PITTSBURGH — Pittsburgh has figured the whole “winning on the road” thing out. The whole “winning at home” thing remains a work in progress.

If the Panthers (7-3, 5-1 ACC) can get the formula that’s worked so well away from Heinz Field right on Saturday against surging Louisville (6-4, 5-2), Pat Narduzzi’s promising first season on the job will move closer to something far more special.

“Seven wins is awesome,” said Pitt linebacker Mike Caprara.

And also, the Panthers insist, not nearly enough. Pitt is already assured its best regular season since 2010. Victories at home against the Cardinals and reeling Miami would put the kind of crooked number in the win column that’s been hard to come by over the last 30 years.

Not that the Panthers are getting ahead of themselves, which is probably wise considering the way the Cardinals are playing. Louisville has recovered from an 0-3 start to win six of its last seven, the lone loss a blowout at Florida State a month ago.

“I’m just real happy with the way our guys kept a good attitude, persevered, practiced extremely hard,” coach Bobby Petrino said. “We stuck to our beliefs and didn’t change how we believe you should practice and how you should prepare for a game.”

The Cardinals have steadied themselves despite instability and inconsistent play at quarterback. Kyle Bolin will get another turn at the controls this weekend after wresting the starting job away from freshman Lamar Jackson, though Petrino will continue to look for opportunities for Jackson in situations where his mobility will be an asset.

Louisville isn’t quite the offensive powerhouse of previous iterations under Petrino. The Cardinals have found a way behind the ACC’s second-ranked run defense and a secondary that has come up with 15 interceptions. Last week’s 38-31 win over Virginia assured Louisville of a bowl berth. Knocking off the Panthers with rival Kentucky looming in the finale would improve the Cardinals’ spot in the bowl pecking order.

Just don’t expect Louisville to look beyond the rapidly improving Panthers. Pitt hasn’t overwhelmed opponents so much as outlasting them.