UCLA FOOTBALL NOTEBOOK: EMERALD BOWL BID PROBABLE.

Byline: BRIAN DOHN Staff Writer

When it comes to name recognition, there may not be a better pre-January bowl matchup than what the Emerald Bowl is close to putting together.

The San Francisco-based bowl is preparing to pit UCLA and Florida State in the Dec. 27 matchup at AT&T Park. The bowl's executive director, Gary Cavalli, said Monday the ``wheels are in motion'' to finalize the game.

``I think it would be tremendous to have that type of matchup,'' Cavalli said. ``You have two of the best brands in college football. You have (Florida State coach) Bobby Bowden, who has the most wins in Division I, and UCLA with their following and the Los Angeles (television) market.''

The matchup apparently has very little to do with the outcome of Saturday's contest between UCLA and USC. Although a win by the Bruins would leave them in fourth place in the Pacific-10 Conference, sources said the Las Vegas Bowl will take Oregon to face BYU, since UCLA played in Las Vegas in 2002 and 2004.

Another hurdle was passed in getting the matchup when the Emerald Bowl committee confirmed Monday it does not have to take a seven-win team, meaning the matchup can happen even if the Bruins (6-5) finish with six wins, Cavalli said.

As long as there is another bowl slot for a seven-win team within the conference tie-ins -- as exists with the Sheraton Hawaii Bowl -- the Emerald Bowl can take a six-win team. That means Arizona State (7-5) is ticketed for Hawaii to face the University of Hawaii, while Arizona (6-6) and Washington State (6-6) likely will be shut out of bowl games, sources said.

Cavalli said UCLA's large alumni base in the Bay Area, its tradition and the ability of fans to drive up from Southern California for the game also factored into the decision to invite the Bruins.

Among the other issues that need to be taken care of is the release of California and Virginia Tech from BCS consideration, which would then allow the Pac-10 and Atlantic Coast Conference to fill out their higher bowl slots.

Even if Cal is released from the BCS and selected for the Holiday Bowl, the Emerald Bowl, which pays out $750,000 to each team, could wait until after the UCLA-USC game to make an announcement.

That would protect the Emerald Bowl in case UCLA is beaten badly by USC, allowing the bowl to select Arizona State, although sources said that was a longshot to happen. If such a situation developed, the Hawaii Bowl would take UCLA, sources added.

QB update: UCLA coach Karl Dorrell said he wants to make sure Ben Olson, who missed the past six games because of a knee injury, is ``mentally ready to play'' before announcing his starting quarterback.

Dorrell has said Olson will be the starter when ready. Olson and backup Patrick Cowan split the reps in Monday's practice.

``He's moving around pretty well, but it's more how fast he can process,'' Dorrell said. ``That's the biggest thing. It's not really, to me, the physical part. It's him being able to manage what we're trying to get done.''

Olson looked sharp in practice and said he is ready to play.

``I'm physically ready, I'm mentally ready, I'm psychologically ready,'' Olson said. ``I'm not the one that determines if I'm ready. I feel that I am.''

Injury update: The Bruins will be without defensive lineman Kenneth Lombard, who sprained his left knee during practice last week. Lombard, who was used as a tackle and end, said it has not been determined whether surgery is needed.

Dorrell said strong-side linebacker Aaron Whittingon, slowed by an ankle injury, could regain his starting job with a strong week of practice. John Hale started the past two games.

Pac-10 honors: Bruins defensive end Justin Hickman and placekicker Justin Medlock were named to the all-conference first team. Defensive end Bruce Davis and strong safety Chris Horton were named to the second team.