No. 9 Colorado (10-2, No. 8 CFP) vs. No. 4 Washington (11-1, No. 4 CFP) at 7 p.m. Friday at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California. (Fox).
Line: Washington by 7½.
Series Record: Washington leads 9-5-1.
WHAT’S AT STAKEFor Washington, a win bolsters its chance of remaining in the top four of the College Football Playoffs. For Colorado, a win doesn’t figure to boost the Buffaloes into the top four in the CFP, but it would mean a spot in the Rose Bowl. The Buffaloes haven’t been to a bowl since 2007.
Colorado secondary against Washington QB Jake Browning. S Tedric Thompson has a league-leading seven interceptions this season in large part because of the pressure the defensive line puts on quarterbacks. Browning isn’t in the Heisman Trophy conversation for nothing: He gets rid of the ball in a hurry and has thrown 40 touchdown passes, which is a school record for a season.
Colorado: DT Jordan Carrell. The 300-pound senior out of Roseville, California, has 46 tackles, 5 ½ sacks, 12 hurries and four third-down stops this season.
Washington: RB Myles Gaskin. The sophomore from Lynnwood, Washington, topped 1,000-yard rushing for a second straight season. He also has 13 career 100-yard games. The school record is 21 by Chris Polk.
Colorado won 10 games for the eighth time in school history. ... The Buffaloes finished 4-0 in November for the first time since 1975. ... Colorado has allowed 23 offensive touchdowns this season. Last year, the team surrendered 43. ... Colorado hasn’t allowed a rushing TD in seven of its last eight games. ... QB Sefo Liufau has set or tied 87 school records. ... WR Devin Ross leads Colorado with 65 receptions. He’s averaging 11.7 yards per catch. ... The Buffaloes boast the league’s top third-down defense, holding teams to a conversion rate of 30.2 percent. ... Washington LB Keishawn Bierria leads the nation with five fumble recoveries. ... John Ross (16) and Dante Pettis (14) are the first Washington receivers to have double-digit touchdown catches in the same season. ... The series with Colorado began in 1915, when Washington beat the Buffaloes 46-0 to finish 7-0. ... Washington leads the country with 30 takeaways. ... The Huskies have been in the AP Top 10 for 13 straight weeks. It’s their longest stretch since appearing in the Top 10 for 37 consecutive weeks from 1990-92.
Associated Press
