SportsNetwork: Arizona (1-2) At (12) California (4-0)

By Brian Mason, College Football Staff Writer

GAME NOTES: Coach Jeff Tedford's 12th-ranked California Golden Bears will try to get off to their best start in nearly a decade when they host the Arizona Wildcats this Saturday in Pac-10 Conference action from Memorial Stadium. Mike Stoops' Wildcats are just 1-2 coming into this contest, but their two setbacks have come by a combined 10 points. They opened the year with a 27-24 loss to Utah on the road and nearly pulled off a major upset two weeks ago, falling to then 12th-ranked Purdue, 31-24, in Tucson. Stoops is now just 4-10 at the helm for the Wildcats, who are going to have to battle top-ranked USC next weekend in Southern California. As for the Bears, they have won their first four contests including a 41-13 trouncing of New Mexico State last week on the road. This is the first time that Cal is off to a 4-0 start under Tedford and the first time since the 1996 campaign, when current Detroit Lions coach Steve Mariucci was calling the shots in Berkeley. A win today would give the Bears just their fifth 5-0 beginning to a campaign since 1950. In terms of the all- time series between these two schools, it is all tied up at 11-11-2. However, the Bears have won the last two contests, including a 38-0 triumph last season in Tucson.

Richard Kovalcheck paced the Wildcats in their loss to Purdue, throwing for 283 yards, three touchdowns and one interception on 23-of-40 passing. Brad Wood was Kovalcheck's main target, finishing with five receptions for 96 yards and two scores. While the passing attack had a solid showing against a very good Boilermakers' defensive unit, the running game was woeful and finished with just 13 yards on 24 attempts (0.5 ypc). Mike Bell finished as the team's leading rusher with a mere 43 yards and it led to Arizona converting just 4- of-15 third-down chances. The Wildcats are now averaging a mere 101.3 ypg rushing the ball this season and Bell (264 yards) is the only player on Arizona with more than 33 rushing yards. Despite the team's struggles running the ball, they have found a solid signal caller in Kovalcheck. The improving quarterback has completed 58.3 percent of his passes for 793 yards and seven touchdowns.

Opposing squads have found running the ball to be the best way to attack Stoops' defense, running for 202 ypg and five touchdowns thus far. However, the Wildcats have stood up well against the pass, allowing just 164.3 ypg and two scores through the air. The secondary is headlined by Darrell Brooks, who leads the team with 24 tackles. Dane Krogstad has also been outstanding, registering 23 stops, a team-high three TFLs, a sack and a fumble recovery. Akin Akinniyi and Brooks both finished with seven tackles in the losing effort, while Marcus Hollingsworth had five stops, two TFLs, a quarterback sack and the team's lone interception. Hollingsworth now has 14 tackles and a squad-best three broken up passes to his credit this season, while his interception was the first of the year for Arizona.

The Bears have been without the services of star tailback Marshawn Lynch the last two games because of a hand injury, but Justin Forsett has been outstanding in his absence. Forsett had the fourth-best rushing performance in school-history last Friday, running for a career-high 235 yards against the Aggies of New Mexico State. His play helped the Bears tally 311 rushing yards and 595 total yards of offense. Joe Ayoob also had a superb outing for the Bears, completing 17-of-26 passes for 284 yards and a touchdown, while running for three touchdowns as well. Freshman DeSean Jackson tallied a game-high nine receptions for 130 yards and a score, after posting a mere three catches for 58 in the team's first three games. After starting very shaky under center, Ayoob has looked much more comfortable under center with six touchdown passes to just one interception. Lynch is expected to return to action this Saturday, giving the team a potent three-headed rushing attack with Forsett and Marcus O'Keith (238 yards, three touchdowns) joining him in the backfield.

Cal's defense continues to be one of the most feared in the nation, surrendering just 13.2 ppg, which is leading the Pac-10, and 105.8 rushing ypg. The Bears have also given up just two rushing touchdowns already and have allowed only 13 second-half points all year. Desmond Bishop is currently tops on Cal with 32 tackles and two TFLs, while Ryan Foltz has 26 stops to his credit. Donnie McCleskey missed all of last season due to an injury but has proven to be completely healthy with his 23 tackles and two TFLs thus far. While McCleskey has been a force in the secondary for the Bears, Brandon Mebane has been vital to the squad's success in the front seven. He ranks sixth on the team with 14 tackles and his 4.5 TFLs and four sacks are both team-highs.

The Bears are controlling opponents on both sides of the ball and this Saturday should be no different. Cal's dominance on the ground has helped Ayoob progress at quarterback, which makes this squad once again a major contender in the always competitive Pac-10.

Sports Network Predicted Outcome: California 43, Arizona 10