USC Running Backs Face Difficult Task : College football: Washington State’s defense has given up an average of only 73.3 yards on the ground this season.

USC Coach John Robinson, whose team begins its Pacific 10 Conference season tonight against Washington State at the Coliseum, tried handicapping the conference race the other day, but failed.

First, he called his team, UCLA’s and Stanford’s confusing. Then he called Arizona a great defensive team, but one that’s not scoring many points. California, he said, was hard to tell.

Then he bailed out, calling the whole thing muddled.

Whatever, his 1-2 team will meet Washington State’s 2-1 Cougars missing two starters and maybe a third. Washington State reports all starters sound and healthy.

USC’s starting offensive guards, senior Joel Crisman and sophomore Kris Pollack, are sidelined because of toe and shoulder injuries, respectively, and Robinson might also have to do without junior kicker Cole Ford, who has been suffering lower back spasms.

It doesn’t sound like a team that had last weekend off, but it’s the price a team pays for running its first-team offense against the first-team defense in practice. Both Pollack and All-American offensive tackle Tony Boselli were hurt an hour apart at Wednesday’s workout, both with shoulder injuries, but Boselli bounced back quickly and will start tonight.

Robinson, after saying he had no idea who should be favored in the Pac-10 race, said Washington State’s run defense gives the Cougars as good a chance as anyone.

Of Washington State’s season-opening 41-14 defeat at Michigan, Robinson said: “With the exception of two plays, Washington State denied Michigan the ability to run the football.”

USC lost its opener to North Carolina, beat Houston, then lost at Penn State two weeks ago, 21-20. Washington State routed Montana State and Oregon State after its defeat at Ann Arbor.

Go figure. Robinson can’t.

“The team that wins the Pac-10 is the one that is going to win the close games, make plays when it counts the most and not screw up games by laying the ball on the ground, or making those stupid errors that cost you so badly in close games,” he said.

“And the team that continually improves throughout the season is the club that will go to the Rose Bowl. It’s not a one- or two-team race, and I don’t see why Washington State shouldn’t be included with everyone else.”

Mike Price, Washington State’s coach, says his quarterback, senior Mike Pattinson, has played well after years of careful eavesdropping. He has taken over for Drew Bledsoe, the NFL’s No. 1 draft pick now playing with the New England Patriots.

“Mike has been standing next to me on the sideline for three years, watching Bledsoe throw, listening to every comment I’ve made and watching film with me,” Price said.

Pattinson, more mobile than the heavy-footed, strong-armed Bledsoe, runs a quick-strike offense that is averaging 39.7 points. Against Oregon State, the Cougars scored on a pass play covering 45 yards and on a 62-yard run.

“We don’t just pick away with 12-play drives very many times with this offense,” Price said.

Robinson’s junior quarterback, Rob Johnson, has completed 68.3% of his passes, compared to 57.1% for Pattinson. Johnson was most impressive at Penn State, where he completed 25 of 43 overall and 12 of 13 during a fourth-quarter rally.

Most impressed of all was his coach.

“My belief in (Johnson) grew immensely,” Robinson said. “He didn’t have a great game, but he never panicked . . . and he almost won the game for us.”

Robinson expects tough times for his tailbacks tonight and next weekend, against Arizona. Freshman David Dotson has only 140 yards in three games.

Washington State is giving up only 73.3 yards rushing per game.

“We really need a game where our tailbacks can run well, but that might not come for a couple of weeks,” Robinson said.

Stopping the run, too, might be a problem. USC ranks ninth in the conference in both rushing offense and rushing defense.

“That is a key issue,” Robinson said. “Can we stop the run without committing enormous numbers of people up there?”

Replacing Crisman and Pollack tonight will be sophomores Jeremy Hogue and Kyle Ramsay.

Also, reserve tailback LaVale Woods and backup cornerback Jesse Davis, both injured since summer training camp, will suit up for the first time.

If Ford, the kicker, can’t play, strong safety Mike Salmon will fill in.