When Washington State plays at Colorado on Saturday, it will be battle of Pac-12 division leaders.Nobody saw that coming.The 12th-ranked Buffaloes (8-2, 6-1 Pac-12) are the most surprising team in the country, considering they were picked to finish last in the Pac-12 South in a vote of league media and had only five conference victories in their first five seasons in the league.Washington State (8-2, 7-0) opened the season with a home loss to lower-division Eastern Washington and a defeat at Boise State. The Cougars have since ripped off eight consecutive victories -- their longest streak since 1930 and the second-longest streak in the nation behind Alabama (22).Two years ago, Colorado and Washington State finished last in their respective divisions. Now, this game -- kicking off at 3:30 p.m. ET from Boulder, Colo. (Fox TV) -- is the biggest in the Pac-12.Isnt that great, said Colorado coach Mike MacIntyre.It is exciting for both teams. It is exciting for Washington State and Mike Leach and it is exciting for the University of Colorado and our staff. I am so excited for our fans. This is a special time in Colorado football.Colorado is one game up in the loss column on USC and Utah, the only other teams that can win the South.The Buffaloes likely have to win their final two games against ranked opponents to take the title and advance to the conference championship game. The Buffs finish the regular season at home against No. 11 Utah.Washington States division-tile hopes will likely come down to next weeks Apple Cup game against seventh-ranked Washington, which is one game back of the Cougars. WSU will have to navigate its tough final two regular-season games without senior wide receiver River Cracraft.His college career is over after he tore his left ACL in last weeks 56-21 win over California. He and fellow senior Gabe Marks are the only duo in Pac-12 history to each have 200 career catches at the same time.Hes a great player, coach Mike Leach said of Cracraft. He contributed early in his career, which I thought was impressive.Washington State junior quarterback Luke Falk is second nationally with 361.0 passing yards per game, directing Leachs Air Raid attack. Falk last week set a school record with his 23rd career 300-yard game.Marks set the Pac-12 career receptions record last week; he has 295.Colorado counters with the best pass defense in the Pac-12, allowing 176.9 yards per game through the air. Opponents are completing just 50.9 percent of their passes, the best mark in the conference.But this WSU team also has balance, able to run the ball when the opportunity presents itself. Behind Gerard Wicks (career-high 128 yards) and James Williams (80 yards), the Cougars ran for 254 yards on 31 carries last week against Cal, their highest total in Leachs five seasons as head coach.It helps a lot, Marks said of the run game.I dont like to admit it sometimes, because the run game affects my life. But it has affected my life in a good way now. Back in the day, wed just run it and nothing would get done, and it was like dont run it. Just throw me the ball. ...Balance is good. Weve got some good balance right now.Colorado is solid and balanced, too.Senior Sefo Liufau, who set a school record last week with his 36th career start at quarterback, rarely makes a killer mistake. He recently had a streak of 152 passes without an interception.The Buffs can run the ball (204.7 yards per game) behind tailback Phillip Lindsay. They can stop the run (131.5 yards per game).They have forced a turnover in a national-best 23 consecutive games and are tied for 18th in turnover margin at 0.7 per game.Bottom line: They Buffs dont beat themselves. Their only losses this season came at Michigan (they were leading when Liufau left with an injury) and at USC.And, so, Saturday will mark the biggest home game of Colorados tenure in the Pac-12.Giving people something to believe in has always been a part of this season, wide receiver Shay Fields said on the teams website. Folsom the last couple of years hasnt been that packed. But since we won those first three, the fans have been outstanding. Theyve gotten the feeling that CU is back and thats exciting.Kelly Olynyk Heat Jersey . Fred Couples, captain of the U.S. side, put