[9:10 PM] #8 Colorado v. #4 Washington

Who will WIN the championship?

#8 Colorado Buffaloes (10-2)

#4 Washington Huskies (11-1)

 

• Ninth-ranked Colorado was the surprise champion of the Pac-12 South after making the biggest single-season turnaround in conference history while the fourth-ranked Huskies nearly ran the table in backing up their status as the preseason North Division favorites.

• Quarterback Jake Browning, who leads the conference in passing efficiency (181.6) and touchdown tosses (40), was named the Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Year, but coach Chris Petersen’s crew also possesses the conference’s top scoring defense at 17.8 points allowed per contest.

• After setting a conference record with their seven-game conference improvement – they were 1-8 a year ago – Buffaloes coach Mike MacIntyre was an easy choice for Pac-12 Coach of the Year. Liufau missed three starts due to a midseason ankle injury but still ranks fourth in Pac-12 total offense (263.3 yards per game) and is complemented nicely by All-Pac-12 second-team running back Phillip Lindsay (fourth in the conference with 94.7 rushing yards per game). Linebacker Jimmie Gilbert (team-most nine sacks and 12 tackles for loss) was the only All-Pac-12 first-team defensive selection for Colorado, which leads the league in total (323.8 yards surrendered) and pass defense (187.8 yards).

• The Huskies had a conference-most nine first-team All-Pac 12 selections with running back Myles Gaskin (second in the conference at 98.3 yards per outing) and wideout John Ross (second with 89.2 receiving yards) among the honorees. It’s little surprise, then, that Washington is the conference’s highest-scoring team with 44.8 points per game and has scored 31 or more in all of its wins. Four Huskies appear on the All-Pac-12 first-team defense, including safety Budda Baker (61 total stops, team-most nine tackles for loss) and defensive tackle Elijah Qualls (five tackles for loss, three sacks).

• Washington has won six straight in the series, including all four Pac-12 games with the most recent a 38-23 road win in 2014.

 

StreakSmarts Pick: #4 Washington Huskies

Confidence: 5/10

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