A couple of San Diego State Aztecs wondered out loud Saturday night what the chances were they could wind up back in Aloha Stadium on Christmas Eve in the Hawaii Bowl?

Nor are the Aztecs alone in pondering what is no doubt becoming a popular question these days, the Hawaii Bowl what-ifs.

The next three teams on the University of Hawaii’s schedule — Nevada-Las Vegas, Fresno State and Utah State — have reasons to cast covetous glances at that Dec. 24 date on the calendar.

All, as with the Rainbow Warriors, are still — mathematically, at least — in the hunt for bowl eligibility. And, like the Aztecs, who took care of business 28-7 Saturday, they can advance their chances twofold by beating UH, the bowl game’s nominal “home” team.

Where foes might have earlier looked at UH solely as an opportunity to fatten up the win column for bowl eligibility in general, now they also see the added opportunity to land in paradise for the postseason in particular.

Where would you see the bigger reward for a season’s labors — Honolulu, where the average Dec. 24 temperature range is 67-81 degrees, or the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl in Boise, Idaho, where it is 23-36 degrees on Dec. 22?

On one hand they can assure an opening in the Hawaii Bowl by inflicting defeats that would render the ’Bows, currently 3-5, ineligible for the postseason with seven losses. While, on the other, they can simultaneously enhance their own chances of being the Mountain West Conference’s replacement representative.

Unlike last year, when UH played a 13-game schedule and, at 6-7, took advantage of a dispensation intended for teams that played 13 games because of conference title games, the ’Bows have but 12 and though 5-7 teams have earned bowl berths before, that situation is much more rare.

Then, there is the Mountain West bowl picture having taken on more of a musical chairs proposition now that the Poinsettia Bowl has closed its gates. The San Diego-based bowl game earlier this year announced an end to its 12-year run, leaving the MWC with just five guaranteed postseason slots.

While the Aztecs, who appeared in two of the last five Poinsettia Bowls, are the most heavily impacted, the ripples are felt throughout the conference.

Last year the MWC, which placed seven members in bowls, was helped out by the Pac-12 and Big 12 not being able to fill their contracted slots. But they may not be able to count on such largess this time around.

Which is why SDSU coach Rocky Long had been preaching the urgency of the Aztecs rebounding against UH to get beyond the six-win minimum to firmer ground at seven.

Three teams — San Diego State (7-2), Boise State (6-2) and Colorado State (6-3) — are already bowl eligible, and six others — Fresno State (5-3), Wyoming (5-3), Air Force (4-4), Utah State (4-5), UNLV (3-5) and UH — entertain various shades of possibility.

Be assured that ESPN Events, the elephant in the bowl industry and owner and operator of the Hawaii Bowl, will make sure the ’Bows find their way to Aloha Stadium, if bowl eligible.

Even a turnout of 17,268, like Saturday night’s rain-deterred gathering, is much preferable to the meager following of anybody else it can get from the MWC or the American Athletic Conference, its anchor conferences this year.

But, at this point, UH’s availability is a huge “if” and it is squarely on the shoulder pads on the ’Bows.

Meanwhile, they are solidly in the sights of opponents with envious designs on the home locker room at Aloha Stadium come Christmas Eve.

Reach Ferd Lewis at flewis@staradvertiser.com or 529-4820.