California @ Washington State preview

Last Meeting ( Nov 5, 2011 ) Washington State 7, California 30

California continued its dominance against UCLA at home last week, beating the Bruins for the seventh straight time at Berkeley. The Bears hit the road Saturday for a Pac-12 Conference game at Washington State facing a Cougar team they've beaten seven straight times. The Cougars have lost 10 of their last 11 Pac-12 games. Ranked near the bottom of the NCAA in total defense, it was Mike Leach's Air Raid Offense which was the culprit for Washington State in last week's 19-6 loss at Oregon State. It was the second time this season the Cougars have been held without a touchdown.

TV: 10:30 p.m. ET, Pac-12 Network. LINE: Cal -7.5

ABOUT CALIFORNIA (2-4, 1-2 Pac-12): Cal has played the second-most dificult schedule in the nation according to the Sagarin ratings. The past four of its opponents have received votes in the national poll. Cal upset UCLA last week picking off freshman quarterback Brett Hundley four times and turning six UCLA turnovers into 31 points. Zach Maynard passed for a career-high four scores against the Bruins. In each of Cal's four losses this season the Bears have been within one score in the fourth quarter. They've lost to heavyweights Ohio State, UCLA, Arizona State and Nevada, but they've won at Pullman three straight times.

ABOUT WASHINGTON STATE (2-4, 0-3 Pac-12): The Cougars are ranked 104th in the NCAA in total defense getting gashed for more than 300 passing yards oer game this season. Washington State's quarterback duo of Jeff Tuel and Connor Halliday were picked off four times last week and the Cougars only had 20 yards rushing, which sealed their fate in the loss at Oregon State. Leach said Halliday will start Saturday but he's been giving both signal-callers an opportunity to run his struggling high-octane offense. The Cougars have lost three straight after back-to-back non-conference victories over UNLV and Eastern Washington. Washington State hopes homefield advantage will be the difference versus Cal. The Cougars trailed No. 2 Oregon only 23-19 at the half earlier in the season at Pullman before falling apart in the second half.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Cal routed Washington State 30-7 last season despite an injury to Maynard in the first half.

2. Washington State has not been to a bowl game since 2003.

3. The Cougars are off next week before facing Stanford.

Prediction: California 28, Washington State 14