West Virginia has run all over Pitt's defense in each of the past two meetings between the teams, a fact Pitt coach Dave Wannstedt has done his best to try to forget about.

That's why when Wannstedt was asked about recent failures against the Mountaineers -- a combined 90 points, 836 yards rushing and 1,092 yards total offense in the past two games-- at his weekly news conference yesterday, he just shook his head and smiled.

"You know, that's a bad memory, thanks for bringing it up," Wannstedt said and then laughed. "Hold on, let me twist my foot a little bit here while you're asking the rest of the question ..."

Wannstedt then reached down toward his recently repaired ruptured Achilles tendon as if to say, "I've had enough pain and suffering for one season but talking about the past two games against West Virginia is like piling on and rubbing salt in old wounds."

The bit drew a lot of laughter, but Wannstedt then settled in and answered the question. In simple terms, he said, nobody really stops West Virginia's offense as long as quarterback Pat White is running the show, so the Panthers will need to score a lot of points to have a chance to win.

Pitt (4-7, 2-4 Big East) plays at No. 2 West Virginia (10-1, 5-1) Saturday night in the 100th edition of the Backyard Brawl.

West Virginia has national championship hopes; the Panthers are trying to end their season on a high note by knocking off their bitter rival. If the Panthers are to pull off the upset, they'll have to do a much better job of defending the read-option offense.

But, Wannstedt said, the best a team can hope for is to slow down White and West Virginia enough and to force enough mistakes so the offense has a chance to outscore them.

"It really requires a team effort," Wannstedt said. "You have to play some field position, and when you have a chance to make some plays in the special teams you need to do it. And last year, we made the decision that we were not going to let them run the ball in the first half and we'd come out and find out if Pat White could throw it -- and he completed three big passes and they were the difference in the game.

"They come up with a lot of big plays so it is imperative to make them have eight- or 10-play drives. If they can hold the ball for eight or 10 plays and score on you -- then more power to them. What you can't do is give them a 60-yard run and then two plays later they score. You have no chance doing that."

That plan might sound good in theory, but the last time Wannstedt talked at length about the need to force an opponent to go on eight- and 10-play drives was before the Navy game. All the Midshipmen did was run for 331 yards in a 48-45 double-overtime victory.

His larger point -- that giving up one-play scoring drives and big plays is a clear formula for getting blown out of Mountaineer Field -- is well taken, though the Panthers have been susceptible to big plays this year. When the Panthers lost Saturday to South Florida, the key play was an 80-yard touchdown run by Bulls quarterback Matt Grothe.

The Panthers never were able to recover from that play, and Wannstedt said they will be in a similar situation at Mountaineer Field if White or tailback Steve Slaton are not contained and break long runs.

"If we make plays up front, we'll play good defense," Wannstedt said. "Pat White is the guy who makes it go. I would hope that this year we are a little quicker physically and maybe a little sharper mentally. And when we get a chance to score, we have to score touchdowns, not settle for field goals."

NOTES -- Wannstedt declined comment when asked about several holding calls that went against the Panthers in the 48-37 loss to South Florida. "The whole officiating thing, it does no good to comment on it," Wannstedt said. "We evaluate it and give our opinion to the league. Anytime you have judgment calls, that is what they are and everybody has an opinion. You can't win those battles [with officials] you just hope that they don't cost you a game." ... As expected, Pitt will be without starting tight end Nate Byham, who injured a knee ligament in the South Florida game and will have season-ending surgery this week. Pitt might also still be without reserve tight end John Pelusi (toe) and Wannstedt said the Panthers might need to use fullback Conredge Collins in a dual role in certain formations. ... The merry-go-round at right guard is apparently spinning again as sophomore Joe Thomas is listed as the starter for the West Virginia game ahead of John Bachman, who started the South Florida game.