UW vs. UCLA preview

What to expect: Not a lot of offense. UCLA ranks eighth in the Pac-10 in both total offense and scoring offense, and UW is ninth in both categories. The difference is in defense: UCLA is allowing 103 yards per game fewer than the Huskies and has been particularly stingy against the pass, ranking 19th in the country. UW threw some tricks at ASU last week, and expect some more this week as the Huskies look for anything to jump-start the offense. UW may also try to be more aggressive than usual on defense with UCLA having allowed 27 sacks.

Notes: Game marks the return of former UW coach Rick Neuheisel. The last time UW played a team coached by a former UW coach was 1975 when the Huskies hosted Texas. Darrell Royal, who was UW's coach in 1956, was head man for the Longhorns then. This will be the 14th time UW has faced a former coach. Nine of those came from 1935-44, when UW annually faced Cal, coached by Leonard Allison, who was UW's coach in 1920. UW is 6-6-1 against former coaches. UCLA has won nine of the past 11 against the Huskies, but UW won the last time the two met in Seattle, a 29-19 victory in 2006. In that game, UW rallied from an early 16-0 deficit.

Injuries: UW — G Casey Bulyca (knee), RB Chris Polk (shoulder), QB Jake Locker (broken thumb), S Darin Harris (concussion), CB Byron Davenport (knee), RB David Freeman (ankles), DE Kalani Aldrich (back), RB Brandon Yakaboski (knee), S Victor Aiyewa (groin) out; WR Jordan Polk (concussion) questionable; CB Mesphin Forrester (knee) probable.

UCLA — G Sonny Tevaga (personal reasons), LB Kyle Bosworth (knee), TE Logan Paulsen (foot), QB Patrick Cowan (knee), FB Trevor Theriot (knee), DE Tom Blake (abdominal strain), DE Chinonso Anyanwu (stomach) out; QB Ben Olson (ankle) doubtful; WR Nelson Rosario (ankle) questionable.

Prediction: UCLA isn't a lot better than Huskies, but the Bruins have more talent overall, especially on defense. UCLA 23, UW 14.

Bob Condotta

TV: FSN. Radio: KJR-AM 950

The line: UCLA by 7