Arizona, Stanford in must-win situations

The Arizona Wildcats and Stanford Cardinal have a lot in common.

They're tied for seventh in the Pacific-10, but both flashed their potential against Southern California. The Cardinal stunned then-No. 2 USC Oct. 6, and one week later the Wildcats led the Trojans heading into the fourth quarter.

Now they both need a victory to keep their flickering bowl hopes alive. The Wildcats (2-5, 1-3 Pac-10) need at least a 4-1 finish to qualify for a bowl berth, and even that might not be enough. Stanford (2-4, 1-3) needs to win four of its last six to have a shot.

It figures to add a little drama when they meet tomorrow afternoon in Arizona Stadium.

"We have nothing to lose," Arizona quarterback Willie Tuitama said. "That is exactly how it is. We are playing with our backs to the wall. That is the bottom line."

There is one distinct difference. The Wildcats came into this year brimming with optimism that they would end the Pac-10's longest bowl drought at eight seasons. The Cardinal were merely hoping to achieve respectability after a 1-11 season that ended with the firing of coach Walt Harris.