Bekanntmachungen » d it tonight.Talbot was equally impressive early in the

BOULDER, Colo. -- Colorado quarterback Sefo Liufau attempted to somewhat downplay the significance of facing Washington State this weekend.Thats just difficult to do.Its just another game, Liufau said, that Id like to treat as a championship game.Because it really is that big.Very few predicted No. 12 Colorado and No. 20 Washington State would be leading their respective Pac-12 divisions this late into the season. The Buffaloes (8-2, 6-1 Pac-12, No. 10 CFP) were picked last in the South in a preseason poll and the Cougars (8-2, 7-0 Pac-12, No. 22 CFP ) tabbed to finish fourth in the North.And yet they meet Saturday with both in line to make the leagues title game.How many times in life do you get to do something that nobody thinks you can do? Colorado coach Mike MacIntyre said. Its a pretty neat situation, I would say.No jitters, either. Not this crew. Not after turning around a downtrodden program and becoming bowl eligible for the first time since 2007.I dont get those (nerves) anymore because Im prepared enough and confident enough in my ability, Colorado safety Ryan Moeller said. Were practicing every week for a test. Youre studying every day, just like you would in school.So when it comes time to take the test, you see questions on the test and youre like, `I know that. Its easy, almost second nature. And thats how it is for us out there.Like Colorado, the transformation of the Cougars has been a captivating story. Theyre trying to win nine straight for the first time since 1930.To think, these two teams had a grand total of two conference wins -- both by the Cougars -- between them two years ago.Coug fans are always great, whether youre down or whether youre up, said quarterback Luke Falk, who was knocked out of the Colorado game last season in the third quarter after a hit. The vibe is just lively.Washington State coach Mike Leach has kept a partial eye on the rise of the Buffaloes. Hes been impressed, especially since this is basically the same squad that went 4-9 a season ago.They are playing harder and more cohesive, Leach said. They dont break out a bunch of bells and whistles and try to outsmart you. They are really sound.Here are things to know before Washington State and Colorado clash in a contest with huge conference implications:HEADS OR TAILS: The Buffaloes are 9-1 this season on the opening coin toss. Thats partly due to Liufau, who always picks tails when hes calling it.Tails never fails, Liufau said.On the flip side, Washington State has an intriguing coin-toss tale as well -- running back Jamal Morrow once appeared as a contestant on The Price is Right. Given that, Leach figured it would be good luck to have him out there for the coin toss. Morrow has been one of the captains for the last 19 games and the Cougars have gone 15-4. The team said Morrow is 7-1 calling the toss.KEEPING THEM HONEST: No longer is Washington State just a fling-it-all-over-the-field offense. The Cougars have a bona fide ground game thats scored 22 rushing TDs this season, which is the most since 1997.People have to play us balanced this year, because of the run threat, Falk said. Its really great this year to lean on that at times.MISSING WEAPON: There are reports that Cougars standout receiver River Cracraft tore his ACL against California last week and is done for the season. Leach wouldnt confirm anything, simply saying, we dont comment on any injuries. Hes a great player and still part of our team.Cracraft has caught 53 passes for 701 yards and five touchdowns this season.OFFENSIVE NUMBERS: Washington State averages 517.5 yards in total offense this season. Colorados defense allows just 308.4 yards per game.Statistically, theyre the best weve faced, Cougars receiver Gabe Marks said. Theyve got some athletes out there.LIUFAUS LEGACY: With one more passing TD, Liufau will tie Cody Hawkins (60, 2007-10) for most in a career at Colorado. Liufau has already set or tied 84 school marks.The guys rally around him, Falk said of Liufau. Hes part of turning the program around.---Associated Press Writer Nicholas K. Geranios in Washington contributed to this story.