Nov. 2, 2009

GAME NOTES LINK:

Pitt-Syracuse Game Notes

# 14/14 Pitt (7-1, 4-0 Big East)

vs. Syracuse (3-5, 0-3 Big East)

Nov. 7, 2009  •  Noon, EST  •  Heinz Field (65,050) • Pittsburgh, Pa.

GAME STORYLINES                    

Pitt boasts a 7-1 record, its best mark after eight games since the 1982 edition, led by quarterback Dan Marino, won seven of eight games to begin the year.

The Panthers are 13th in this week's Bowl Championship Series ratings, their highest listing ever. Pitt is ranked 14th by both The Associated Press and USA Today coaches polls.

Bill Stull ranks third nationally in pass efficiency (161.09 rating) this week, while Dion Lewis is the nation's No. 4 rusher (128.63 yards/game). Dorin Dickerson leads all tight ends, and is second nationally overall, with nine touchdown catches.

Pitt has won 17 of its last 22 games dating back to the 2007 season. It is the Panthers' winningest stretch since the 2001-03 seasons when they also went 17-5 over a 22-game period.

BROADCAST INFORMATION

TV: The Pitt-Syracuse game will be a national ESPNU telecast.  Clay Matvick (play-by-play) and David Diaz-Infante (color) form the broadcast crew. 

PITT RADIO: 3WS 94.5 (WWSW-FM), Fox Sports Radio 970 (WBGG-AM) and the Pittsburgh ISP Sports Network. Bill Hillgrove calls the action, while three-time Pitt All-American Bill Fralic and former Panther head coach Serafino "Foge" Fazio provide color analysis.

SATELLITE RADIO: The Pitt-Syracuse game will be aired on SIRIUS satellite radio channel 129.

WESTWOOD ONE RADIO: Pitt-Syracuse will be a national Westwood One Radio Sports broadcast. John Tautges (play-by-play) and Terry Donahue (color) will call the action for Westwood.

INTERNET: "Panthers All-Access" at PittsburghPanthers.com.

SERIES HISTORY

Pitt and Syracuse have met every year since 1955…Pitt holds a slim 31-30-3 advantage in the all-time series, which began in 1916...the Panthers have won six of the past seven meetings, including 34-24 at the Carrier Dome last year…since 1972 (37 seasons), 16 games have been decided by a touchdown or less...Pitt holds an 18-11 advantage in games played in Pittsburgh, including a 3-1 mark at Heinz Field since 2001...the teams have played two double-overtime games this decade, including the 2000 and 2004 encounters at the Carrier Dome...the Orange triumphed in both OT games, 24-17 in 2000 and 38-31 in 2004...Pitt is 4-9-1 all-time in the Carrier Dome, which opened in 1980...the Panthers have, though, won three times in their last four visits to the Dome, including 48-24 in 2002, 21-11 in 2006 and last year's 34-24 win.