For the BYU Cougars, there will be no overlooking this year's opponent in the Las Vegas Bowl, no excuses about how the prospect of playing Oregon State doesn't get their juices going.

Not since the week before they played Oklahoma to open the season have the Cougars talked so reverently about an opponent as they have about the Beavers, who arrive at next week's game (Tuesday, 6 p.m. MST, ESPN) having come up just short of making it to the Rose Bowl.

"Oh, they are one of the best teams we will have played, period, not only in the Las Vegas Bowl," said BYU coach Bronco Mendenhall on Monday, when asked if Oregon State will be the best team the Pac-10 has ever sent to this pre-Christmas game in the desert.

"I mean, they basically played for a conference championship against Oregon, and there is a reason for that," Mendenhall said. "Paper is one thing, but when you watch them play, they are more impressive than they are on paper."

The Beavers are 8-4, but all four of those losses were to teams ranked in the Top 25 at the time, and they lost just one game by more than a touchdown -- to No. 4, undefeated Cincinnati (28-18). OSU's four losses were by a combined 25 points; BYU's two losses were by a combined 57 points.

No wonder OSU is a three-point favorite.

Oregon State coach Mike Riley said Tuesday the key for his team will be how it responds to that "bitterly disappointing" loss to Oregon and noted that if the Beavers don't give BYU their full attention, they will be in trouble.

"There is no room for babies here," he said.

Oregon State's goal is to play its best game of the year, Riley said, predicting that the Beavers will either go out "with a bang, or with a thud."

Coincidentally, that's what happened to BYU last year when an uninspired effort led to a 31-21 loss to an Arizona team it wasn't excited to play.

"For us to play one of the best teams out of the Pac-10 is cool," said BYU quarterback Max Hall. "They were close to being the best team out of the Pac-10. ... I think they sent one of the better Pac-10 teams to play us, because they want to make sure they have a good chance to win the game. So you look at it as a compliment, and a chance to play a great football team."

The Cougars and Beavers had one common opponent this season. They both played UNLV at the place where they will meet Tuesday, Sam Boyd Stadium. BYU beat UNLV 59-21 and OSU beat the Rebels 23-21 on a late field goal after a controversial defensive pass interference penalty.

The No. 15 Cougars are especially concerned with Oregon State's speed and quickness on offense and how they can contain the Rodgers brothers -- sophomore running back Jacquizz Rodgers and junior receiver James Rodgers. Jacquizz has rushed for 1,377 yards and 20 touchdowns, while James has caught 87 passes for 1,004 yards and nine TDs.

The Cougars have not faced a running back with Jacquizz Rodgers' credentials this season.

"They present a lot of challenges," said BYU safety Scott Johnson. "They have a bunch of great players -- very athletic. Their line can move, the two Rodgers boys are great athletes and awesome with the ball in their hands. They can make guys miss in very small areas, and the receiver can run intermediate routes, and still break them off for big gains. They can make something out of nothing."

Oregon State's fifth-year senior quarterback, Sean Canfield, is another major concern. Completing 70 percent of his passes this season, he will shatter the school record (60.6) set by Matt Moore in 2006. Canfield has thrown for 3,103 yards and 21 touchdowns with just six interceptions.

"I was really impressed with [Canfield] in Las Vegas [at a recent news conference]," said Mendenhall. "He was poised and mature and eloquent in what he had to say on behalf of their program, and very respectful. But that's who their coach is, so it doesn't surprise me."

drew@sltrib.com