Utah coach Kyle Whittingham set the bar for his team in the preseason when he mentioned this could be Utah's best offense yet.

Now, the team is eager to prove him correct as the Utes host No. 15 Pitt tonight.

"We have an explosive offense and we are ready to show that to the nation," tight end Brad Clifford said. "This offense is potent and explosive and we are excited to get it rolling."

If they can, they'll have to do it against one of the best defenses they might face this season.

The Panthers ranked 19th in scoring defense last year, giving up 19.8 points a game and ranked 23rd in total defense, giving up 319.1 yards a game.

While the Panthers lost some key personnel who contributed to those numbers, they do return defensive ends Jabaal Sheard and Greg Romeus, two players Whittingham frequently has mentioned as being concerns for the Utes.

"They are both very athletic, very strong players," he said.

The Utes are starting a new left tackle in junior college transfer John Cullen, who was billed as the top-ranked junior college offensive lineman when he signed with the Utes.

The Utes denied media requests for Cullen in the weeks leading up to tonight's game so he could focus on the Panthers. Such a measure is rare for the Utes, especially for a lineman, but it indicates just how serious the Utes are focused on the ends.

Right tackle Tony Bergstrom said he and Cullen are ready for the challenge.

"We prepared all week. We are as ready as we are going to be," he said. "John and I both have those guys in our minds. I think we are as prepared as we can be."

The Utes plan to counter with a two-back attack in Matt Asiata and Eddie Wide, a deep receiving corps, and new formations that feature the tight ends, Clifford and Kendrick Moeai. The Utes also have another force new this year, fullback Tauni Vakapuna.

They should be enough weapons, the Utes hope, to give quarterback Jordan Wynn plenty of options with which to beat the Panthers.

Wynn, who knows expectations are high, said the team is confident.

"We've all worked hard," he said. "It's all going into this one game now."

Home crowd

Ask the Utah Utes one of the best things about playing No. 15 Pitt at home and they'll mention their fans and the advantage it provides.

"What they bring to the stadium makes it a very difficult place to play," Whittingham said.

So difficult that the Utes have one of the nation's longest home winning streaks, having won their last 17 games at Rice-Eccles Stadium.

Only Oklahoma (30) and Boise State (26) have longer such streaks.

Sure, magical drives, stingy defenses and smart coaching decisions have been the driving force behind the streak, but Utah's players and coaches say the fans deserve credit too.

The last time the Utes lost at home was Sept. 8, 2007 when the Utes fell 20-12 against Air Force.

Utah upset then-11th-ranked UCLA 44-6 the following week to start the current streak.

Utah's student section has grown to be more than 6,000 members strong and often initiates many of the chants and energy that make Rice-Eccles intimidating, running back Matt Asiata said. "They are wild and crazy," he said. "They have our back the whole season whether we win or lose."

The longest time the Utes have gone without a loss at home was a 26-game run from 1928-1934.

The all-time NCAA record is a 58-home game winning streak by Miami from 1985-1994.

Adding another

Whittingham's overall record was boosted by a win going into the 2010 season thanks to an NCAA ruling. Whittingham, who starts his fifth season as the Utes' head coach tonight, was credited for being the Utes' co-coach of the 2005 Fiesta Bowl when he and Urban Meyer shared coaching duties for the 35-7 win over Pitt. Whittingham is 48-17 overall, which includes a 10-4 record over BCS programs.

Oh captain, my captain

Serving as captains for 2010 are Asiata, center Zane Taylor, defensive end Christian Cox and defensive tackle Sealver Siliga.

The captains were elected by their teammates and will carry out the usual captain duties on the field but most importantly they'll set the tone for the team, Taylor said.

"Every day I have to realize it's not about myself anymore," he said. "It's about making this team better and bringing a positive vibe to the team as a captain. I have to make sure all the guys are ready to win because the whole team is feeding off us as captains. It's a huge honor to be voted in and I'll definitely respect it and take care of it."

lwodraska@sltrib.com —

No. 15 Pitt at Utah

P At Rice-Eccles Stadium

Kickoff • 6:30 p.m.

TV • Versus

Radio • 700 AM

Series history • Utah leads 1-0

Last meeting • Utah won, 35-7 in 2005

About the Utes • Utah has won its last three home games against ranked foes, beating No. 11 UCLA in 2007, No. 11 TCU in 2008 and No. 16 BYU in 2008. … Utah coach Kyle Whittingham is 3-2 in openers. … Linebacker J.J. Williams is questionable for tonight with a foot injury. … A ceremony unveiling two signs recognizing Utah's two BCS bowl wins will be held today.

About the Panthers •. … Pitt is 20-7 in its last 27 games, the team's best stretch since the 2001-03 seasons when they went 21-6. …