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FACTS & STATS: Site: Rose Bowl Stadium (91,136) -- Pasadena, California. Television: FSN. Home Record: WSU 2-0, UCLA 1-1. Away Record: WSU 1-1, UCLA 1-2. Neutral Record: WSU 0-0, UCLA 0-0. Conference Record: WSU 1-0, UCLA 1-1. Series Record: UCLA leads, 38-18-1.

GAME NOTES: The Washington State Cougars will try to build on a solid start to the season as they visit the Rose Bowl for a Pac-12 Conference bout with the UCLA Bruins.

Washington State has won three of its first four games, including a 31-27 decisions at Colorado last weekend in its league opener. In that game, the Cougars needed two touchdowns in the final two and a half minutes to notch just their second road win in four years under head coach Paul Wulff. In any case, WSU is off to a 3-1 start for the first time since 2006.

After winning their Pac-12 opener at Oregon State two weeks ago, the Bruins were dealt a 45-19 loss at No. 7 Stanford last Saturday. Now back in Pasadena for three of their next four contests, the Bruins are hoping to build some momentum entering the meat of their schedule. UCLA has not won or lost consecutive games so far this year.

UCLA head coach Rick Neuheisel has never lost to Washington State, and the Bruins are 38-18-1 all-time against the Cougars.

Washington State can score some points in a hurry, as the team enters this tilt ranked ninth nationally in total offense (518.5 ypg) and 10th in scoring (44.5 ppg). The Cougars boast the nation's fourth-ranked passing offense with an average of 379 yards per game through the air. Marshall Lobbestael is completing 63.4 percent of his passes and has thrown 13 touchdowns against only three interceptions. But against Colorado, he saved his best for last, pulling the Cougars to within three points after a seven-play, 77-yard drive, capped by a 19-yard touchdown pass to Isiah Barton with 2:35 remaining. The Cougars got the ball back with 1:50 to play, and Lobbestael answered with a go-ahead 63-yard touchdown bomb to Marquess Wilson to polish off a 90-yard drive that took only 40 seconds. The 90-yard drive marked WSU's longest scoring drive of the season. Earlier in the game, the offense went on a 15- play, 81-yard touchdown drive that lasted 6:44, its longest scoring drive of the season in both time and plays. Whether it's with big plays or methodical gains, the Cougars have proven they are able to move the ball down the field at any time.

After WSU's final touchdown, Colorado got the ball back with some time on the clock and a chance to win the game. However, Cougars' cornerback Damante Horton stripped receiver Paul Richardson after a 23-yard gain, and linebacker C.J. Mizell recovered it at the WSU 39 with just under a minute remaining to seal the win. While the defense was a bit too generous throughout the game, the Cougars came up with big stops when they needed them most. The defense came up with a big three-and-out to get the ball back to Lobbestael and the offense with less than two minutes to play, and Lobbestael took care of the rest. Senior linebacker Alex Hoffman-Ellis recorded a game-high 14 tackles and two sacks. However, if the Cougars are to shut down UCLA on the road, they'll need a better effort against both the run and pass. Buffs' quarterback Tyler Hansen completed 15-of-23 passes for 175 yards and two TDs, while Rodney Stewart gashed the WSU defense for 132 yards and a touchdown on the ground.

UCLA likes to try and control the tempo with its running game, but that wasn't much of an option last week against Heisman hopeful quarterback Andrew Luck and Stanford's high-powered offense. The Bruins trailed 31-13 late in the third quarter, and the ground game had to take a back seat as Johnathan Franklin finished with 96 yards on just 12 carries. Under different circumstances, Franklin ideally would have touched the ball a lot more in the second half behind a rushing attack that ranks second in the conference with an average of just under 200 yards per game. Quarterback Richard Brehaut had a solid outing, completing 18-of-33 passes for 202 yards and two TDs. However, it was not enough to overcome a ranked opponent on the road. On the season, Brehaut is completing only 55.4 percent of his passes for an average of 181.4 yards per tilt. He has flashed solid decision-making as he has yet to throw an interception. But against Stanford, the Bruins' ball-control offense simply did not light up the scoreboard often enough.

The Bruins' offensive style also plays into its defense, which has shown a tendency to struggle the more snaps it is forced to play. Entering this game, UCLA ranks 98th in the nation in total defense (418.2 ypg) and 105th in points allowed (33.6 ppg). Last week, they were thrown another wrinkle when Luck went with a no-huddle offense at times, which caused some confusion and missed assignments. Granted, many collegiate QBs do not regularly orchestrate the hurry-up offense to the same degree. In any case, Luck was almost perfect, completing 23-of-27 passes for 227 yards and three scores, while Stanford's ground game churned out 202 yards (4.9 ypc) and another three TDs. Throughout the season, the defense has struggled to get off the field as opponents are converting 55 percent of third-down opportunities. The Bruins have also allowed a 90 percent success rate in the red zone (19-of-21), with two-thirds of those scores resulting in touchdowns. Expect the UCLA defense to dial up some blitzes and different looks in the red zone to try and limit some of the damage.

Washington State is off to its best start in years, but now comes the real test: can the Cougars win back-to-back conference games on the road? A win here would certainly send a message to the rest of the Pac-12 that the Cougars are for real. Then again, they have not had any luck at the Rose Bowl during the Rick Neuheisel era.

Sports Network Predicted Outcome: UCLA 31, Washington State 26