Q: Can we truly win the last three games and go to a BCS Bowl game? I am still a little shaky about coach Dave Wannstedt because he can't seem to finish anything off. They should be 9-0, provided some of the coaches could have solved the passing game problem against Rutgers. And if they played Bowling Green again, they would blow them out.

Frank Losasso, Myrtle Beach, S.C.

ZEISE: Yes, they can win the last three games. They can also lose the last three games -- which seems to be the nature of college football these days. Almost anyone can beat anyone and really it comes down to who plays the most consistently and the best. And while I understand your sentiments about being 9-0, I would counter with this: As Bill Parcells said, you are what your record says you are, and if Pitt had won the two games in question, the Panthers likely would have lost two others along the way because they are a 7-2 team. Like I said at the outset, this is an 8-4 team talent-wise, experience-wise and everything else -- so it won't shock me if they finish 1-2 and go 8-4. I think Pitt has proven it can win games on the road and win big games, but I also think that all three of the teams Pitt will play are good teams and are more than capable of beating Pitt, so this should be a wild ride the rest of the way.

Q: Last year the Panthers brought a lot more pressure against Cincinnati than they normally do. Should we expect this time as well?

Mark Schilajew, Huntingdon

ZEISE: I would think they'll dial some pressure up because if you stand back on your heels the Bearcats will pick you apart. But you have to be careful because they really mix things up well and their play calling is exceptional and they do a great job of making teams pay for going to certain wells too often. This game will every bit be about the coaching chess match between coordinators on both sides for both teams as anything the players do. I really believe that -- strategy and making good play calls will be the key for the team that wins this one because I think the talent is equal but the styles and philosophies are so different. It will be a very entertaining and interesting games for people who are interested in the strategical warfare that goes on between coaches.

Q: The Bowling Green jokes have gone on mute. Is there any chance we as Pitt fans can get into a positive frame of mind? The D-line is tough, the linebackers are doing a good job, the defensive backs have some things to work out but are fine, The offensive line is a pleasant surprise. The quarterback is getting the job done both as a leader and on the field, the wide receivers and running backs have executed well. What's with all the negative questions?

Tom Watson, Huntingdon

ZEISE: Pitt fans are the ultimate pessimists --- they won't believe this team is a good team until it wins three more games and even then -- Pitt could be 10-2 and headed to the Orange Bowl and people will be complaining that they didn't win those other two games and go to the national title game. Or people will still complain that Bill Stull doesn't throw a tight enough spiral. I do agree there is a lot to feel good about with Pitt and it seems like this team has turned the corner but there are a legion of Pitt fans who just can't stand success or at least can't believe their team is having success and won't be happy until the team fails so they can say "I told you so." Those people will never be pleased so why worry about them?

The good news is ever since Pitt began winning games, I've stopped getting silly e-mails from the vocal minority about the script and how Steve Pederson stole that tradition from them. That is one way you can gauge how good the team is doing -- when I start getting hammered with script nonsense, it means Pitt is losing and there is no football to talk about. When script questions go away, it means Pitt is winning, so that is a good thing I suppose.