Brawl as both were off last week.
Kickoff is scheduled to 7 p.m. and can be seen on ESPN2.
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