NCAA Football Preview (Washington St-UCLA)
Posted: Tues September 29, 1998 at 6:42 p.m. EDT
Washington St (3-1) at UCLA (2-0) 3:30 pm EDT
LOS ANGELES (Ticker) -- After having last weekend's game
canceled due to Hurricane Georges, UCLA opens the
Pac-10 Conference season against the team it tied with for the
title last season, Washington State.
The Bruins (4-0, 0-0 Pac-10) were to play Miami in Florida on
Saturday, but had the game canceled. If the game is not made
up, how the loss factors into UCLA's chance for the Pac-10 or
national titles is still uncertain.
UCLA leads the all-time series, 33-12-1, but the Cougars (3-1,
0-1) have won three of the last four. Included is last year's
37-34 Washington State victory in Pullman on August 30th, a game
that influenced much of the national title picture. The Cougars
stopped Jermaine Lewis on a 4th-and-goal from the 1 in the final
minute to record a victory that propelled them to the Rose Bowl.
The Bruins also lost their next game to Tennessee but have won a
school-record 12 straight games since.
This game presents an interesting matchup between the explosive
passing game of UCLA, led by Heisman Trophy candidate Cade
McNown, and Washington State's pass defense, which ranks fourth
in the country.
McNown, who has thrown for 654 yards in two games, can look
downfield for Danny Farmer and Brian Poli-Dixon, or dump the
ball off to Lewis. But Dee Moronkola and Chris Martin are an
excellent set of cornerbacks and free safety Lamont Thompson's
four interceptions are tied for most in the nation.
With Ryan Leaf in the NFL and a number of star wideouts gone,
the Cougars have relied on their running game to get off to the
quick start. DeJuan Gilmore and Kevin Brown have all but split
the duty and combined for close to 500 yards. But that yardage
came against inferior competition -- Illinois, Boise State and
Idaho are the three victories -- and UCLA should prevent a major
test.
UCLA is average at best against the run, so the Cougars could
stay in the game if they are able to control the clock.
© 1998 Sportsticker Enterprises, LP
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