Matt Freed, Post-Gazette Tyler Palko is playing much better in his second season in Dave Wannstedt's system. Click photo for larger image.

Pitt coach Dave Wannstedt watched film this week and said the team he saw is much improved over a year ago. He added that the quarterback understands the system now that he's in his second season and the offensive line is much better at blocking because they understand the scheme.

It might sound as if Wannstedt has been watching film of his team because many of those things could be said about the Panthers.

Actually, Wannstedt was watching Syracuse.

The Panthers (4-1) will play the Orange (3-2) at the Carrier Dome today in a game that looks much more interesting than it did in the preseason. That's because the Panthers and the Orange are much better than they were expected to be.

Pitt was 5-6 last season; the Orange was 1-10. Outside of adding a solid recruiting class, neither team appeared to have improved much. But both have improved for many of the same reasons.

Like Wannstedt, Syracuse coach Greg Robinson is in his second year, and the Orange has settled into his system.

Last year, the Orange offense struggled with the transition from Paul Pasqualoni's freeze-option to Robinson's West Coast offense This year, they have been extremely efficient in running and passing.

That's not much different than the Panthers, who last year struggled with the transition to offensive coordinator Matt Cavanaugh's West Coast offense.

Scouting Report Matchup: Pitt (4-1) vs. Syracuse (3-2), today, noon, Carrier Dome, Syracuse, N.Y. Pitt is favored by 7. TV, radio: WTAE-TV; WPBG-FM (104.7) and WBGG-AM (970). Pitt: Has won three of past four against Syracuse. ... Beat the Orange, 34-17, last season at Heinz Field. ... Is only 3-9-1 at the Carrier Dome. ... Has several players from upstate New York, including starting receiver Derek Kinder, who is from Albion. ... Is averaging 38 points per game. ... QB Tyler Palko has moved into third place on the school's career passing list. He has thrown for 6,784 yards, which is second to Alex Van Pelt (11,267) and Dan Marino (8,597). Syracuse: Leads the all-time series 30-28-3. ... Beat the Panthers, 38-31, in double overtime in 2004 in Carrier Dome. ... Averages 25.6 points per game. ... QB Perry Patterson has completed 61 of 120 passes for 706 yards and 7 touchdowns. ... TB Delone Carter has averaged 4.6 yards per carry and has scored four touchdowns. Hidden stat: Something has to give. Syracuse leads Division I-A with 25 sacks, an average of five per game. Pitt has allowed only four sacks, less than one per game.

Like Pitt's Tyler Palko, Syracuse quarterback Perry Patterson has a much better understanding of the offense and has been consistently good. Patterson completed less than 50 percent of his passes (47.7) and threw almost twice as many interceptions (11) as touchdowns (6) last season. This season, he is 61 for 120 (50.8) with seven touchdowns and two interceptions.

Wannstedt said the similarities between the Orange and the Panthers are striking.

"It is clear Perry Patterson has another year in the system," Wannstedt said. "It is very similar to Tyler. He was doing everything for the first time last year. [Their success] is a combination of talent and [the fact that] they are comfortable with the offense."

Wannstedt said another area where the Orange has shown perhaps the most improvement is in the run game because the offensive line has settled in and understands Robinson's zone-blocking schemes much better.

While the offense is the biggest reason the Orange already has tripled its win total from a year ago, the defense, like Pitt's, is also much improved.

The Orange gives up some yardage (teams are averaging 379 yards per game against Syracuse), but it leads Division I-A in sacks (25) and has forced 13 turnovers, including nine interceptions. Those big plays have turned games and are a result of the defense's attacking mentality.

Wannstedt said that it will be imperative for the Panthers to block the Orange's front seven..

"Their defense is designed to make big plays, to force the issue," Wannstedt said. "They are good at it now, they run it well, they understand what they are trying to do. The thing about an aggressive defense is you might make some big plays, but you are vulnerable to giving them up. But to make a big play we have to protect our passer, and Tyler has to do a good job of recognizing what's coming at him.

"We didn't do that well last year, but this year we have, and that's helped us in some games."