Washington @ Colorado preview

Last Meeting ( Oct 15, 2011 ) Colorado 24, Washington 52

Washington's 1-3 start in the Pac-12 took it out of North Division title contention, but the Huskies have a chance to finish the regular season as the second-hottest team in the conference behind Oregon. Washington visits inept Colorado on Saturday before closing with struggling rival Washington State in the Apple Cup on Nov. 23. If they win their final two games, the Huskies will carry a five-game win streak into their third straight bowl appearance and record their first eight-win season since 2001. The Buffaloes have lost six straight and are allowing a nation-worst 47.2 points per game - on pace to shatter the school record for points allowed and to register the worst won-loss mark in school history.

TV: 1:30 p.m. ET, FX. LINE: Washington -20

ABOUT WASHINGTON (6-4, 4-3 Pac-12): The Huskies are coming together in all facets of their game. The defense, which yielded the second-most yards in the Pac-12 at 453.3 per game last season, has improved to 372.9 in 2012 and has allowed 15 points per game during the win streak. Running back Bishop Sankey rushed for 162 yards and two touchdowns in Washington's 32-15 victory over Utah last week. One of quarterback Keith Price's favorite targets is sophomore tight end Austin Seferian-Jenkins, who caught seven passes against Utah and set a school record with 96 in his career. Price didn't throw an interception for the first time in seven games as the Huskies scored their second-most points this season.

ABOUT COLORADO (1-9, 1-6): The Buffaloes allowed Arizona's Ka'Deem Carey to rush for 366 yards - a Pac-12 record and the most ever allowed by Colorado - in the 56-31 loss to the Wildcats last week. The Buffaloes have allowed 50 or more points in five games and are third-to-last in the country in yards allowed at 505 per game. Sophomore quarterback Nick Hirschman got his first career start last week, but left early in the third quarter after suffering a concussion. If Hirschman cannot go Saturday, fellow sophomore Connor Wood, a transfer from Texas, will get his first start. A bright spot has been freshman running back Christian Powell, who has 625 yards and seven touchdowns.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Seferian-Jenkins' 55 receptions lead the nation among TEs.

2. Colorado must win one of its final two games - it hosts Utah on Nov. 23 - to avoid recording its worst record. The 1980 and 1984 teams were 1-10. The 1980 team allowed a school-record 41.0 points per game.

3. Washington leads the series 6-5-1, including a 52-24 victory in Seattle last season - the first meeting since 2000.

PREDICTION: Washington 45, Colorado 24