West Virginia
Mountaineers

???"Cincinnati is powerful," Stewart said. "I don't know what we are going to do."

???Now pumping up your opponent while downplaying your own chances is as old a trick as football coaches have, dating back to the days of Paul "Bear" Bryant and beyond. They would have the public think that the only thing that can save them from a terrible defeat is a bus wreck on the way to the stadium, while in private they build confidence in their own team.

???But Stewart maintains he's telling it like it is.

???"They are just potent. I look at their scores -- they are averaging 40 points a game. We can't cancel it, so we are going to have to go do the best we can," he said.

???How good that is, well, Stewart isn't going to let on, saying nothing more than "we'll probably be 20- or 30-point underdogs."

???The thing about that is, he may just be right.

???And it's just the start for West Virginia. Only one team has a tougher run down the stretch than the Mountaineers -- Minnesota. The Gophers have one game remaining against a FBS team, and it is 8-1 for an .889 percentage. WVU's three opponents -- Cincinnati, Pittsburgh and Rutgers -- are 20-3 (.864) against FBS foes.

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?? --It used to be a weekly occurrence, WVU rushing for more than 200 yards, but they have failed to reach 200 rushing yards in four of their last five games and averaged just 160 rushing yards over the five.

?? SERIES HISTORY: West Virginia leads, 14-2-1 (Last meeting, 2008, 26-23 OT, Cincinnati).

?? SCOUTING THE OFFENSE: The Mountaineers came into the season wanting to throw the ball more than they have since the days of Marc Bulger and started the season doing so successfully, but that has fallen off since QB Jarrett Brown suffered a concussion. If they stick to their guns wanting to pass, or fall behind, the offensive line is going to have to be improved in its protection and Brown more accurate. The receivers have been fine. RB Noel Devine probably will play, but at what level, no one knows, as he is coming off an ankle sprain.

?? SCOUTING THE DEFENSE: WVU's defense stepped it up against Louisville and did not allow a touchdown, but this is a football challenge at a different level. Still, WVU was as good as anyone controlling the Bearcats last year, giving up only 26 points, including overtime, with one of the Cincinnati touchdowns coming on a kickoff return. CB Keith Tandy was scorched at South Florida, and rest assured that whomever quarterbacks the Bearcats will try to pick on him. Cincinnati's running game has improved as the year has gone on, and WVU's front line has been banged up with NG Chris Neild and DT Josh Taylor missing most or all of last week's game.

?? QUOTE TO NOTE: "They're a juggernaut. I don't know what to do. They like to get up and down. They like to use tempo. They score a lot of points. We need a lot of three-and-outs." -- WVU coach Bill Stewart on his opponent this week, Cincinnati.

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?? PLAYERS TO WATCH:

?? DE Julian Miller -- He was the Big East Defensive Player of the Week this week as he recorded three sacks, giving him 8.5 for the year. He has been almost the only pass rush WVU will have, and if the Mountaineers are to do anything disruptive to the UC timing, it will have to come from Miller.

???QB Jarrett Brown -- He has to find his early season magic, something he has not had since suffering a concussion against Marshall. Brown's timing has been off, and he's often been unable to find receivers, forcing him to scramble. Cincinnati's defense has been stronger than expected this year, but WVU does have tools to probe it through the air.

???RB Noel Devine and Jock Sanders -- They have to find a way to run the ball. Devine missed almost the entire second half against Louisville with an ankle sprain, and coach Bill Stewart wasn't giving any hints early in the week whether it would be him or Sanders in the starting lineup. The Mountaineers are more explosive with Sanders in the slot, but freshman Tavon Austin is a dangerous, though inexperienced, player if he has to go full time in the slot for Sanders.?

ROSTER REPORT:

? ?--DE Julian Miller, who recorded three sacks against Louisville, including two to end their final drive, was named the Big East's Defensive Player of the Week. He figures to be chasing the Big East's Offensive Player of the Week, Cincinnati QB Zach Collaros, this week when the two teams meet.

?? --SB Jock Sanders made the Big East Player of the Week honor roll for catching a touchdown pass and filling in for the injured Noel Devine at tailback, gaining 66 yards on 12 carries against Louisville.

???--QB Jarrett Brown was declared OK to go in the Cincinnati game after suffering a slight ankle sprain against Louisville.

???--RB Noel Devine remained questionable for the game with a more severe ankle sprain, but coach Bill Stewart was not ruling him out. Jock Sanders would move to running back if Devine can't play, and Tavon Austin would start in Sanders' slotback position.