SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Trying to get under the skin of University of Pittsburgh football players by telling them they are the underdog to Utah in Saturday's Fiesta Bowl isn't going to work.

They were the 'dogs against Notre Dame, West Virginia and Boston College, and ended up with victories.

"We've played well in that role," Pittsburgh linebacker Vince Crochunis said. "We know we're not getting much respect coming in this game. When it comes to game time we are going to get the job done."

The Panthers (8-3) are confident they have a chance to beat No. 5 Utah, but at the same time they are respectful of the Utes' 11-0 record and their accomplishment of being the first non-BCS team to break into a lucrative postseason bowl game.

"We're not taking a backseat to anybody, and I don't mean any disrespect to Utah," Putt quarterback Tyler Palko said. "We don't think we don't belong here. We belong here and we will do our best to fight and win a football game."

In finishing 4-2 in the Big East along with Syracuse, West Virginia, and Boston College, the Panthers overcame an early unexpected loss to Big East newcomer Connecticut and posted wins over Boston College and West Virginia to get into the Fiesta Bowl.

"This is a reward for our football team that's done a great job of battling through ups and downs," Palko said. "This is supposed to be a fun time and we're not going to let people who want to ruin it for us, ruin it for us."

Pittsburgh running back Tim Murphy doesn't understand the reasoning behind the attacks against the Panthers and their credibility.

"People say we shouldn't be here. We did what we had to do. What's the big deal?," he said. "I bet they (the BCS) wish there was a team with a better record than 8-3, but they set the requirements and we met them."

Critics around the nation have frowned on the rise of Utah into the top 5, citing a poor Mountain West Conference schedule as a reason the Utes shouldn't be in the BCS. It's not registering with Pittsburgh though.

"We're not looking at them as the underdog or someone who comes from a weak conference," Palko said. "They play in the conference they have to play in and they've dominated that conference. They've dominated their schedule."

Like Pitt players, Utah defensive back Eric Weddle isn't putting any stock into the 16-point spread either and it's in his favor.

"All we know is if we don't come out and play, we'll get beat. We're preparing like we have the last 11 games," he said. "Pitt's a very good opponent and very strong in all aspects of the game."

Offensively, the Panthers have scored 38 points or more in three of their last four victories, and they scored 31 in a loss to Syracuse.

Defensively, No. 19 Pittsburgh has allowed just 13.5 points in their last two wins over West Virginia and South Florida.

"I guess their record means something in the polls, but as far as good as a team is, I don't think their record is always 100 percent reflective of that," Utah co-head coach Kyle Whittingham said. "Their offense has really been clicking and they're a really good team . . . We'll have to play really well to beat them."

---

E-mail: jhinton@desnews.com