INSIGHT BOWL | PITTSBURGH (8-4) VS. OREGON STATE (8-4)
Thursday, Dec. 26 (ESPN, 8:30 p.m. ET)

Under the direction of astute head coach Walt Harris, Pittsburgh has been able to fortify and upgrade the talent base in recent years, bringing in super blue-chip freshman WR Larry Fitzgerald while benefiting from the skills of junior RB Brandon Miree, who transferred from Alabama.

The Panthers' four losses, each by eight points or less, could have been victories with a break here or there -- including a 14-6 setback to Notre Dame at South Bend and a 28-21 loss to top-ranked Miami.

Harris' squad strikes the necessary balance on offense, with versatile QB Rod Rutherford able to beat a defense with his arm or his legs. Miree (6-1, 233) runs with a combination of quickness and power. Fitzgerald ranks as the second-best freshman wide receiver in the nation, according to my ratings, behind only USC's Mike Williams. The Panthers also have one of the most underrated tight ends in the country, junior Kris Wilson (6-2½, 238). Wilson averaged a whopping 22.5 yards on 17 receptions.

	Pittsburgh's Larry Fitzgerald was simply unstoppable for most of the season.

Up front on the offensive line, sophomore OT Rob Petiti is one of the nation's elite young bookends, while senior OG Bryan Anderson provides a rugged approach and veteran leadership.

Defensively for the Panthers, junior DE Claude Harriott is a big-time outside pass rusher. The linebacking corps -- Lewis Moore, Gerald Hayes and Brian Beinecke -- is one of the nation's best. And athletic senior CB Torrie Cox is solid.

Harriott, who was a backup the two previous seasons, emerged this season as a major force in the Big East, recording 7½ sacks, 17 stops behind the line of scrimmage and seven forced fumbles. Moore, a junior, is all over the field, while Hayes ranks as the top MLB on my NFL draft Big Board (along with Maryland's E.J. Henderson) and should figure in the draft's early rounds.

For Oregon State, head coach Dennis Erickson put the ball this season in the hands of heralded sophomore QB Derek Anderson. After some rough outings that displayed a lack of consistency, Anderson finished strong, posting a stellar performance in the Beavers' season-ending victory over Oregon.

Anderson threw for nearly 3,000 yards and 24 TDs, but he was intercepted 12 times and completed just 47 percent of his aerials.

With Anderson's growing pains, the Beavers relied heavily on the rushing exploits of super blue-chip sophomore Steven Jackson (6-1, 230). The athletically gifted Jackson finished with nearly 1,700 rushing yards, averaging 5.5 yards per carry. He also scored 15 TDs and contributed as a pass-receiving option out of the backfield (15 catches).

When Anderson goes to the air, he'll be seeking out junior WR James Newson (6-0½, 208), who averaged 17.5 yards per catch on 64 receptions (including 11 TDs).

Defensively for the Beavers, sophomore DE Bill Swancutt emerged as a quality performer, while senior OLB Nick Barnett provided solid performances on a game-to-game basis. In the secondary, all eyes will be on veteran senior CB Dennis Weathersby, specifically when he matches up in one-on-one situations with the highly skilled Fitzgerald.

BOWL OVERVIEW
On paper, this is a great matchup. There are outstanding coaches in Harris and Erickson plus exciting and talented personnel on both sides, keyed by young stars like Pitt's Fitzgerald and OSU's Jackson. The key for Oregon State is getting a solid performance from sophomore QB Anderson. Plagued by periods of erratic play, the Beavers hope he builds momentum from his superior showing in the regular-season finale against Oregon. If Anderson has a hot hand, Jackson will have a chance to find running room. Otherwise, he could run into resistance against a Hayes-led Pitt defense that allowed opposing RBs this season an average of just 3.4 yards per carry.

For the Panthers, QB Rutherford must bring his "A" game and remain turnover-free, especially if Swancutt and company are bringing the pressure. If Rutherford is on, the Fitzgerald-Weathersby matchup should be tremendously intriguing, with TE Wilson also able to provide impact plays with his ability to stretch the middle of the field. In addition, Miree tends to wear defenses down with his aggressive running style, getting stronger as the game goes on. In a battle of two talented squads representing the Big East and Pac-10, this is certainly one of the top second-tier bowl games that shouldn't fly under the radar screen.