Holy Gators, Batman, UCLA is ranked No. 1 in the country this week by the Seattle Times' computer rankings, which are based on strength of schedule. Looks like the paper's pollster liked the Bruins' nonconference wins over Alabama, Kansas and Ohio State. The Bruins replaced the Washington Huskies, who were at the top of the Times' rankings last week. The Huskies narrow escape against USC at home on Saturday sent them tumbling from the top. Now the folks in Gainesville, Fla., and Miami, and even Norman, Okla., probably don't give a forward pass about a West Coast's paper's poll, but it's fun to yank the gorillas chains. So, here's banana, boys, and don't slip on the peel. There are four West Coast teams in the Top 10 ready to take your place. Let's take a look at the cool matchups this Saturday.

WASHINGTON (4-0) at UCLA (4-0): Two unbeatens, the Huskies at No.10 and the Bruins ranked No. 7 by the Associated Press, meet in a showdown at the Rose Bowl that is the marquee matchup so far this season in the Pacific 10. Washington narrowly escaped with a victory against an improved USC last Saturday by kicking a field goal with three seconds left. The boot won it 27-24. In the game, quarterback Cody Pickett was injured (separated shoulder) and will be replaced by backup Taylor Burton Saturday, who picked up for Pickett in the second quarter. Burton, who followed coach Rick Neuheisel to Washington from Colorado, will be making his first start. The Bruins' defense is the best in the Pac 10 statistically (271 yards allowed per game) and their rushing offense, led by tailback DeShaun Foster, is No. 1 in the league at 197.3 ypg. UCLA is favored by 14 but let's throw the stats out in this one because it will be much closer. The Watcher likes Washington to improve on its 12-game winning streak by a field goal.

WASHINGTON STATE (5-0) at STANFORD (3-0): Look at all these unbeaten Pac-10 teams. Something's got to give. And the Watcher says it's No. 22 Stanford. Even though the Cardinal is off to its best start since 1986, the surprising Cougars may be too much for them. Quarterback Jason Gesser has thrown for over 1,300 yards and 14 touchdowns. Running back Dave Mimmick has rushed for 589 yards in 126 carries and five TDs in the Cougar's five victories. These Cougars look like the 1997 edition that went to the Rose Bowl against Michigan. Coach Mike Price compares them to that Ryan Leaf-led squad. Stanford won last year's contest, 24-10, in quarterback Randy Fasani's first college start. The Cougars want into the Top 25 bad and will get their wish in a shootout, 42-38.

FRESNO STATE (5-0) at COLORADO STATE (2-3): The gutty No. 8 Bulldogs, after a week off, head to Fort Collins, Colo., to play the hornless Rams, who have stumbled lately after starting the season nationally ranked. Coach Sonny Lubick's streak of seven wins per season for the last seven seasons would appear to be in at risk. The Rams defense has allowed just 11.6 points in its last three games but will be strongly tested by quarterback David Carr and the Bulldogs' other offensive weapons, Rodney Wright and Bernard Berrian, who have combined for 52 catches and seven TDs. Fresno won easily the last time these two teams met and should do so again, 45-14.

OREGON (5-0) at CALIFORNIA (0-4): How about a Bears upset? Not a chance. The No. 5 Ducks are playing their third straight game on the road after polishing off Arizona last week in Tucson, 63-28. And the Bears are on a seven-game losing streak and get UCLA for their troubles next week. The Watcher likes Joey Harrington and his pals to pile it on Cal, 52-10.

ARIZONA STATE (3-1) at USC (1-4): The shaky and injured Trojans finally meet a team they should beat at the Coliseum. USC, 31-10.

GOING COASTAL: Rick Neuheisel returns to his old garden at the Rose Bowl where he was player and quarterback coach at UCLA under Terry Donahue. As quarterback coach, Neuheisel was passed over for offensive coordinator by UCLA who gave the job to Bob Toledo. Neuheisel then left Westwood for Boulder, where he soon became head coach at 33....UCLA quarterback Cory Paus is the older brother of Washington freshman QB Casey Paus....USC tailback Malaefou MacKenzie has left the team, and school, for the rest of the semester to return to his home in Western Samoa. The combination of his father's recent death and a nagging knee injury influenced MacKenzie's decision. Coach Pete Carroll said MacKenzie should be returning to school in the spring....Oregon State Coach Dennis Erickson's commented on the Beavers' No. 1 preseason ranking by Sports Illustrated: "I thought they were crazy," he said of the magazine's editors. It's good as far as publicity is concerned, I guess, but me knowing where we were at, and the prognosticators knowing where we were at, obviously were two different things." The Beavers meet Arizona at Corvalis on Saturday.