For Pitt, two wins in its final three games might not be enough to guarantee the Panthers a berth in a bowl game.

Two victories would get Pitt the six wins necessary to become bowl eligible. But accomplishing that feat wouldn't necessarily put the Panthers in a bowl game considering the number of teams in the Big East that are or could be bowl eligible.

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Next

• Who: Pitt (4-5, 2-2) at Rutgers (6-4, 2-3).
• When: Noon Saturday, Rutgers Stadium, Piscataway, N.J.
• TV: WTAE.

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The Big East has automatic bids in the BCS, either the Gator or the Sun Bowl, the Meineke Car Care Bowl, the Texas Bowl, the International Bowl and the PapaJohn's.Com bowl. That's six spots and the Big East already has five teams bowl eligible with a sixth, Louisville (5-5), a win away. So, a team with a 6-6 record could be left at home, much the same way the Panthers were last season.

Pitt's players know the situation but insist the focus isn't on the big picture, just on the next game. Pitt (4-5, 2-2 Big East) plays at noon Saturday at Rutgers (6-4, 2-3) .

"Really our goal is just to come out in our next game and play our best game of the season," Pitt senior tackle Mike McGlynn said. "The other stuff we can't control. We've had good weeks of practice the past few weeks, everyone is working hard, we have a positive attitude and now we just have to go out there and win a game. That's really what we're focused on."

Defensive end Chris McKillop said, "We've lost the last couple of games against Rutgers and we know they are a great team so we can't think about anything but getting better and improving and taking care of our business each day."

If the Panthers are going to beat Rutgers, they will have to find a way to stop tailback Ray Rice, who is the Big East's leading rusher and the third-leading rusher in Division I-A. Rice has carried 289 times for 1,500 yards and is averaging 150 yards rushing per game. He has scored 16 touchdowns and is averaging 5.19 yards per carry.

This past weekend, Rice set a Rutgers single-game rushing record when he ran for 243 yards and two touchdowns in a 41-6 win at Army. Rice has played in 35 games for the Scarlet Knights and rushed for at least 100 yards in 22 of them. He is Rutgers' all-time leader in total offense with 4,734 total yards.

Pitt has not allowed a running back to rush for 100 yards this season, but they have not exactly had a lot of success against Rice.

Last season, Rice carried 39 times for 225 yards in a 20-10 win against Pitt at Heinz Field, and that included a 63-yard run late in the game when the Panthers were trailing by three points. Two years ago, Rice rushed for 115 yards in a 37-29 win against the Panthers.

"He's a great running back," McKillop said. "He is a hard runner, he doesn't go down easy and he is powerful so you have to wrap him up and make sure you hold onto him."

Another area where the Panthers will have their hands full against Rutgers will be pass protection. The Scarlet Knights have 25 sacks this season and have forced 20 turnovers.

Rutgers also has allowed only 155 yards rushing per game and 3.9 yards per carry, so freshman tailback LeSean McCoy will be under pressure to make some plays.

After Rutgers, it doesn't get any easier for Pitt. The Panthers finish with games against South Florida (7-3, 2-3) Nov. 24 at Heinz Field and at No. 5 West Virginia (8-1, 3-1) Dec. 1.

While trying to determine Pitt's chances of winning two out of three, there is one statistic that shouldn't be ignored. Pitt coach Dave Wannstedt is 1-5 in his six games against Rutgers, South Florida and West Virginia.