UCLA vs. ARIZONA

* Time: 7:15 p.m.

* Site: Arizona Stadium

* Records: UCLA 3-0, Arizona 5-0.

* TV: Fox Sports West

* Radio: XTRA (1150)

THE OFFENSES

* Ortege Jenkins started the first game at quarterback for Arizona before being replaced by Keith Smith for the next four, but both play. How is it working out? They have combined to average 253 yards passing, just behind the school record of 255, and Smith is second in the Pac-10 in passing efficiency. He would also be second in the nation, but is one pass shy of qualifying. Last Saturday at Washington, Smith played the first and third quarters and Jenkins the second and fourth, a rotation that put Jenkins in the game for the somersault at the goal line over three defenders that gave the Wildcats the victory. The platoon system doesn’t seem to bother wide receiver Dennis Northcutt, either. He leads the conference in average receiving yardage at 110. UCLA’s Danny Farmer is second at 93.7. Bruin quarterback Cade McNown, who led the nation in passing efficiency in 1997, posting the 12th-best rating ever in the process, is third in the conference, behind Smith and Oregon’s Akili Smith, and 16th in the nation. He completed 20 of 30 for 339 yards in the opener, but in the two games since has been, in the words of Coach Bob Toledo, “very average.” McNown at times has been held back by dropped passes or receivers failing to run proper routes, but he also appeared to lack his usual touch against Houston and Washington State, throwing low to open targets, or behind them.

THE DEFENSES

* The Bruins are hopeful Ramogi Huma and Stephen Sua will be able to play, but aren’t sure how much they can get out of the injured players. If Huma isn’t able to contribute much, and with Michael Wiley already declared out, it potentially becomes a very young group of linebackers on the left side, with sophomore Tony White, redshirt freshman Ryan Nece and true freshman Robert Thomas. Arizona will be without starting free safety Rafell Jones for the first half, the last part of his penalty for being ejected for fighting in the Washington game. But the Wildcats also get Chris McAlister back. The No. 1 cornerback was benched last weekend by the NCAA in a ruling related to bank loans he secured in the summer.

* Key to the game: A UCLA defense plagued by injury and inexperience must contain the Arizona quarterbacks, who are dangerous throwing or running. “We can’t let them run around out there and make a lot of plays,” Toledo said. On offense, UCLA needs to prove it can have a consistent ground game despite the absence of Jermaine Lewis, against a Wildcat defense that is second in the conference against the run. If not, Arizona will be able to send everyone after McNown. Also, Arizona Stadium is sold out for the first time since 1996--at 57,800 after school officials had originally expected closer to 46,000--so fans will be even louder than usual. If the Bruins can take an early lead, they can neutralize that factor.

* Fast fact: This is the first matchup between two top-10 teams from the Pacific 10 Conference since Oct. 19, 1991, when No. 3 Washington beat No. 7 Cal, 24-17, en route to a 12-0 record and the national championship.

* Line: UCLA by 5.