On The Run Again

The second half of UCLA's season today with the Bruins hoping to play less like they did in the first half of the season. Stanford has bowl aspirations and still a shot at the Pacific 10 Conference championship. However, the Cardinal has lost five in a row at the Rose Bowl. Times staff writer Chris Foster looks at the issues and key matchups in today's game:

Grounded

UCLA spent the last week trying to shore up its run defense. The Bruins seemed to be thinking they were playing flag football against Oregon last week. The Ducks finished with 323 yards rushing, the most given up by a UCLA defense coached by DeWayne Walker.

The Cardinal has the Pacific 10 Conference's second-best running game, averaging 184 yards a game. Stanford has not lost a game this season in which it has rushed for more than 200 yards.

"This is a power running offense that puts a lot of pressure on the defense," UCLA Coach Rick Neuheisel said. "We've got our hands full."

UCLA defenders had their hands full during last week's game as well, but only momentarily. The Ducks shed tacklers like investors have been shedding bank stock. The Bruins' defense fiddled with personnel this week. Glenn Love will play some at strong safety and Datone Jones will play more at defensive end.

Passing grade

Norm Chow, UCLA's offensive coordinator, has a take-what-they-offer-us philosophy. Of course, Stanford didn't offer Chow its head coaching job in 2005, giving it to Walt Harris instead.

Stanford's defense may be much more accommodating. The Cardinal has given up more than 300 yards passing three times this season. Meanwhile, the Bruins and quarterback Kevin Craft have put on a few aerial shows this season -- the fourth quarter against Tennessee, cameo appearances through the Washington State game, and the second half against Oregon.

This could be a harmonic convergence that pleases UCLA.

Bowl market

This game has significant bowl ramifications for Stanford.

A victory leaves the Cardinal one shy of being bowl eligible. The last bowl game Stanford played in doesn't exist anymore -- the Seattle Bowl, where the Cardinal lost to Georgia Tech, 24-14, in 2001.

The Bruins' bowl chances hover somewhere between those of the Dodgers retaining Manny Ramirez (it's going to take a lot) and Pete Carroll dressing up as Joe Bruin for Halloween (yeah, right).