Colorado, led by Mike MacIntyre, and Washington, coached by Chris Petersen play in the Pac-12 championship game Friday night in Santa Clara, Calif.
Colorado, led by Mike MacIntyre, and Washington, coached by Chris Petersen play in the Pac-12 championship game Friday night in Santa Clara, Calif.Associated Press file

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.

KEY MATCHUP

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.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

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.

FACTS & FIGURES

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