LAS VEGAS -- So who will represent better, BYU or Arizonafi

BYU's three previous trips to the Las Vegas Bowl have seen Sam Boyd Stadium become "LaVell Edwards Stadium South," with the majority of fans wearing BYU blue.

The Las Vegas Bowl Experience is all new to the Wildcats and their fans, since the Arizona program hasn't been to a bowl game since 1998.

If Friday night's prep rally at Fremont Street is any a indication, a whole lot of red-clad Wildcat fans are in Sin City and ready to "Bear Down" -- the football team's official motto -- at today's game (6 p.m. MT, ESPN).

Arizona fans largely outnumbered their BYU counterparts at the rally, grateful to be bowling after 10 years of frustration.

Maybe BYU fans were bogged down driving on snowy I-15.

"We're very, very, very excited," said Terri, a Wildcat fan from Lake Havasu City. "It's a long-awaited excitement. Arizona's the home team, so I think we'll probably fill the stands up pretty good. (Wide receiver) Mike Thomas is my favorite player. All I have to say is 'run, Mike run!' "

Both schools fell short of selling all of their available tickets and the Las Vegas Bowl was offering game-day $15 tickets to fans who wouldn't mind not having an assigned seat.

Like many of their fellow BYU fans, Mike and Karen Mitchell of Midvale have made it to the Las Vegas Bowl every year.

"I think the boys will be ready to play," Mike Mitchell said. "I think it'll be a very good game. Arizona's really going to be up for the game. BYU can't go in with a big head."

The Cougars are 10-2 and ranked No. 17 in the Associated Press poll, but had higher aspirations coming into the 2008 season. BYU beat Washington and UCLA in the regular season and Mountain West Conference teams rolled up a 6-1 record against teams from the Pac 10. Arizona is 7-5 (5-4 in the Pac 10) and finished the season strong with a 31-10 victory over arch rival Arizona State.

Arizona goes into the game a 3-point favorite, according to the Vegas oddsmakers.

"We've had some success against Pac-10 teams this year and other teams in conference have, too," BYU junior quarterback Max Hall said. "But that's behind us. U of A lost to New Mexico the first part of the year, but the second half of the season they were a totally different team. They're playing great football.

"I definitely have a good feeling. We're rested up, we're healthy. We're practicing with intensity and a sense of urgency and a lot of emotion. We're ready to play and ready to get back on the field."

Senior linebacker David Nixon, playing his final game in a BYU uniform, wants Cougars fans to show up en force.

"We're 18-0 the past three years in LaVell Edwards Stadium; that's how we play in home-type situations," he said. "Usually when we come to Vegas, we try to make it our home. Our fans do a great job of doing that. We're asking for their support in trying to create a home environment. That will give us the edge we need to go out and play well and get a win."

Corey and Kelly of Salt Lake City have been to a couple of Las Vegas Bowls already, but Kelly really didn't expect to see the Cougars here. She's a Utah fan (her husband roots for BYU) and she bought her tickets this fall with the hope that her Utes would go to the Las Vegas Bowl. Instead, Utah is undefeated and headed to the Sugar Bowl after beating the Cougars 48-24 last month.

Their mixed marriage "makes November interesting," Kelly said.

There was at least one BYU fan who was at her first Las Vegas Bowl -- Jillian, Corey and Kelly's nine-month-old daughter. She was contentedly chewing on some beads and wearing her first BYU tee during the pep rally.

In past years, the pep rally was held on Thursday during the Outback Bowl, but Las Vegas Bowl officials wanted to have an event for fans arriving on Friday. BYU assistant head coach Lance Reynolds and senior wide receiver Michael Reed spoke at the rally, but the rest of the team was at their hotel (Planet Hollywood) or in Henderson at a fireside.

David and his 7-year old son, Jackson, are BYU fans transplanted to Las Vegas. They've been to all three previous Las Vegas Bowls.

Proudly wearing his Harvey Unga No. 45 jersey, Jackson said Unga would get "50 yards ... no, 100 yards. I think BYU will win."

KSL radio play-by-play announcer Greg Wrubell also addressed the crowd at the rally, joking that he was given a choice of participating in the prep rally or singing the national anthem on game day.

"I thought I'd leave the anthem to Hasselhoff," Wrubell said.

That's right, David Hasselhoff of "Knight Rider" and "Baywatch" fame will sing the anthem today before kickoff.

It'll be the start of what could be a memorable night.

• Daily Herald Sports Editor Darnell Dickson can be reached at 344-2555 or by e-mail at ddickson@heraldextra.com

Las Vegas Bowl

No. 17 BYU vs. Arizona

• When: Today, 6 p.m.

• Where: Sam Boyd Stadium in Las Vegas

• Records: BYU 10-2; Arizona 7-5

• TV: ESPN; Radio: 1160 AM and 102.7 FM

• Internet Webcast: byucougars.com

• Follow in Online: For live blogs on the game from Daily Herald Sports Editor Darnell Dickson, go to cougarblue.com