| When the Cougars run: The Wildcats have limited their opponents to 110 yards a game on the ground, but those statistics are misleading. Arizona was pushed around last week by Cal, the first decent rushing team it’s played, giving up 186 yards on 38 carries. The Cougars have run on everyone, including USC, though a fumbled punt snap and a sack hurt their total. EDGE: WSU |
| When the Cougars pass: Arizona’s defense has been cut up by the pass, with opponents completing 61 percent of their throws. Now Alex Brink (completing 69.5 percent of his passes) and the Cougars’ pass offense come to town averaging 282.5 yards per game. EDGE: WSU |
| When the Wildcats run: The question should be if the Wildcats run. In the three games against Division 1-A schools, Arizona has averaged just 20 rushes per game – for just more than 30 yards a game. Washington State has yielded some yardage, including more than 200 last week, but has faced much better rushing attacks than UA. EDGE: WSU |
| When the Wildcats pass: This might be the most potent passing offense the Cougars have faced, keyed by the play of quarterback Willie Tuitama. He leads the Pac-10 with 313.5 yards a game. He’s also thrown for 10 touchdowns. The Washington State pass defense has struggled, although it may have some surprises for the Wildcats. EDGE: Arizona |
| Coaching/intangibles: When Mike Stoops came over from Oklahoma, he had a reputation as a defensive genius. But that reputation has taken a hit at Arizona, with the Wildcats yet to have a dominating defense or a winning record. The Cougars have gone into Tucson and won the last three times. EDGE: WSU |
| Rose Bowl droughts: The Cougars went 57 years between postseason appearances in Pasadena, a stretch that covered 11 presidents and four wars. The Wildcats’ drought hasn’t been that long, but since they joined the Pac-10 in 1978, it’s been 29 years without a single Rose Bowl appearance. EDGE: WSU |
