SPOKANE, Wash. (AP) - Arizona needs one more win to become eligible for its first bowl game since 1998, and playing woeful Washington State this Saturday should do it.

Arizona (5-3, 3-2 Pacific 10) is favored by 41 points at Washington State (1-8, 0-6). But coach Mike Stoops, who has been on the hot seat in his fifth season, isn't taking anything for granted against a team that is setting Pacific-10 futility records this season.

"They are still a Pac-10 team," Stoops said of the Cougars. "They work hard and they have had trouble in a lot of different areas, but that does not mean they are not capable of putting something together."

"Disrespecting somebody and not paying attention to details in preparation leads to poor play," he added.

Stoops said he doesn't dwell on getting a sixth win, because he doesn't have to.

"Our kids understand where we are at. They can count," Stoops said. "They are out to change the perception of Arizona football."

If the Wildcats lose, their road to six wins gets tougher as they face Oregon, Oregon State and rival Arizona State in the final three games.

Guard Joe Longacre agreed the Wildcats will not take WSU lightly.

"They don't have all the wins that suggest they are a great team, but they can play tough and we can't overlook them or we will be the team that was beaten in November," he said.

Still, the chances of the Cougars getting their first league win of the season seem slim in what is a historically bad season. The Cougars are last in the nation in defense, allowing 49 points per game, and second to last in offense, scoring just 12 a game. That bodes ill against an Arizona team that averages 36 points per game while allowing only 18.

They've already surrendered more points in Pac-10 play, 350, than any team in league history with three games left to play. The previous record was 333 set by Cal in 2001. Washington State is yielding 58.3 points per Pac-10 game, well above the record of 47.3 allowed by the 1970 WSU team.

They haven't been competitive in any game except their lone win over Portland State, an FCS team.

First-year coach Paul Wulff has about run out of things to say about the season.

"I have to keep these guys going and working hard," he said during his conference call this week.

Wulff denied that some players have given up.

"Some players are frustrated and tired of answering the same questions," he said.

He promised that freshman J.T. Levenseller would see more time at quarterback in relief of Kevin Lopina, who is playing despite a serious back injury. The Cougars will also have top running back Dwight Tardy and receiver Brandon Gibson in action.

But the offensive line remains suspect, and has been shut out for 10 consecutive quarters, being outscored 169-0. It's given up 1,343 yards while gaining only 395 in that span.

One place the Cougars might have an advantage is weather, with temperatures in the low 50s and heavy rain forecast for the game. Arizona's road games have been played in an average temperature of 76.

A slippery field may be WSU's best hope to slow down Arizona quarterback Willie Tuitama, who has completed nearly 63 percent of his passes for 1,779 yards, with 15 touchdowns and four interceptions.

Arizona running back Nic Grigsby has rushed for 696 yards and 10 touchdowns. Mike Thomas is the top receiver, catching 48 balls for 614 yards.

Arizona is coming off a bye week after losing 17-10 to No. 7 Southern California

The Cougars last week lost 58-0 to Stanford, being shut out for the second straight game, a first since 1969. They have not been shut out in three straight games since 1925. The team record is four straight in 1903.