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FACTS & STATS: Site: Papa John's Cardinal Stadium (42,000) -- Louisville, Kentucky. Television: Big East Network. Home Record: Pitt 4-3, Louisville 3-2. Away Record: Pitt 1-2, Louisville 2-2. Neutral Record: Pitt 0-0, Louisville 0-0. Conference Record: Pitt 2-2, Louisville 3-1. Series Record: Series is tied, 7-7.

GAME NOTES: The Pittsburgh Panthers look to get back to their winning ways this weekend on the road, where they will take on the Louisville Cardinals in a Big East matchup.

Pittsburgh is still dealing with the absence of star running back Ray Graham, who is lost for the season due to a knee injury. Last weekend's 26-23 loss to Cincinnati left the Panthers in a tough spot heading down the stretch, as Pitt needs to win two of its final three games against Louisville, West Virginia and Syracuse to gain bowl eligibility.

Louisville has won three straight games, and needs just one win to get a postseason berth after upsetting West Virginia 38-35 in Morgantown last weekend. The Cardinals headed into the game with home wins over Rutgers and Syracuse in the previous two games, but the win over the Mountaineers represented its first road win since September and featured a team that took care of the ball and played physical defense against the run. Louisville closes the season at Connecticut and at South Florida following this week's visit from Pittsburgh.

The all-time series between Pittsburgh and Louisville is tied, 7-7.

Tino Sunseri shouldered most of the offensive load against Cincinnati, completing 24-of-38 passes for 218 yards and one touchdown against one interception. Sunseri also led the team in rushing, carrying 16 times for 64 yards and another score. He was aided by a solid receiving performance from Devin Street, who caught eight balls for 118 yards. Zach Brown was the leading rusher among the running back rotation, toting the ball 11 times for 54 yards. With Graham out, the running back situation remains fluid, but the Panthers will rely on the versatility of Sunseri down the stretch.

Sunseri is sixth in the Big East in pass efficiency (122.3), and has thrown for 1,841 yards and eight touchdowns this season, with eight interceptions. He accounts for 127.3 yards of total offense per game. Graham was a valuable receiver out of the backfield, but Street and Mike Shanahan are the top options out wide. Street averages 3.6 catches per game for 52.3 yards, while Shanahan posts three catches per outing for an average of 37.7 yards per game. Sunseri is on his back more than any quarterback in the country, as Pitt is dead last in sacks allowed, giving up 4.4 per game.

The Panther defense kept the talented Cincinnati quarterback Zach Collaros in check last weekend, as the signal caller finished 19-of-32 for 214 yards with two interceptions and just 20 yards rushing on 11 carries. The Panthers also forced the Bearcats to go 2-of-13 on third down. None of it translated to a win. Collaros still scored two rushing touchdowns, and running back Isaiah Pead was able to get his touches (22 carries, 118 yards).

Pittsburgh is fifth in the Big East in total defense (364) and pass defense (240.5), and sixth in rush defense (123.4) and scoring (26.1). The Panthers also rank sixth nationally in sacks per game (3.2) and eighth in tackles for loss per game (7.8); Aaron Donald is second in the Big East with seven sacks, while Max Gruder is second in the league in tackles with 82.

Louisville got a big day out of true freshman quarterback Teddy Bridgewater last weekend against West Virginia. Bridgewater completed 21-of-27 passes for 246 yards and one touchdown against one interception, and was poised down the stretch. In his most complete performance to date, Bridgewater completed passes to nine different receivers, and was aided in the backfield by 69 yards rushing and one touchdown by Dominique Brown. Bridgewater continues to progress, and is fifth in the Big East is passing efficiency (133.05). He has thrown for 1,275 yards and eight touchdowns against seven interceptions. Louisville averages 210.6 yards passing per game, which is good for seventh in the Big East. The Cardinals haven't done a great job protecting Bridgewater this season (allow 3.2 sacks per game), and the run support is slowly coming along, ranking 94th in the country at 121.1 yards per game. Vic Anderson accounts for 45.8 yards rushing per game, although he had just eight carries against West Virginia. Brown get 43.8 yards per, and both have two rushing touchdowns on the season.

The Louisville defense was bent often against the Mountaineers, but it certainly didn't break in the late stages of the game. West Virginia quarterback Geno Smith still got his yards passing (410, three touchdowns) but Louisville took away his ability to scramble out of the pocket and freelance (-8 rushing yards), and were able to come up with two fumble recoveries in a close game. Louisville has one of the most productive defenses in the Big East, ranking first in total defense (322) and scoring defense (18.3). The Cardinals have consistently gotten pressure, ranking ninth in the country in tackles for loss (7.7) and 14th in sacks (2.8). Dexter Heyman leads the team in both tackles (61) and tackles for loss (10).

Losing Graham really makes Pitt one-dimensional, and leaning on Sunseri for most of the offensive production is a shaky proposition, especially against a defense that seems to be maturing at the right time of the season. Bridgewater is also playing well, and if he can make a few plays and take care of the ball, Louisville will become bowl eligible.

Sports Network Predicted Outcome: Louisville 20, Pittsburgh 17