Bruins not quite out of control

The lyrics are the same. It’s just that the gusto in the voice is gone.

For weeks, UCLA football players have marched in step to a glass-is-half-full song.

Losses to Utah and Notre Dame? Nonconference speed bumps that left the Bruins humming a happy “we’re undefeated in the Pacific 10 Conference” tune.

Losses to Washington State and Arizona? The Bruins could still belt out a “we still control our own destiny” chorus.

Now, even that act could get canceled today against Arizona State at the Rose Bowl.

UCLA (5-4 overall, 4-2 in the Pac-10) comes into the game with high hopes even after losing consecutive conference games. It’s possible the Bruins can still salvage their season, go to the Rose Bowl, and ensure Coach Karl Dorrell keeps his job.

But that bubble would burst with a loss to Arizona State (8-1, 5-1).

“We would be in the same position if we were 9-0,” wide receiver Brandon Breazell said. “We’d need to win these games [to win the conference]. It is fortunate we have this opportunity and I’m thankful for it. Now all we got to do is go out there and compete for it.”

Injuries make that a problem.

The Bruins are down to a quarterback who started the season as a wide receiver and, at best, a third-string tailback. They will play today without at least seven players who have started at least two games this season.

Yet things were not humming along even before the injury epidemic hit. The Bruins were almost giddy with anticipation when they entered the season. The enthusiasm took a hit in Salt Lake City, where the only injury problems belonged to Utah and yet the Utes still crushed the Bruins, 44-6.

That became more than just a glitch in the Bruins’ program after losses to Notre Dame, Washington State and Arizona.

Still, the Bruins can rightly claim that all will be forgotten, maybe even forgiven, if they win three games.

“We’ve had our problems this year, no doubt about that,” defensive end Bruce Davis said. “To still be in contention to win this conference is great, and we’re going to do everything we can to do so.”

It will take victories over ninth-ranked Arizona State, third-ranked Oregon and No. 12 USC.

“I’m not looking down the line at the last two games, I’m looking forward to coming out and competing against ASU,” strong safety Chris Horton said.

“Fortunately for us,” he added, “everything is where it was two weeks ago.”

Even Arizona State does not have a clear path to the Rose Bowl. The Sun Devils have only one loss, but it came last week against Oregon, which is also 5-1 in conference play. That left the Sun Devils needing someone to beat the Ducks.

Coach Dennis Erickson’s team was projected to finish in the middle of the conference, but quarterback Rudy Carpenter has taken the Sun Devils from being unranked when the season began to the top 10.

Carpenter has thrown for 2,328 yards and 19 touchdowns. His 156.5 pass efficiency rating is ninth nationally.

The offense averages 434 yards a game and the defense is tied for 12th nationally, giving up 17.8 points a game.

Yet, questions hover after the 35-23 loss to Oregon last Saturday in which Carpenter was sacked nine times.

The Sun Devils have given up 37 sacks. Only Notre Dame (43), Iowa (39) and Stanford (38) have given up more this season.

Arizona State’s defense also gave up 400 total yards -- 200 rushing, 200 passing -- in the Oregon loss.

“You just don’t know how teams will react to the first loss,” Erickson said. “Some play pretty well, some don’t.

“We’re in a situation where we have an opportunity in front of us. To me, that makes it quite a bit easier.

“If this was the end of the season and we didn’t have a chance to do anything positive, that would be one thing. But this team has a lot to play for.”

Much the same came from UCLA’s Dorrell, who pointed out, “We still have a lot to play for and it is still on the table.”

Running that table will take some above-and-beyond work from players who have had responsibility heaped on them because of injuries.

Sophomore Osaar Rasshan, a quarterback who was converted to receiver and now back, made his debut calling signals in the second half of UCLA’s 34-27 loss to Arizona last Saturday.

The best-case scenario for tailback Chris Markey would have him getting a few carries if his injured toe and ankle allow it. But Dorrell is expecting Chane Moline, Christian Ramirez and Craig Sheppard to handle most of the running game.

Moline was third string when the season began; Ramirez was a defensive back before switching in August; and Sheppard is a non-scholarship player.

“Fortunately we have a chance to still win,” defensive tackle Kevin Brown said. “Fortunately we’re still in the race. . . . We’re fortunate to be in this situation.”

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chris.foster@latimes.com

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UCLA vs.

Arizona State

Today at the Rose Bowl,

12:30 p.m., Ch. 7