College Football Corner: Backyard Brawl

No. 9 Pitt (9-1) at West Virginia (7-3), Friday, 7 p.m. EST (ESPN2): Pitt ruined the Mountaineers' perfect season two years ago, knocking West Virginia from a BCS title shot. This season, it's Pitt -- which will play No. 5 Cincinnati on Dec. 5 for the Big East title -- that has more on the line in the 102nd Backyard Brawl, in which the Panthers hold a 61-37-3 lead. Speaking of that game two years ago, it gave the Panthers a recruiting boost.

"I remember going out there for pregame warm-ups and the recruits were all lined up on the sidelines, and I looked over and could see all of these kids that we were recruiting and that they were recruiting," said Pitt coach Dave Wannstedt at his news conference this week. "Within 10 to 14 days (after the game) we got eight commitments. Two or three of those kids that were right there (at the game) committed with us."

West Virginia Coach Bill Stewart, when asked earlier this week how big a game this is, said: "Colossal. Football is always important, as is each win. But with Pitt and West Virginia -- that's an intense rivalry, and it goes to recruiting, too. You just develop that rivalry, and recruiting helps intensify it. There is a great amount of respect between the coaches and the players. It's almost like playing your brother -- you want to go out there and whip him bad."

Pittsburgh running back Dion Lewis

The Mountaineers will have to contend with Pitt's dynamic freshman running back Dion Lewis. But Pitt also can score through the air, as tight end Dorin Dickerson, a John Mackey Award candidate, has 10 touchdowns.

West Virginia counters with Jarrett Brown, a 6-4 senior quarterback who has completed 65% of his passes, throwing for 1,849 yards and 11 TDs. Corner's choice Pitt 27, West Virginia 24 > -- Written by William Hennelly