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Cougars (1-4, 0-2) at Bruins (1-3, 0-1) (Saturday, 7:15 p.m. PST, FSN)

GAME TIME:

When Washington State visits Pasadena on Saturday, they will face a task more difficult than simply winning or losing a football game.  They’ll have to figure out why they bothered to make the trip.  Against their four FBS opponents this year, the Cougars have flat-lined, and that’s being kind. They’ve allowed 222 points, including an astounding 126 in two Pac-10 games, generally failing to look even moderately competitive, if only in short stretches.

UCLA, meanwhile, hasn’t capitalized on their opening week victory over Tennessee and were humiliated by Brigham Young and Arizona, but they have not given up.  Despite the fact both reside in the Pac-10’s basement, last week’s games show cellar dwelling isn’t always the same experience for two teams. The Bruins, overmatched and out-talented against #25 Fresno State played with purpose and resilience. And despite the 36-31 loss, UCLA proved they’re not ready to roll over on the 2008 season.  The Cougars, on the other hand, let a virtually quarterback-less Oregon team jump out to a 21 point first quarter lead in Pullman and played dead en route to a 63-14 loss.

WHEN WASHINGTON ST. HAS THE BALL:

Third on the depth chart when the season began, redshirt freshman quarterback Marshall Lobbestael was forced into the line-up after starter Kevin Lopina and backup Gary Rogers were knocked out. He saw his first action midway through the Cougars 48-9 win over mighty Portland State and started against the Ducks.  Two weeks ago, he was 9 of 12 passing in the second half with two touchdowns, but the Ducks overwhelmed him, forcing a fumble and intercepting two passes.

UCLA’s defense should be more than capable of taking advantage of Lobbestael’s inexperience, too. Against the Ducks, the youngster engineered only three drives longer than six plays, one coming with fewer than five minutes remaining in a 56 point game. Like Oregon, UCLA has a fast, disruptive defense that plays with aggression.  Lobbestael will not be helped much by Washington State’s ground game, either. Running back Dwight Tardy is averaging 3.8 yards per rush on 66 carries and the offensive line starts only one senior, Vaughn Lesuma, who is questionable for Saturday’s game.  Not that WSU will find a sympathetic ear among Bruins fans.

The most viable option for the Cougars offensively may be to throw the ball to receiver Brandon Gibson every chance they get. Gibson, in the top three in the Pac-10 in most significant receiving categories, is the most NFL-ready player on the Cougars’ roster, with good speed, decent size (6′1″) and exceptional hands.

On most down and distances, the Cougars use three receiver sets with Lobbestael under center. Tight end Devin Frischknecht is the team’s second leading receiver and should see plenty of action against a UCLA secondary that has had trouble defending Brian Pitta, Rob Gronkowski and Bear Pascoe in the last three weeks. Starting receiver Daniel Blackledge is likely out with a shoulder injury, and will be replaced by freshman Kevin Norrell.

Corner Alterraun Verner will draw Gibson, which should be the night’s most exciting duel. Verner gives up two inches, but his long arms should allow him to jar the All-Conference receiver at the line.  If Verner can control Gibson, the defensive line may go wild. For all of UCLA’s injury issues, the interior tackles have stayed healthy, and Brian Price, Brigham Harwell and Jerzy Siewierski have become one of the best three-man rotations west of the Rockies.

Linebacker Reggie Carter leads the Bruins with more than 30 tackles this season. Korey Bosworth dominated the Cougars last year, with 19 total stops.

WHEN UCLA HAS THE BALL:

Until they rumbled through the Fresno State defense, the Bruins were one of the weakest rushing teams in the nation. The return of senior Kahlil Bell, coupled with 86 yards from freshman Derrick Coleman, helped UCLA run up 234 yards on the Bulldogs, the most since they ran for 333 against Washington a year ago. Head coach Rick Neuheisel says that success running the ball will be vital again this week.

Quarterback Kevin Craft is playing his role of game manager reasonably well, and as promised he took a few more shots downfield against Fresno State than he had in previous weeks. He hasn’t thrown an interception in more than eight quarters, and if the running game can continue to add balance to the offense Craft will only get better.

Assisting in Craft’s development is the emergence of game-breaker Terrence Austin (right). Last week, he accounted for a UCLA record 298 all-purpose yards, not including a 100-yard return of the opening kickoff that was negated by a holding penalty. While most of Austin’s yardage came on special teams, he’s still capable of taking intermediate throws from Craft and turning them into big gains.

And to further entice Austin and the Bruins, the Cougars defense is susceptible to the big play. In their first three losses they allowed six offensive touchdowns longer than 40 yards and one kick return to Oklahoma State’s Perrish Cox. Against the Ducks, however, it was more like jamming a refrigerator’s worth of food down the garbage disposal. Oregon rushed for 346 yards on 53 carries.

Senior middle linebacker Greg Trent and junior end Andy Mattingly are playmakers for the Cougars. Expect to see Trent involved in nearly every play. The 2007 All-Conference Honorable Mention has 33 tackles (four for a loss), one interception and one sack.

As for UCLA’s injury situation, Marcus Everett is still doubtful as he recovers from a dislocated toe; freshman receiver Taylor Embree will start in his place. Backup tight end Cory Harkey, a nice blend of size (6′5″) and agility, is slightly banged up, but could factor in the Bruins attack when they go double tight. And center Micah Reed, out with a strained medial collateral ligament, will miss his second straight game.

According to the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, the Cougars could give up 44 points and 268 rushing yards to the Bruins and it would be considered an improvement.

THREE TO WATCH:

Washington St.

1. Gibson, WR #4. He’s arguably the best receiver in the Pac-10. Through five games he leads the conference in receptions (30) and is second in yards (398).
2. Lobbestael, QB #8. The redshirt freshman wasn’t supposed to see the field this year. Now he’s faced with commanding one of the most inept offenses in college football.
3. Trent, LB #52. He’s the team’s top tackler, and will be asked to keep up with Bell, Coleman and the suddenly formidable Bruins rushing game.

UCLA

1. Austin, WR #4. The Cougars will likely have as much trouble stopping him as the Bulldogs. Through their first five games, Washington St. has allowed 25.1 yards per kick off return.
2. Verner, CB #1. His one-on-one match-up with Gibson will be one of the few things worth watching.
3. Jeff Baca, OT #60. He replaced the injured Micah Kia at halftime against Arizona and has impressed the coaching staff since. Offensive line coach Bob Palcic told the Daily News that he loves Baca’s work ethic and attitude.

IT’S A WRAP:

The woefulness of this match-up is not to be underestimated. The Cougars and Bruins each rank lower than 100 out of 120 FBS teams in at least 10 major statistical categories. Worse yet, Washington St. has lost by an average of 41 points per game, while UCLA loses by the paltry margin of 32 ppg.

The biggest indicator of how far the Cougars have fallen?  UCLA, who some worry can’t score 16 points in a game, are early 16 1/2 point favorites.

UCLA is 17-5 in Pasadena in the last three-plus seasons, but are 4-10 overall against Washington St. since 1991. They lost 27-7 in Pullman last season. Click here for a comprehensive, 25-page press release from Washington State’s media relations department.

I’m not gonna tell you how to spend your Saturday, but don’t expect gridiron art in this one, and don’t say I didn’t warn you.

PREDICTION:

UCLA may not run up the score quite like Cal and Oregon did, but it still won’t be close.

Bruins 45, Cougars 14.

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