INSIGHT.COM BOWL

* Site: Arizona Stadium, Tucson.

* Series history: Arizona leads, 42-18-3, and won the last meeting in 1990, 25-10.

* Bowl records: Arizona 3-7-1; New Mexico 2-2-1.

* How they got there: Arizona won its last three games, defeating Arizona State in the season finale for the Wildcats’ critical sixth victory. New Mexico lost to Colorado State in the Western Athletic Conference title game, as the Rams earned the Holiday Bowl berth.

* The game: Here’s why bowl matchups are so meaningful: When attendance could be a problem, pick the home team, even if it has a 6-5 record. Also, when you used to be known as the Copper Bowl, make sure you can get your new sponsor’s name prominently displayed in its initial game. New Mexico ends one of its most successful seasons in school history. This is the Lobos’ first bowl game in 36 years and Dennis Franchione’s last as head of the program he spent six seasons rebuilding. Franchione resigned two weeks ago to take the head coaching job at Texas Christian. Lobo players, however, wanted him to coach them through the bowl game and he agreed. The Wildcats feature the Pac-10’s top defense--giving up 330 yards a game--and the nation’s 12th-best defense against the run (105.8 a game). Arizona also led the Pac-10 with 47 sacks for 320 yards. It’s an imposing problem for a New Mexico offense that relied extensively on the passing and scrambling of Graham Leigh, who accounted for 32 of the team’s 45 touchdowns.

* The line: Arizona by 10.

ARIZONA (6-5)

9 at Oregon: L 16-9

24 Alabama Birmingham: W 24-10

20 at Ohio State: L 28-20

27 at UCLA: L 40-27

31 San Diego State: W 31-28

28 Stanford: W 28-22

28 Washington: L 58-28

34 at Washington State: L 35-34 OT

27 Oregon State: W 27-7

41 California, OT: W 41-38 OT

28 at Arizona State: W 28-16

NEW MEXICO (9-3)

33 Northern Arizona: W 33-10

61 New Mexico State: W 61-24

38 at Texas El Paso: W 38-20

25 at Utah State: W 25-22

22 Southern Methodist: W 22-15

36 at San Diego State: W 36-21

22 Rice: L 35-23

10 at Utah: L 15-10

40 at Texas Christian: W 40-10

38 Brigham Young: W 38-28

51 Tulsa: W 51-13

13 Colorado State: L 41-13