[tps_title]Colorado at Washington State[/tps_title]
[tps_header]8:45 p.m., ESPN2[/tps_header]
COLORADO (4-7, 1-6) AT
WASHINGTON STATE (7-3, 5-2)
8:45 p.m., ESPN2
Pointspread: Washington State favored by 15 points
— The line has stayed around 15 points for Washington State.
— Washington State’s Luke Falk leads the nation in passing yards and has the nation’s second-most touchdown passes, with his coach believing he should win the Heisman Trophy. Colorado will counter with quarterback Cade Apsay making his first start.
— The Cougars are ranked for the first time in nine years, and the 24th-ranked team is favored to hand the visiting Buffaloes a 22nd straight loss to a Top 25 opponent Saturday night. Washington State is ranked for the first time since 2006.
— Falk has thrown for 4,067 yards with 35 TDs and eight interceptions. He threw a winning 21-yard touchdown pass to Gabe Marks with three seconds left in last Saturday’s 31-27 victory at then-No. 18 UCLA.
— Falk has been sacked 35 times for the nation’s second-highest total.
— Colorado presents a wounded opponent after quarterback Sefo Liufau suffered a season-ending foot injury in Friday’s 27-24 loss to Southern California. Liufau had started 29 of the last 30 games for the Buffaloes and played in 31 straight. Apsay saw his most extensive action in relief and completed 18 of 23 passes for 128 yards and two scores, though he was sacked five times.
— Jordan Gehrke, who has thrown four passes all year, may get some snaps even though Apsay figures to get the bulk of the work.
— Apsay will be targeting Nelson Spruce, who is fifth in the Pac-12 with 822 receiving yards. The duo hooked up for a nine-yard TD last weekend which marked just the third scoring reception for Spruce, who had 12 a season ago.
— Marks is second in the conference with 957 receiving yards and leads the Pac-12 with 13 TD receptions. Teammate Dom Williams is fourth in the league with 879 yards to go with nine scores.
— The Cougars won last weekend despite yielding a season-worst 554 yards. They have allowed 12 passing touchdowns for the conference’s second-lowest total, including none in the last three games.
— The Buffaloes have not beaten a ranked foe since a 34-30 win over then-No. 17 Kansas on Oct. 17, 2009. They have dropped 25 straight on the road to Top 25 opponents since beating then-No. 20 UCLA 31-17 on Sept. 21, 2002.
— Three of Colorado’s last four losses have been by a touchdown or less.
— These teams haven’t met since the Buffaloes won 35-34 on the road Sept. 22, 2012.
Colorado is 1-6 SU in its last 7 games
The total has gone UNDER in 6 of Colorado’s last 9 games
Colorado is 3-12 SU in its last 15 games on the road
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Colorado’s last 7 games on the road
Washington State is 5-0 ATS in its last 5 games
Washington State is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games
Washington State is 3-6 ATS in its last 9 games at home
Washington State is 5-12 SU in its last 17 games at home
My pick: Washington State will win but Colorado will cover
Steve Rivera’s pick: Washington State will win and cover
Anthony Gimino’s pick: Washington State will win and cover
[tps_footer]
ALLSPORTSTUCSON.com publisher, writer and editor Javier Morales is a former Arizona Press Club award winner. He has also written articles for Bleacher Report and Lindy’s College Sports.[/tps_footer]
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