They’re Expecting a Real Cold Snap

The forecast for today’s UCLA-Washington State game calls for a 20% chance of precipitation with a high of 46 degrees and a low of 29, hardly conditions most Bruins are accustomed to.

But even though he played at Newhall Hart High, which certainly is not noted for its “frozen tundra,” UCLA quarterback Matt Moore has some experience playing in the snow.

When he was 10, Moore’s youth league team reached the Pop Warner Super Bowl and played in six inches of snow at Tehachapi.

“I played quarterback, and I probably only threw 10 passes in the game,” Moore said. “But we won.”

UCLA has not won at Washington State since 1993, when a 12th-ranked Bruin team defeated the Cougars, 40-27. Since then, Washington State has beaten UCLA here in 1995 (24-15), 1997 (37-34) and 2001 (20-14), but only the 2001 game was in November. The 1997 game was in August, the ’95 game in September.

“If it’s a dry cold, we should be fine,” Coach Karl Dorrell said. “But if there’s sleet or snow, that could cause some problems. But I think some of our guys are hoping it snows so they can play in the snow.”

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Who says there aren’t some realists among the multitude of blind-faith fans who sign on to college football message boards? This exchange appeared earlier this week on bruinreportonline.com, a UCLA fan Web site:

Boldbruin: I know this sounds crazy. But unless I am missing something, if we can beat [Washington State] and Oregon ... we are in the Rose Bowl.”

Rowbro: What’s your address? The guys in the white coats are on their way.

Boldbruin was assuming USC would win the conference title and play for the national championship in the Sugar Bowl and that the second-place Pac-10 team would go to the Rose Bowl.

But that isn’t necessarily the case. If the Pac-10 runner-up is not among the top 12 teams in the BCS rankings, the Rose Bowl could use an at-large pick to select a team, such as Miami or Florida State, to play the Big Ten champion.

Now, if UCLA could beat Washington State, Oregon and USC ... then those guys in the white coats could accompany the Bruins to the Rose Bowl.

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Washington State quarterback Matt Kegel separated one shoulder and sprained the other earlier this season, and the senior suffered a partial tear of a knee ligament against USC last week. But Kegel has missed only one series all season and is expected to start against UCLA today.

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UCLA senior Dave Ball is one of six finalists for the Ted Hendricks Award, which is given to the nation’s top defensive end.