Snow, Slush and Cougars Await Trojans : College football: It could be tough sledding in Pullman, where Rose Bowl hopes might be decided by the weather.

USC and Washington State meet in a football game crucial to the Rose Bowl race today, but forecasters are predicting weather more suitable for the Iditarod.

Snow fell all day Friday in eastern Washington, and the prediction was for slightly warmer weather today, with a 60% chance of morning snow turning to rain in the afternoon.

Whatever, John Robinson will send his Trojans onto the artificial turf of Washington State’s 40,000-seat Martin Stadium, no doubt following a pregame message that they can forget about Pasadena should they fail today.

It’s a matchup of half the Pac-10 teams currently with 4-1 records, with three to play. Another 4-1 team, Arizona, plays Cal today and the fourth, Oregon, plays Arizona State.

USC, 5-2 overall and winner of three in a row, has Arizona at home next Saturday and UCLA at the Rose Bowl Nov. 19. Robinson’s team needs them all, and also needs some team to knock off Oregon, to reach the Rose Bowl game.

Washington State, 6-2 overall, has won two in a row and plays at Oregon State next Saturday, then finishes at home Nov. 19 against Washington.

USC’s challenge today is a defense that leads the nation in run defense, giving up 58 yards a game, and scoring defense, giving up 10.4 points. The Cougars’ senior-dominated defense has given up a conference-leading 108 first downs and 22 third-down conversions, also best in the Pac-10.

Washington State is six points away from being an 8-0 team. The Cougars’ two losses were to Tennessee, 10-9, and Arizona, 10-7.

USC’s two losses were to Penn State, 38-14, and Oregon, 22-7.

The Cougar defense is no surprise to Coach Mike Price.

“We expected this to be an outstanding defense, and it has surpassed my expectations,” he said.

“Last year, we were very, very good (on defense) and this year we’re better.”

USC’s defense gives up far more yards than does Washington State’s--406 a game, compared to WSU’s 216--but the Trojans, too, make big plays. In fact, Robinson’s team leads the nation in average turnover margin, plus-1.9.

USC, after collecting only 26 turnovers all last season, has 19 this year--11 interceptions and eight fumble recoveries--and has fumbled only six times itself, and not once in its last 15quarters.

But in sloppy weather, of course, all bets are off.

Robinson has his most potent weapon back for today’s game, quarterback Rob Johnson.

Sidelined for the equivalent of three games with an ankle sprain, the senior quarterback has healed sufficiently to start today. Psychologically, Johnson’s presence has to at least unnerve Washington State’s veteran defense.

The Cougars came to the Coliseum a year ago with another vaunted defense and Johnson and receiver Johnnie Morton cut it to pieces in a 34-3 victory. Johnson passed for a career-high 392 yards.

Today, a major concern for USC is depth at guard. Protecting Johnson against two outstanding Washington State defensive tackles, Don Sasa and Chad Eaton, will be Kris Pollack and Kyle Ramsay.

If either of those two can’t finish, position-switching would be required. USC became thin at guard when starters Phalen Pounds and Chris Brymer were injured.

Filling in for left guard Brymer, who has a sprained ankle, will be Andre Abrams.

Defensive end Marcus Bonds, like Brymer, didn’t make the trip. He also has an ankle sprain and will be replaced by Willie Lowery. Donn Cunnigan will start at inside linebacker over Errick Herrin, who has a thigh bruise.

* GAMES TO WATCH: C9

USC TROJANS TODAY’S GAME

* Opponent: Washington State Cougars.

* Site: Martin Stadium, Pullman, Wash.

* Time: 12:30 p.m.

* Records: USC 5-2, 4-1 in Pac-10; Washington State 6-2, 4-1.

* Radio: KNX (1070).

* TV: Channel 7.