Bruins, Beavers avoid spotlight

CORVALLIS, Ore. -- There is a big-timber game in Oregon today, with the winning team becoming a clear-cut challenger to USC’s dominance in the Pacific 10 Conference.

Then there is UCLA’s game against Oregon State.

While sixth-ranked California plays 11th-ranked Oregon in Eugene, the Bruins are in Corvallis to face the Beavers, teams pumped up by preseason expectations and deflated by real results.

This is much less the watershed moment it might have been. The Beavers (2-2 overall, 0-1 in conference) were dismantled on national television by Cincinnati, then, last week, blew a 19-0 lead in a loss to Arizona State. The Bruins (3-1, 2-0), who are alone atop the Pac-10 because they have played one more game than eight other conference teams, were prescribed their own dose of reality in Utah two weeks ago.

So, while the spotlight shines elsewhere, the Bruins and Beavers will play out something of a reality show. Call it “Survivor: Northwest.” This is where a loss severely dims conference title hopes and big-bowl dreams -- because both teams still have tough games ahead, namely USC, California, Oregon.

While the sound checks are being done for the Oregon-Cal game, the sound bites this week came through loud and clear from Corvallis and Westwood.

Said Oregon State safety Al Afalava: “Every game must be a must-win.”

Said UCLA linebacker Christian Taylor: “Every game is a championship game. It sounds like a cliché, but it really is, one of nine.”

The pressure Bruins Coach Karl Dorrell seemed to be feeling this week came through when he snapped at media members asking what made Oregon State’s defense -- ranked second nationally against the run -- so tough.

“You wouldn’t understand,” he said, adding, “It’s Football 101.”

The Bruins’ course curriculum was better expressed by quarterback Ben Olson.

“The season is still young, but we need the victory bad,” said Olson, who was held out of UCLA’s victory over Washington last week with concussion-like symptoms. “And we want to go up there and make a statement.”

These teams each made one last season -- handing USC its only losses. That and the fact both were loaded with returning starters led to some lofty early projections.

UCLA, with 20 starters back, was cast as a challenger to USC and reached as high as 11th in the Associated Press poll. Oregon State, which had 15 starters returning from a team that won eight of its last nine games, had a top-25 ranking in two preseason publications.

“In the end, it’s nice to have experience,” Oregon State Coach Mike Riley said, “but it’s a new year and it’s very important that your team realizes that whatever you get has to be earned, and it’s all hard. In a lot of ways, it’s a mind game. How you think is a big deal in how you’re going to act and what your attitude is like. You have to face reality.”

There’s no advanced course in football needed to see why neither team has met expectations.

The UCLA defense hasn’t been as strong as billed and the offense has had a cameo role.

The Beavers beat Utah, but were walloped by undefeated Cincinnati, ranked 24th, and gift wrapped last week’s 44-32 loss to Arizona State.

This from a team that has Yvenson Bernard, the conference’s leading returning rusher, and Sammie Stroughter, its leading returning receiver, as well as four offensive linemen and eight defensive starters back. It makes identifying the hot spot easy: quarterback Sean Canfield.

The Beavers turned ball over six times against Arizona State, five on interceptions. Canfield has six touchdowns and nine interceptions and the Beavers are last among conference teams in pass efficiency.

Still, what’s a coach to do but stand by his man . . . for now.

“I’ve liked his resiliency,” Riley said. “He has come back in and watched the film. Despite the five interceptions, he’s getting better and better. At least we got good plays out of him, and a host of bad decisions. . . . He doesn’t always make the right decision. No quarterback does.”

The Bruins had a quarterback decision made for them. Patrick Cowan guided them to the victory over Washington but left the game because of a partially torn ligament in his right knee. So Olson returns from a fuzzy performance in Utah.

Said Dorrell: “We’re hopeful Ben has a good game for us and we’re going to need him to play well.”

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chris.foster@latimes.com