In its 10th anniversary season, however, the MWC has a chance to edge the big boys on the West Coast (and in Arizona), if only for one year.

The conferences will go head-to-head in seven regular-season games this year. Four of those games will take place Saturday.

Several MWC coaches said in their respective teleconference calls on Tuesday that the day will provide the league a good chance to earn some respect from both the Pac-10 and the rest of the nation. All they have to do is win.

"It's the only way we're going to get the recognition we want," said TCU coach Gary Patterson.

BYU got the MWC started off well in the first of those seven meetings last week, edging Washington 28-27 when the Cougars blocked an extra point with 2 seconds remaining.

The remaining two games that are not Saturday are the Sept. 27 Colorado State-at-California contest and the Oct. 2 Oregon State-at-Utah affair.

Assuming the home teams are going to win those (Cal will be a prohibitive favorite and the Utes at least a touchdown favorite), Saturday's games will determine which conference gets bragging rights in 2008.

On paper, the league should go 2-2, with wins by BYU and TCU and losses by New Mexico and UNLV.

A look at the four games:

* UNLV at No. 15 Arizona State, 8 p.m.: The 2-0 Sun Devils are 23-point favorites over the 1-1 Rebels, which played Utah tough for a half last week. It's the first meeting between the schools, despite their proximity, and the Rebels will be hoping ASU is looking past them to the showdown with No. 2 Georgia.

* Arizona at New Mexico, 6 p.m.: The 0-2 Lobos are at home again, but that didn't help them in losses to TCU and Texas A&M. They outgained the Aggies 370-236, but lost 28-22 despite Rodney Ferguson's big game. Ten-point favorites, the Wildcats have outscored their first two opponents 111-16.

* Stanford at TCU, noon: Patterson said last week's 67-6 pounding of Stephen F. Austin is "what you are supposed to do" when you play a lower-division team.

The Frogs are supposed to beat Stanford by 12, but the Cardinal are still smarting after losing 38-36 at home to TCU last year.

* UCLA at No. 18 BYU, 1:30 p.m.: The Cougars are favored by nine, as they were last week against Washington. But the Bruins are much better than the Huskies, and they know the Cougar offense well, having seen it twice last season.

Familiar foes

The MWC has more games against the Pac-10 than against any other conference. It has five matchups with the WAC, four with the Big 12 and three games against Conference USA. The key contest against the Big 12 is TCU's Sept. 27 game at Oklahoma.

He said it

San Diego State almost pulled off a huge win for the conference against Notre Dame last week, but fell 21-13 after leading in the second half and losing a fumble at the ND goal line. Coach Chuck Long didn't exactly endear himself to the Irish faithful after the game when asked which of his first two opponents, Notre Dame or Cal Poly of the FCS, was better.

"That's a tough question. Each week is different. It's hard to say who's better," Long said.

drew@sltrib.com