Pitt Panthers take on the Cincinnati Bearcats Thursday night

After a disappointing loss to FCS opponent Youngstown State, the Panthers have to make a quick recovery as they travel to face the Cincinnati Bearcats.

The Panthers defense played a large role in their loss. Only four starters returned this season and with six players suspended, including a defensive starter, the Panthers were shortstacked from the start.

This Panthers team will only go as far as their defense (not quarterback Tino Sunseri) will take them.

By all accounts, Sunseri had a very promising first half but did not excel in his limited time in the second half. The defense spent a lot of time out on the field and clearly was overmatched by a patient Youngstown State offense.

Things do not get any easier against the Bearcats, the first Big East opponent on the Panthers schedule.

The Bearcats do have a lot of question marks, which could benefit a Panthers team trying to find its identity under first year head coach Paul Chryst.

Quarterbacks Zach Collaros and Isiah Pead, who were both integral parts of the Bearcats 26-23 victory at Heinz Field last season, are both gone. At the quarterback position will be Munchie Legaux who had 749 yards and five touchdowns and ran for 185 yards in the limited action he saw last season.

The running back nod likely will go to George Wynn although Jameel Poteat could see plenty of time in the backfield as well.

The team, which is well coached by Butch Jones, will return wide receivers Anthony McClung and Kenbrell Thompkins, who combined for 93 catches and 1,219 yard last season.

The Bearcats do have a new defensive coordinator in John Jancek and his defense returns seven starters, notably a strong secondary which includes safety Drew Frey, who was an All-Big East First-Team member last season.

This series goes back to 1921 but there have been only 11 total matchups. The Panthers lead the series 8-3.

Looking at this matchup, the facts are the facts and they are unavoidable:

1. The Panthers played last week.
2. The Bearcats did not.

What does this mean?

The Bearcats not only had the whole off-season to prepare for Pitt, but also the first week of the season. Pitt, coming off a terrible loss, had only three and maybe four days to not only recover but also prepare for a team that has frustrated the Panthers each of the last two seasons.

Prediction: Bearcats 31, Panthers 20