---More AP college football at www.collegefootball.ap.org and https://twitter.com/AP-Top25 . Cheap Chargers Jerseys .J. -- Josh Cribbs was in the Pro Bowl in February and out of a job six months later. Wholesale Chargers Jerseys . Once again Jordan Cieciwa (@FitCityJordan) and I (@LynchOnSports) go head to head in our picks. Last weekend at UFC Fight Night 32 my #TeamLynch got the best of #TeamJC by a score of 9-6. Let us know which side youre on for UFC 167 use the hashtag #TeamLynch or #TeamJC on Twitter. http://www.cheapchargersjerseysauthentic.com/ . -- Five former Kansas City Chiefs players who were on the team between 1987 and 1993 filed a lawsuit Tuesday claiming the team hid and even lied about the risks of head injuries during that time period when there was no collective bargaining agreement in place in the NFL. VANCOUVER, British Columbia -- The Edmonton Oilers are rolling right now and its not just their touted, high-flying offense making the push.Oilers goalie Cam Talbot has been sensational to start the season and on Friday night he stopped 26 shots for his 13th career shutout in a 2-0 win over the Vancouver Canucks.Talbot, who has started all eight games this season, recorded his second shutout in three games, as the Oilers won their fifth straight.Its probably one of the best stretches of my career right now, Talbot said. Im trying to stay focused, stay confident, and go out there and give us a chance to win every night.I need to go out there and make the saves Im supposed to make and hopefully make a few Im not supposed to make.Connor McDavid scored on a breakaway in the second period and Milan Lucic added an empty-netter to help the Western Conference-leading Oilers improve to 7-1-0.Talbots only blemish this season was a 6-2 drubbing on Oct. 16 to Buffalo. Talbot allowed all six of those goals, but he has since rebounded impressively.After that game I told myself what I told myself last year: just go out there and try not to do too much, make the saves I am supposed to make, start there and then build off of that, he said. I did that the next night out. I am in that kind of groove right now and hopefully I can keep it going.Ryan Miller had 25 saves for Vancouver and fell to 12-1-1 in his career against the Oilers. The Canucks, 0-3-1 since starting the season with four wins, were shut out for the second straight game and havent scored since the third period against Anaheim on Sunday.We have to keep grinding away and get some goals, Canucks captain Henrik Sedin said. Its a long season. If you keep playing the same way over and over you are going to bury those (chances) sooner or later. Its a matter of us keeping it going and not change things just because were not scoring right now. Its going to come.A quiet first period erupted midway when Erik Gudbranson took exception to Zack Kassians check and traded blows with the ex-Canuck. Soon after boos rained down for locall product Lucic when the hulking Oilers forward took a roughing penalty, but the Canucks squandered the power-play opportunity.ddddddddddddThere was more end-to-end action in the second with Jannik Hansen getting a point-blank shot from the slot that Talbot turned aside. The Oilers goalie also made a spectacular glove save on Markus Granlund midway that had the large contingent of Oilers fans cheering.McDavid got the Oilers on the scoreboard when he took a backhand pass from Lucic and wheeled past the Canucks defense to slip the puck through Millers legs with 8:29 left in the second. It extended McDavids league lead in points to 12 (five goals, seven assists).I knew if I got it to him he was gone, Lucic said. I dont care who you match up against him, with his wheels, he is going to beat most guys up the ice and he showed it tonight.Talbot was equally impressive early in the third as he swatted away Henrik Sedins slap shot. At the other end, Miller faced down McDavid on another breakaway, but this time made a fast glove save to keep his team in the game.(McDavid) was hard to handle tonight, said Vancouver coach Willie Desjardins. He created three or four great chances just with his speed.Lucic added the empty-net goal with 1:20 left to put the game out of reach.Game notes McDavid has at least a point in four straight games (two goals, four assists). ... Oilers F Anton Lander played in his 200th NHL game. ... Edmonton has not trailed in a game since tying the score at 6:21 of the second period against St. Louis on Oct. 20, stretching its streak of being ahead or tied to 213:39. ... Vancouver is tied for last in the NHL with 14 goals, but is averaging a league-worst 1.75 in eight games. Washington and Buffalo have also scored just 14, but each has played only six games.UP NEXTOilers: Host Ottawa on Sunday night before heading out on a five-game trip.Canucks: Host Washington on Saturday night before heading out on a six-game, nine-day trip. ' ' '