First look

Time: 3:30 p.m. Saturday. FSN

The records: WSU (2-5, 0-4 Pac-10), UCLA (5-2, 4-0)

Last week: WSU had a bye; UCLA defeated then 10th-ranked California, 30-21.

Last time: WSU won 37-15 in Pasadena, Calif., last season.

The line: UCLA by 6.

What it means for WSU: With five games left, coach Bill Doba has told his team they can “dedicate themselves for the last five weeks and try to make a difference. Make a difference in your life, and make a difference in the lives of the seniors, their memories of Washington State and their football career.” The first chance to build a memory comes Saturday against a team WSU has matched up well with the past few years. The Cougars have won five of the last six meetings between the schools, with the only UCLA win coming in overtime two years ago in Pullman.

What it means for UCLA: The Bruins aren’t playing for respectability. They are playing for a Pac-10 title, as they are tied with Arizona State atop the conference standings. Which is something of a minor miracle considering UCLA has suffered two of the Pac-10’s worst non-conference losses (44-6 at Utah and 20-6 to Notre Dame) and have used three quarterbacks this season. Junior Pat Cowan returned from a knee injury Saturday and he completed 18 of 27 passes for 161 yards and a touchdown – nothing spectacular but more than enough with a rushing attack keyed by Kahlil Bell (142 yards) and a defense that held Cal under 300 yards of total offense.

Key matchup: WSU tackles Vaughn Lesuma and Bobby Byrd vs. UCLA defensive ends Bruce Davis, Tom Blake and Korey Bosworth.

Usual starting right tackle Micah Hannam was knocked out early in the Oregon game with a leg injury. In the second half WSU moved the former-tackle-turned-guard Byrd out to right tackle, a spot he’ll probably play again this week. He’ll have to match up with the Bruins’ defensive ends who share the left side, Blake and Bosworth. Between the two, they’ve combined for four sacks and seven tackles for loss. On the other side Lesuma tries to control Davis, one of the Pac-10’s best with 6.5 sacks. Davis was a second-team All-Pac-10 selection last season. For the Cougars to move the ball, quarterback Alex Brink is going to need some time, a commodity the two tackles must provide.

Vince Grippi