Both Wyoming and Fresno State held their first and only real big practices prior to Saturday’s New Mexico Bowl here in Albuquerque Thursday.

Fresno State practiced first in the morning, and even though it was sunny it was chilly so the Bulldogs practiced inside the University of New Mexico’s indoor facility. I think it was colder in there than outside. New Mexico’s facility isn’t heated. It draws heat from the sun and then the air circulates from there. I hear it’s pretty expensive to heat and cool such facilities that are so big.

Anyway, media was not allowed to watch the main portion of Fresno State’s practice so nothing significant to report from there.

Wyoming practiced after that in nearly perfect conditions outside. The fields were a bit wet and slick, but coach Dave Christensen seemed pleased with the session, which lasted about 90 minutes.

UW players seem ready, and more and more I get the impression that Fresno State doesn’t think Wyoming can hang with it in this game. Players are not saying that outright, but that’s the feel and even UW players are feeling it.

“I sense that a little bit. I sensed that a little bit (Wednesday) night and it made me want to win even more,” senior center Russ Arnold said. “We’ve dealt with that all year, and like coach (Dave Christensen) said at the start of the year if you want that you have to go out and earn it.”

The odd-makers think so, too, as UW remains an 11-point underdog.

Both teams had another dinner/function during Thursday night at the Santa Ana Star Resort. They had a Family Feud game show-like competition and a bowling contest. UW won both so in terms of the score in the off-the-field events among the two teams the score is tied at 2-2.

Friday will feature a press conference and luncheon with both players and select players. Also, there is a lot of UW functions, including a big fan rally at Coaches Sports Bar here. UW radio voices Dave Walsh and Kevin McKinney hosted a show there Thursday night and if that was any indication, Friday’s event will be epic.

See Friday’s paper for more on the game, and be sure to check out the live blog of Saturday’s game beginning at about 1:30 p.m. The link is http://wyomingcowboysblog.com/2009/12/15/wyoming-vs-fresno-state-live-blog/