UC football game No. 2: Three keys to beat Pitt's Panthers

It's been nearly a dozen years since University of Cincinnati football has played in Pittsburgh and almost 14 falls since Tony Pike hit Armon Binns late in the game helping the Bearcats to win the Big East conference.

Now the two teams separated by two spots in the ESPN College Football Power Index (Pitt No. 28, UC No. 30) square off for the first time since Sept. 6, 2012. The Bearcats downed the Panthers 34-10 at Nippert to start the final UC season of Butch Jones.

UC football receivers A wide receiver from Miami named Xzavier is turning heads for the Cincinnati Bearcats

UC football Pittsburgh UC's Tony Pike returns to Pitt nearly 14 years after famous pass to Armon Binns

UC football UC's Emory Jones snares a pair of Big 12 honors

A mutual decision was made to leave the once-coveted River City Rivalry trophy in storage in the Lindner Center.

"We're playing a team that is obviously a lot better," UC coach Scott Satterfield said. "Pitt's used to winning. Pitt won the ACC two years ago and Pitt's a very aggressive style. Last year they were No. 2 in sacks behind Louisville. Offensively, they're going to try to play bully ball and be big and push you off the line of scrimmage."

Where does Pitt sit?

Pitt downed FCS Wofford 45-7 in week one with the Terriers scoring in the final minutes to avoid a shutout. Redshirt senior Phil Jurkovec was 17-for-23 for 214 yards and a touchdown plus a 23-yard rushing score. Coach Pat Narduzzi features a hard-nosed defense that has averaged close to 50 sacks the last four seasons. For comparison purposes, UC defensive coordinator Bryan Brown's defense at Louisville last season led the nation in sacks with 50.

Panthers you may know

• Pat Narduzzi – The Pitt coach was Mark Dantonio's defensive coordinator at UC during his 204-2006 run. After Dantonio departed for Michigan State, Narduzzi was named interim coach and some players favored him staying as head coach. When then-AD Mike Thomas hired Brian Kelly from Central Michigan, Narduzzi joined forces with Dantonio and the Spartans.

• Ryan Manalac – Manalac was a linebacker under Narduzzi at UC for two seasons and was a Bearcat between 2005-2008. He is now Pitt's linebacker coach.

3 keys to victory for Cincinnati

1. Contain Phil Jurkovec – He's taller than UC's defensive linemen and is built like a linebacker. "We're happy with where he is and we're only going to keep getting better," Pitt coach Pat Narduzzi said. A year ago with Boston College, Jurkovec registered a win over Satterfield's Louisville squad 34-33 going 18-for-21 for 304 yards and three touchdowns. UC plans to mimic Jurkovec in practice with 6-4, 215-pound freshman Brady Drogosh.

2. Stop the sack attack – Emory Jones was well protected vs. EKU, but Pitt's rush will be more intense. Satterfield beat Pitt a year ago at Louisville, 24-10. "We'll do a great job of self-scouting and going back to every team we played that has an athletic quarterback," Narduzzi said. "Where is our weakness? What are they trying to attack?'" Narduzzi's Pitt teams are 25-1 when collecting five sacks or more.

3. Keep Caleb Junko on the field – The redshirt sophomore from Akron averaged 48.7 per kick last year. However, if he's kicking that means the Bearcats are getting the ball back. Junko punted just twice against Wofford.

Players to watch

For Pitt, Jurkovec is a load at 6-5, 235 pounds. Like UC's Jones, this is his third school as he began his career at Notre Dame, then spent three seasons at Boston College. In that time he threw for 5,184 yards and 35 touchdowns.

"We have to respect his skills and what he brings to the table," defensive lineman Dontay Corleone said. "Our defensive is looking forward to that challenge."

The Panthers also have big receivers in 6-2, 215-pound Bub Means and 6-2, 255-pound tight end Karter Johnson.

Defensively, their pass rush and defensive backs could be a challenge.

"You just can't drop back and think you'll have all day to throw the football," Satterfield said. "That's not going to happen. You turn on any game they've played the last three or four years, they're going to get to the quarterback."

The plan in practice was to put a clock on the quarterbacks to urge them to get rid of the ball.

"I think I'm pretty used to it," Jones said. "I'm going to have to get the ball out quick. I'm sure they know that and they'll have their corners play a lot more aggressive."

For the Bearcats, obviously, Big 12 Player of the Week, Newcomer of the Week Emory Jones is a threat. Former Florida Gator Xzavier Henderson also made his presence known with seven catches for 149 yards.

The catches might not be as easy this weekend.

"They've played a lot of ball," Satterfield said of Pitt's corners. "They ask their corner to play man all day. They're going to get up in your face and harass you all day long. They don't have any regard for pass interference. They don't care. They just play their ball."

The obligatory prediction

Prior to the season, I projected this game as a loss based on a lot of written speculation. I've never been to Las Vegas and my prognosticating skills are suspect, but to stay consistent I will stick with my preseason inclination. I would place this game in the "winnable" category if the Bearcats execute as proficiently as they did in the home opener. I'm required to pick a score, so here are the first numbers that flashed through my head. As an advisory, don't bet the mortgage payment.

Pitt 28, UC 24

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Here are three things UC's Bearcats must do to down Pitt's Panthers