UNLV hunting for bowl

The bowl scenarios are so numerous, UNLV football coach Mike Sanford can't wrap his mind around them.

It's far easier to concentrate solely on Saturday's 5 p.m. game at San Diego State and then hope for the best.

"All we're talking about is becoming bowl eligible," Sanford said Monday. "Some of that stuff's out of our control. The only thing under our control is preparing ourselves and playing the best game we can play and finding a way to beat San Diego State."

UNLV (5-6, 2-5 Mountain West Conference) is a 121/2-point favorite to beat the Aztecs (1-10, 0-7) and become bowl eligible. The easiest route to the postseason is to win that game and hope 21/2-point underdog Wyoming (4-7, 1-6) defeats visiting Colorado State (5-6, 3-4).

But that's not enough. No. 8 Utah (11-0, 7-0) must beat No. 16 Brigham Young (10-1, 6-1) to claim a Bowl Championship Series spot and open up an extra bowl slot for a Mountain West team. The host Utes are 61/2-point favorites.

Such a scenario would guarantee the Rebels a Mountain West-affiliated spot, almost certainly the New Mexico Bowl on Dec. 20. Bowl executive director Jeff Siembieda will attend UNLV's game Saturday, and another representative will be in Wyoming.

Even if UNLV wins and Colorado State loses, Siembieda said no decisions are expected to be made Saturday.

"I think we'll probably convene on Sunday and see where we are," Siembieda said.

He also would not say which team the bowl would take if UNLV and Colorado State are each 6-6. It's likely, however, the bowl would take the Rams, largely because of their 41-28 victory over the Rebels.

If the New Mexico Bowl doesn't work out, the Rebels would hope to be invited as an at-large team to the Hawaii Bowl on Dec. 24 or Texas Bowl on Dec. 30.

The Pacific-10 Conference might not be able to supply a team to the Hawaii Bowl, especially if Oregon State wins out and represents the league in the Rose Bowl. That would increase the chances of the Pac-10 sending two teams to the BCS, with Southern California also making one of the five games.

The Texas Bowl might have both spots open if the Big 12 Conference and Conference USA can't supply teams.

UNLV, provided it beats the Aztecs, might not know its fate until Dec. 7 when the BCS teams are selected and the rest of the bowl matchups fall into place. It appears the Las Vegas Bowl will have to wait until then to find out its two teams.

None of the six 6-6 teams last season received at-large berths. Troy, which went 8-4, was the only school with a winning record that was shut out.

But two bowls were added to this year's schedule, and now 68 teams will play beyond the regular season. That increases the likelihood of 6-6 teams filling at-large spots, though the rule remains intact that all teams with winning records must go ahead of .500 teams.

• NOTES -- Mike Clausen is expected to make his third consecutive start at quarterback. Omar Clayton (knee) could return, but his status won't be known until possibly today or Wednesday. ... Linebacker Jason Beauchamp (slight ankle sprain) and tailback Frank Summers (slight hip flexor strain) are being monitored, but each practiced Sunday. ...

Coaches are being careful with wide receiver Phillip Payne, who has had two concussions. His status is uncertain. ... Safety Lorenzo Bursey Jr. returns from a concussion, and the starting spot is between him and Terrance Lee. ... Kicker Kyle Watson was named Mountain West special teams player of the week after making three field goals in Thursday's 22-14 victory over Wyoming.

Contact reporter Mark Anderson at manderson@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2914.