ANGLING FOR POLL POSITION COMPUTERS HARM UCLA'S BCS BID.

Byline: Brian Dohn Staff Writer

For the past three years, UCLA quarterback Drew Olson would look at the Bowl Championship Series standings each week. He admits it's ``a lot more fun'' doing it now.

UCLA is ranked fifth in the BCS, and is arguably the most surprising member of college football's undefeated quintet.

However, of the five remaining undefeated teams, the Bruins also happen to be last. And that could make UCLA's dream season end in unexpectedly nightmarish fashion because the Bruins could win out but get shut out of the national title game - which is being played Jan. 4 on their home field.

If No. 7 UCLA (8-0, 5-0 Pac-10) finishes its season with wins at Arizona, against Arizona State and at top-ranked USC, the Bruins could miss out on the Rose Bowl, mostly because of their schedule.

Texas, Virginia Tech and Alabama - which are second, third and fourth in the BCS, respectively - would have superior computer rankings if undefeated than UCLA, BCS analyst Jerry Palm said.

``The computers aren't going to love them, which means they might have to be No. 1 in the polls,'' Palm said. ``The key is going to be what the voters do with them, and that's not a predictable thing. I can't tell you what the voters are going to do. I can hardly tell you what the voters are going to do next week.''

Palm said he thinks the only way UCLA could be No. 1 in the season-ending BCS poll is to be the lone undefeated team.

The Bruins are hurt because of their non-conference schedule, which took a big hit because of Oklahoma's stature. The Sooners were regulars in the top 5 the past few years, but are 5-3 and unranked. Palm said even though Oklahoma's three losses (UCLA, TCU and Texas) are to teams currently a combined 24-1, that barely registers with the computers. Playing Rice (0-7) and San Diego State (3-6) is more a deterrent, he added.

``(UCLA's) strength of schedule is not good,'' Palm said. ``They missed Oregon, so that hurts them because that's one of the better teams in the (Pac-10). They didn't play a good non-conference schedule. UCLA can get up there a bit, but they're not going to be the No. 1 team unless they're the only undefeated. The computers are not going to be impressed.''

UCLA is sixth in the Harris Poll and seventh in the USA Today poll. Four of the six computers have UCLA fifth, and two list the Bruins fourth. But overall, UCLA is sixth among the computers, behind one-loss Penn State.

None of which matters to Bruins coach Karl Dorrell.

``We have enough to fix that's on our plate as a football team to worry about the BCS,'' Dorrell said. ``We don't forget about how we played last week. ... Those things will work themselves out in the end. They don't mean anything right now, and our players don't pay any attention to that.''

Palm said UCLA's strongest asset is the regular season-finale at USC. The Trojans are riding a 30-game winning streak, have won 24 consecutive games at home, 20 straight conference games and are trying for an unprecedented third straight national championship.

The Dec. 3 meeting at the Coliseum also will attract national television. Palm said if UCLA finished undefeated, defeating USC could allow the Bruins to leapfrog any remaining unbeaten teams in the polls.

``That's the big statement game,'' Palm said. ``They would have done something that hasn't been done in three years, so that would be a pretty impressive thing. But if they win by two, or win by 20, could matter. All of that would have an impact. I think it would come down to what would the voters do, because the computers are not going to be their friend.''

Of course, it's not a given UCLA will make it out of the weekend unbeaten, especially considering the Bruins struggled against the Pac-10's two worst teams.

UCLA needed a 10-point fourth-quarter rally to beat Washington at home, and rallied from 17 points down in the fourth quarter to win at Washington State. The two schools are a combined 4-12, with an 0-10 league mark.

``We'll just worry about Arizona, Arizona State and `SC,'' UCLA defensive end Justin Hickman said. ``After Dec. 3, we'll see what the BCS says.''

Senior strong safety Jarrad Page said he was unaware of UCLA's ranking until teammates mentioned it to him Monday afternoon, hours after the BCS was released.

``It doesn't matter because you're not going to any BCS bowl unless you finish it,'' Page said. ``You've got to finish the season, and that all starts with Arizona. We go out here and stumble to Arizona, whatever we are right now doesn't matter anymore.

``We're trying to think about being 1-0, about beating Arizona. When you start looking at the BCS, you start thinking about being 3-0 your next three games. That's too big of a thing to focus on in one week.''

Any loss likely would knock UCLA out of a BCS game, but one exception could be a Fiesta Bowl matchup with Notre Dame, Palm said. The Irish likely would guarantee a sellout, making it less important for the other team to bring fans to the game.

``If (UCLA) could finish in the top four (of the BCS) they would automatically qualify, although I don't think they would if they lost,'' Palm said. ``The Fiesta Bowl would be the only place they could go, and I think there are other teams they would rather have. The problem is Pac-10 teams in general have a reputation for not bringing fans.''

Brian Dohn, [phone]

brian.dohn(at)dailynews.com

CAPTION(S):

2 boxes

Photo:

UCLA quarterback Drew Olson is taking greater interest in the BCS rankings this season.

Hans Gutknecht/Staff Photographer!

Box:

(1) NO. 8 UCLA at ARIZONA

(2) WHO'S LEFT