For the third consecutive week the Thursday night game finds itself in Big East country – although with a little less glamour and hype. Of course, it’s hard to live up to back-to-back weeks of undefeated, highly ranked teams having it out.

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But not to worry, for while only one of the teams this Thursday is highly ranked don’t forget this is the rivalry simply known as "The Brawl". More precisely, the battle between West Virginia and Pittsburgh – two schools just 70 miles apart – is known as "The Backyard Brawl" and this game usually lives up to its moniker.

This will be the 99^th meeting between the Panthers and Mountaineers and fireworks could be in store with both teams sporting very capable offenses. Then again, the forecast is calling for thunderstorms on Thursday which might be the only thing capable of slowing down these two teams.

Pitt coach Dave Wannstedt probably feels like a thunderstorm has been hovering over his Panthers for about a month now. That’s because after a strong first half of the season the Panthers found themselves sitting at 6-1 and some were starting to speculate Wannstedt and crew could factor into the Big East title race. Then Pitt hit a bump in the road.

Actually, "bump in the road" doesn’t do justice to what has happened to the Panthers the last three weeks. Consecutive losses to Rutgers (10-20), South Florida (12-22) and Connecticut (45-46) have Pitt reeling at 6-4 and with West Virginia and then Louisville on deck a 6-6 regular season is a real possibility.

Of course, with the necessary six wins in pocket the Panthers have already qualified for a bowl game but you have to wonder how many bowls would be interested in a team that could very well be riding a five-game losing streak to end the year?

Then again, a win over the Mountaineers this Thursday night would end all that talk and provide a huge shot of optimism to the Pitt program.

To do so the Panthers will surely have to get a better effort from their defense than they have during their losing streak – and particularly in last week’s loss to UConn.

In their double overtime loss to the Huskies, UConn QB D.J. Hernandez rushed for 130 yards and passed for 164 yards and four touchdowns. All that from a QB who hadn't rushed for 75 yards all season before that game. Additionally, freshman RB Donald Brown carried the ball 43 times for 205 yards.

It doesn’t take Kirk Herbstreit to tell you that if Pittsburgh can’t handle the UConn tandem of Hernanadez and Brown they might be in for a whole heap of trouble against West Virginia’s Pat White and Steve Slaton – the engine behind the number two rushing offense in the nation at 318 yards per game.

The Panthers certainly know what can happen if you don’t properly defend White and Slaton. Last year in West Virginia’s 45-13 thrashing of Pitt in Morgantown, White rushed for 220 yards and Slaton added 179 yards and three touchdowns. Not too shabby considering the conditions during that Thanksgiving Day game featured temperatures in the single digits.

While Slaton has gotten more national publicity, it’s White that has steadily improved during the season. The sophomore has been especially effective lately with 11 rushing touchdowns in his last four games. Slaton, who is from Levittown, Pa. and is one of 33 Pennsylvania natives on West Virginia's roster, is averaging 151 yards per game this season, second-best in the nation.

Just about the only thing that has been able to slow down the West Virginia offense this season has been the West Virginia offense. Coach Rich Rodriguez's spread offense has fumbled 10 times in its last two games, losing three of them. That could obviously again be of concern if rain does fall during this game.

Considering that the Pittsburgh rush defense is ranked 90^th in the nation, Wannstedt’s only hope may well be the rain and more fumbles.

Then again, the Panthers and quarterback Tyler Palko could always try to keep up with the Mountaineers offense. West Virginia’s defense is ranked 35^th nationally but their pass defense is just 78^th and was certainly exposed a couple of Thursday’s ago when Brian Brohm and Louisville passed all over the Mountaineers.

You can be sure that Palko – and main target Derek Kinder - have checked out the film of that game several times and have to feel confident that the Panthers can move the ball against West Virginia. Don’t forget that Palko has played the role of hero against the Mountaineers before when his late touchdown run rallied Pitt past West Virginia in the 2004 Brawl for a 16-13 win.

If Palko can loosen up the West Virginia secondary with his arm that could open up the ground game for RB LaRod Stephens-Howling – a game breaker in his own right.

Backyard Brawl bragging rights aside, this game is important to both teams. West Virginia knows it must win out – including a season ending game against Rutgers – if it hopes to capture the Big East's BCS spot. Pittsburgh’s goals obviously aren’t nearly that lofty but could sorely use this win to shore up their postseason destination.

West Virginia averages 40 points per game while Pittsburgh averages 33 ppg.

West Virginia’s defense allows 17.4 points per game while Pittsburgh allows 18 ppg.

West Virginia is 4-3-1 ATS while Pittsburgh is 5-4 ATS.

West Virginia FB Owen Schmitt (ankle) is expected to see only limited action against Pittsburgh.

In three weekday nationally televised games (two Thursday, one Friday) West Virginia is averaging 38 points per game.