The Pitt Panthers have had an extra few days off because they played Wednesday night.

That is usually good news for a team because it gives the players time to rest and heal and it gives the coaching staff more time to come up with strategy for the next game.

The extra days likely were welcomed by the Pitt defensive staff because the Panthers' next opponent, Cincinnati, plays an unconventional spread offense that is predicated on putting constant pressure on opposing defenses.

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Next

• Game: No. 23 Cincinnati (6-1, 1-1 Big East) at Pitt (2-4, 0-1).
• When: Noon, Saturday.
• Where: Heinz Field.
• TV: WTAE.
• The skinny: Cincinnati dropped from No. 15 to No. 23 in this week's AP poll after falling to Louisville Saturday, 28-24.

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The Bearcats (6-1, 1-1 Big East) are coming off of their first loss of the season, 28-24, to Louisville Saturday. Cincinnati operates out of a spread formation and use some variation of four or five wide receivers. The system usually uses one running back but the Bearcats also use a number of empty backfield formations and rarely use a fullback. Senior quarterback Ben Mauk has a number of running plays designed for him.

Mauk came to Cincinnati as a transfer from Wake Forest. He set numerous national high school records at Kenton High in northwest Ohio. He played in a system similar to that of first-year Bearcats coach Brian Kelly and has proven to be a perfect fit. Mauk was Ohio's Mr. Football and Gatorade player of the year for the state in 2002 and played in the Big 33 Classic game after that season.

He is third in the Big East Conference in passing (226.5 yards per game), fourth in total offense (242.5) and has thrown 15 touchdowns and only four interceptions. With him at the helm, the Bearcats have averaged 40.6 points and 447 yards of total offense per game.

Of course, the extra time is normally a good thing, but the Panthers had 10 days to prepare for their previous opponent, Navy, which like Cincinnati plays an unconventional offense. The Midshipmen shredded Pitt for 48 points.

The Panthers (2-4, 0-1) have given up 126 points in the past three games and have played tentatively, especially early in games.

Pitt middle linebacker Scott McKillop doesn't think the Panthers have played up to their capability. He's hopeful they will save their best effort for the Bearcats.

"We can't worry about what happened [in the 48-45 loss to Navy]," he said. "The game is over and now we have to focus on another team with a high-powered offense that is a little different than normal. I know we will have a good game plan together and we simply have to go out and play better football than we have been playing, starting with me.

"Our defense struggles if I don't play my best game and so I have to pick it up, I have to do a better job and then everyone around me has to step up as well. But we have a saying -- trust, accountability and desire -- and we have to trust in what we are doing and we do."

Prior to losing to Louisville, Cincinnati had been one of the hottest teams in Division I-A. It has won 13 of its previous 15 games, dating to last season. That includes a win against Western Michigan in the International Bowl and a 34-3 triumph against Oregon State of the Pac-10 Conference. That is the same Oregon State team that beat undefeated No. 2 California, 31-28, Saturday night.

Cincinnati also slipped into the Bowl Championship Series standings at No. 23 this week which means the Panthers have a chance to do something they haven't done under Dave Wannstedt -- upset a ranked a opponent.