Washington State @ California preview

Last Meeting ( Oct 4, 2014 ) California 60, Washington State 59

Fans who recall California’s 60-59 win over Washington State last season might be disappointed if they’re expecting another shootout Saturday in Berkeley. The 24th-ranked Golden Bears are off to their first 4-0 start since 2007 thanks in part to a defense that leads the FBS with nine interceptions and 14 turnovers forced, while Washington State has allowed an average of 187 passing yards after yielding nearly 300 per game last year.

Road teams have started 6-0 in Pac-12 play and the well-rested Cougars are hoping to continue the streak following their bye week. The game features a marquee matchup at quarterback as Washington State’s Luke Falk leads the Pac-12 in passing yards (356.7 per game) while California’s Jared Goff has entered the Heisman Trophy race with 1,240 passing yards and 11 touchdowns against three interceptions. Goff threw for 342 yards with two touchdowns in last week’s 30-24 win at Washington and the Golden Bears enter this weekend as the Pac-12 North’s only undefeated team. Washington State is all too familiar with the 6-4 junior, who threw for 527 yards and five touchdowns in last season’s matchup in Pullman.

TV: 4 p.m. ET, Pac-12 Network. LINE: California -19

ABOUT WASHINGTON STATE (2-1, 0-0 Pac-12): Falk’s favorite targets are wide receivers River Cracraft and Gabe Marks, who leads the Pac-12 with 8.3 receptions per game but faces a tough matchup against a much improved California secondary. The offensive line has allowed just five sacks in 156 pass attempts and will need another strong effort to slow down reigning Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Week Kyle Kragen, who had 2.5 sacks against the Huskies. Linebackers Jeremiah Allison and Peyton Pelluer lead the Cougars’ defense, which held Wyoming scoreless over the final three quarters of a 31-14 win on Sept. 19.

ABOUT CALIFORNIA (4-0, 1-0): Running back Daniel Lasco missed the last two games due to a hip injury, but practiced fully this week and could return to reclaim the starting job from Vic Enwere, who ran for 84 yards and a touchdown last week against Washington. California ranks 13th nationally in total offense with an average of 542.5 yards per game and boasts one of the top receivers on the West Coast in Kenny Lawler, who has six touchdowns in his last four games. Cornerback Darius White is off to a strong start in his second season with the Golden Bears, who had five sacks and forced five turnovers against the Huskies last week.

EXTRA POINTS

1. California has had big scoring runs in each of its four victories with 66 unanswered points against Grambling State, 35 against San Diego State, 31 at Texas and 24 at Washington.

2. Washington State defeated the Golden Bears 44-22 in its last visit to Berkeley in 2013.

3. California coach Sonny Dykes was a member of Washington State coach Mike Leach’s Texas Tech staff from 2000-06.

PREDICTION: California 42, Washington State 27