LAS VEGAS -- The Wisconsin Badgers football team arrived in Las Vegas on Friday in advance of its Saturday night matchup against the University of Nevada-Las Vegas.

The game will kick off the Badgers' 122nd season of football.

"I know our guys will be excited and hopefully hit the ground running," said Badgers coach Bret Bielema.

The Badgers have won 12 straight openers and they hold a 6-2 series lead over the Running Rebels.

"Just the culmination of this game and being here in Vegas is nice," said Bielema. "The guys will relax (on Saturday) and we'll go to the stadium and get a little walk-through in the late afternoon or late morning. Then it's game on."

On paper it looks like Wisconsin should be able to control the game with its bolstered running attack. Last season, UNLV gave up an average 220 yards on the ground. It's a statistic that has got to be bringing a smile to the face of the reigning Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year John Clay.

But this UNLV team is different than last year's team and it starts with the coaching staff. Former Montana coach Bobby Hauck starts his first season in Las Vegas, and that change will made a difference when it came to preparing for the Running Rebels.

"There's no film on them. I mean you got Montana film, but you don't really know what you're going to see," Bielema said. "In an opener and if you have a staff that's been there for a while, you at least have film to review."

Bielema said he believes the team will be ready for Saturday. To make sure they didn't get caught up in the glitz and glamour of Las Vegas, the team took a 30-minute bus tour of the city when players arrived and even got the chance to take their pictures by the famous "Welcome to Las Vegas" sign.