Nov 14, 2009 10:17 am US/Eastern
Notre Dame Vs. No. 8 Pitt Preview
By: Casey Shea
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) ―
The Pitt Panthers are putting their Big East Championship and BCS hopes on the line tonight when they host the Notre Dame Fighting Irish at Heinz Field.
Tonight's game may very well be the biggest one No. 8 Pitt (8-1 overall, 5-0 Big East) has played in years.
Pitt enters the game on a five-game win streak after a convincing 37-10 win over Syracuse last week.
Notre Dame (6-3) is unranked and coming off a 23-21 upset loss to Navy last week. Their other losses this season are to then No. 6 USC 34-27 and Michigan 38-34.
Seven of their games this season have been decided by seven points or less, which shows just how close they have been to having a great season, or a poor one.
The Irish are led by quarterback Jimmy Clausen, who is putting up some impressive numbers this season.
In nine games, Clausen has completed 209 of 308 passes for 2770 yards with 20 touchdowns and three interceptions. He has completed 67.9 percent of his passes and holds a 162.89 quarterback rating.
Clausen's favorite target this season has been Golden Tate.
Tate has caught 65 passes for 1,059 yards and 10 touchdowns this season with his longest reception going for 77 yards.
In last week's loss to Navy, Tate caught nine passes for 132 yards and a touchdown, while Clausen was 37 of 51 for 452 yards with two touchdowns and an interception.
Pitt is led by quarterback Bill Stull, who is having a career year.
In nine games this season Stull has completed 148 of 219 passes for 1879 yards with 17 touchdowns and four interceptions.
Stull's previous high in touchdowns was nine, which he set last year.
The key to the game could very well come down to freshman running back Dion Lewis. If he can run the ball well, Pitt stands a very good chance to avoid the upset.
Navy's passing game was held to just 56 yards, but they tore Notre Dame apart on the ground with 348 rushing yards.
Lewis has rushed for 1,139 yards and 12 touchdowns this season and has not fumbled once in 203 attempts.
Pitt's schedule down the stretch doesn't get any easier either.
The Panthers will go on the road to take on West Virginia next week and then close out the regular season against No. 5 Cincinnati at Heinz Field.
That game could very well determine who gets the automatic bid into a BCS game from the Big East.
Kickoff for tonight's game is set for 8 p.m.
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