If the University of Hawai'i and Nevada football teams are playing tomorrow, then somebody's bowl hopes must be hanging in the balance.

History tells us that when the Warriors and Wolf Pack hook up in the fall, the postseason is often the prize. Four years ago UH helped end Nevada's hopes. A year later Nevada KOed UH — and then took the Warriors' place in the Sheraton Hawai'i Bowl. Last year Nevada came within 11 seconds — and a dramatic 45-yard Dan Kelly field goal — of ending the Warriors' run to the Bowl Championship Series.

Sure enough, as fate — and the schedule — would have it, both teams need a victory at Aloha Stadium in a game that only one of them can win.

With UH at 3-4 and the Wolf Pack 4-3, for the loser it is, very possibly, a bowl elimination game.

Thanks to a 13-game schedule, UH's bottom line requires four victories in its final six games, to be bowl eligible and lock up a place in the Hawai'i Bowl. Considering the overhaul UH has undergone since the Sugar Bowl and the schedule it has taken on, just getting back to the postseason would be a successful campaign.

Standing in the way is a Wolf Pack team that figures to be the toughest home game the Warriors face until the Dec. 6 regular season finale with Cincinnati. The Bearcats (5-1) could, by then, be the Big East champion.

The Warriors, at least, have the advantage of knowing what their "magic" number is, which is more than can be said for the Wolf Pack. If Nevada wins two of its remaining five games, it will be 6-6 and, because it plays a 12-game regular season, be eligible for postseason with an asterisk. The Wolf Pack would be eligible provided the WAC can't otherwise fulfill its contracted bowl obligations or an at-large position opens up.

But with just three guaranteed bowls and the likelihood of at least four bowl-eligible teams in the WAC, the Wolf Pack can do itself a huge favor by getting to seven wins. Especially since Nevada's poor track record delivering fans to the New Mexico and Hawai'i Bowls doesn't help.

With three of its last five games on the road and a stretch run including Fresno State, San Jose State, Boise State and Louisiana Tech, the Wolf Pack need one heck of a finishing kick. For the Wolf Pack, it either starts here or they best begin planning the end-of-the-year banquet.

For the Warriors, who have back-to-back road games coming up, postseason preservation suggests they need this one. Badly. Ending Nevada's bowl hopes in the process wouldn't be a bad bonus.

Reach Ferd Lewis at flewis@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8044.