Indications are the Sheraton Hawai'i Bowl might have its choice among as many as three schools to be the Pac-10 representative against the University of Hawai'i on Christmas Eve.

With the Pac-10 having a record eight bowl-eligible teams, the bowl could find itself choosing between UCLA, the loser of Saturday's Arizona-Arizona State game and Washington State for the opportunity to play the now nationally-ranked Warriors at Aloha Stadium.

"It is very likely they are going to have a choice of at least two teams," said Jim Muldoon, associate commissioner of the Pac-10.

Of the three, UCLA would seem to offer the most to the game. The Bruins have the bigger name, more alumni here (1,769), the shortest distance to travel and the biggest television market. UCLA is 6-5 with a Dec. 2 home game against No. 3-ranked Southern California remaining.

An online Advertiser reader poll two weeks ago showed UCLA a three-to-one pick over the other Pac-10 possibilities.

Arizona (6-5) and Arizona State (6-5) meet Saturday. Washington State (6-6) has concluded its regular season.

The Hawai'i Bowl is contracted to receive the sixth choice of Pac-10 teams. And with the conference having eight teams with six victories or more to be bowl eligible, the bowl would stand to have a choice before the remaining teams are matched with unaffiliated bowls.

At this point, according to Pac-10 officials, the most likely scenario sends conference champion USC (9-1) to either the Fiesta or Rose Bowls, depending upon its Bowl Championship Series finish. That would send California (8-3) to the Holiday Bowl and the winner of Oregon (7-4) and Oregon State (7-4) to the Sun Bowl. Either the loser of Oregon-Oregon State or winner of Arizona-Arizona State would go to the Las Vegas Bowl with the other going to the Emerald Bowl.

After the Hawai'i Bowl makes its choice, it is likely the Pac-10 would send a team to the Poinsettia Bowl in San Diego.

Reach Ferd Lewis at flewis@honoluluadvertiser.com.