it all into perspective. "We know whos in charge," he said. Glen Rice Jersey . The team also announced Tuesday that the Braves will wear a commemorative patch on the right sleeve during the season. The patch, shaped like home plate, carries the number 715, Aarons autograph and a "40th Anniversary" banner. https://www.heatlockerroom.com/Bam-Adebayo-City-Edition-Jersey/ . World champions Tatiana Volosozhar and Maxim Trankov of Russia won the gold medal with 237.71 points, Moore-Towers and Moscovitch followed at 208.45 and Ksenia Stolbova and Fedor Klimov of Russia were third at 187. Kyle Alexander Heat Jersey . Just as Montreal was settling into the first full working week of a new year, the Impact announced the appointment of their new head coach. Kendrick Nunn Heat Jersey . The veteran safety was a starter for the Bengals from 2008-2012. He totaled 41 tackles and three interceptions while starting all but four of the 13 games he played last season.WASHINGTON -- Patrick Mullins scored three goals, Patrick Nyarko had a goal and two assists and D.C. United beat the 10-man Chicago Fire 6-2 on Saturday.Mullins finished Nyarkos cross in the 40th minute to give United (7-8-11) the lead for good at 2-1. Mullins made it 3-1 in the first minute of first-half stoppage time and struck again in the 74th for a 5-2 lead. It was the first hat trick for D.C. United since Luis Silva did it in June 2014.Luciano Acosta gave United the initial lead in the 25th minute with a close-range smash of Marcelo Sarvas cross. Michael de Leeuw evened the score for the Fire (5-12-8) on a putback six minutes later.Khaly Thiam was sent off in the 34th minute when he threw the ball at Nyarkos face while Nyarko was still on the ground after Thiams tackle.Razvan Cocis capped Chicagos scoring in the second minute of first-half stoppage time, making it 3-2 before the break. Nick DeLeon netted D.C.s final goal in the 89th minute.FC DALLAS 3, DYNAMO 1HOUSTON -- Michael Barrios scored twice, including the go-ahead goal in the 60th minute, and FC Dallas beat Houston.Barrios beat goalkeeper Joe Willis in a race to Maynor Figueroas long diagonal cross and chipped it past the charging Willis to make it 2-1. A minute earlier, Mauro Diaz tied it for FC Dallas (14-7-6) on a penalty kick after Raul Rodriguezs hand ball in the area.Barrios added a long-range strike in the 79th minute to cap the scoring.Alex gave the Dynamo (5-11-10) the lead in 19th minute with a left-footed rocket from the top of the 18-yard box.UNION 2, SPORTING KANSAS CITY 0CHESTER, Pa. -- Roland Alberg had a goal and an assist in Philadelphias victory over nine-man Sporting Kansas Cityy.ddddddddddddAlberg opened the scoring in the 67th minute when he collected Fabinhos pass and sent a right-footer from behind the 18-yard box into the upper right corner for his ninth goal of the season.Alberg assisted Tranquillo Barnetta in the 92nd minute on a give-and-go that Barnetta finished.Sportings Jimmy Medranda was sent off in the 59th minute for his second yellow card and Roger Espinoza received a straight red for violent conduct in the 87th minute.Philadelphia (11-9-7) has won three of its last four games to move within a point of second-place New York City in the East. Sporting KC dropped to 11-12-5 and remained in fifth place in the West.CREW 2, EARTHQUAKES 0COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Ethan Finlay and Justin Meram scored in Columbus victory over San Jose.Finlay put Merams wide cross into the right corner to open the scoring for the Crew (5-9-11) in the 32nd minute. Meram added a goal in the 84th minute on a penalty kick he drew against San Jose defender Marvell Wynne. Meram then beat Andrew Tarbell, the backup goalkeeper who entered as a substitute late in the first half when starter David Bingham left with a back injury.San Jose dropped to 7-8-11.IMPACT 1, TORONTO FC 0TORONTO -- Ignacio Piatti scored in the 73rd minute and Montreal beat Toronto FC to end the Reds unbeaten streak at seven games.Piatti picked up Dominic Oduros feed and beat goalkeeper Alex Bono for his 14th goal of the season.Montreal (9-7-10) won for the first time in MLS play at BMO Field, snapping an 0-3-3 stretch. Toronto (12-8-7) had won five straight at home. ' ' '
