Notre Dame getting set for high-powered Pitt. offense

Notre Dame (6-3) at Pittsburgh (8-1)

When: 7 p.m. Saturday at Heinz Field

TV: Channel 7; Radio: WLS 890-AM Series: Notre Dame leads 44-19-1.

Coaches: Charlie Weis (35-24, fifth year at Notre Dame); Dave Wannstedt (33-24, fifth year at Pittsburgh)

Players to watch: Notre Dame junior QB Jimmy Clausen set career bests for completions (37), attempts (51) and yards (452) last week against Navy, which makes one wonder if those numbers inspired a South Bend version of "Peanuts" where Charlie Weis tells some statistics to shut up. Notre Dame's media relations department sent out some e-mails this week hyping Clausen, WR Golden Tate (65 catches, 1,049 yards, 10 TDs) and S Kyle McCarthy (5 INTs, 72 tackles). One statistical comparison shows Clausen's nine-week numbers against the last six QBs to win the Heisman Trophy - and he has the fifth-best passer efficiency rating without the Top 5 team that helped the others get the Heisman.

Pittsburgh doesn't miss previous RB LeSean McCoy too much. Freshman Dion Lewis ranks seventh nationally with 1,139 rushing yards. The Doak Walker semifinalist also owns 13 touchdowns. Senior QB Bill Stull ranks No. 5 nationally in passer efficiency rating as he hits 68 percent of his throws with 17 TDs and just 4 INTs. Junior DE Greg Romeus (6.5 sacks) leads the nation's No. 1 team in sacks.

The skinny: It'll be hard to top last year's four-overtime extravaganza at Notre Dame, when Wanny's Panthers pulled off a 36-33 victory, but that was a tussle between two unranked teams. This year means more because Pitt stands at No. 12 in the BCS rankings -- its lone blemish a 38-31 loss at North Carolina State on Sept. 26. The Panthers plan to offset Notre Dame's passing assault with its Big East-best rushing offense (187.0 ppg) and Big East-best total defense (310.9 ypg). Notre Dame gets RB Armando Allen back after a two-week respite to heal his ankle, but TE Kyle Rudolph is done with a shoulder.