| When the Cougars run: Since the Pac-10 season began, WSU has rushed 107 times and is averaging only 70 yards a game – and that was with a healthy offensive line. The Bruins are yielding 2.7 yards a carry in conference games. EDGE: UCLA |
| When the Cougars pass: If the Bruins have a defensive weakness, it’s giving up the deep ball. Protect the passer and WSU, the Pac-10’s leading passing offense, will be able to exploit a Bruins secondary that yields 10.6 yards a completion. EDGE: WSU |
| When the Bruins run: Despite the gaudy numbers (third in the Pac-10 Conference at 181 yards a game), UCLA hasn’t moved the ball well on the ground since the Washington game, and everyone has run the ball on the Huskies. Still, Washington State has struggled stopping the running game, ranking ninth in the Pac-10. EDGE: UCLA |
| When the Bruins pass: If UCLA can keep its quarterback upright, the opportunity is going to be there to exploit a defense that has yielded six more scoring passes than any other Pac-10 team. But if Washington State’s pressure makes for poor decision-making, as it did in the Arizona State game, the Cougars are likely to force an interception or two. EDGE: UCLA |
| Coaching/intangibles: There has to be a reason WSU has won five of the past six games with UCLA and it doesn’t have to do with talent. The matchup of schemes between the two seems to favor the Cougars, as does the noise and cold of Martin Stadium. EDGE: WSU |
| Air quality: You think having to breathe surrounded by August’s field burning and October’s wood stoves is bad, try living with summer-time LA smog and fall wildfire smoke. There is no comparison. EDGE: WSU |
