College Football

No. 9 Colorado seeks Pac-12 South title

Updated Mar. 5, 2020 12:05 a.m. ET

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No. 21 Utah (8-3, 5-3 Pac-12) at No. 9 Colorado (9-2, 7-1, No. 9 CFP).

Line: Colorado by 10.

Series record: Colorado leads 31-28-3.

WHAT'S AT STAKE

Colorado wins the Pac-12 South with a victory and advances to the Pac-12 championship for the first time. Utah's last-minute 30-28 loss to Oregon last week eliminated the Utes from contention for the title and turned their trip to Boulder into a shot at being the spoiler instead. The Utes fell 10 spots in the poll after the loss. If they can upset the Buffaloes, the South title goes to USC, which beat Colorado 21-17 on Oct. 8. The Utes, however, are bowl eligible for the third consecutive year and are 3-0 in the postseason since joining the Pac-12.

KEY MATCHUP

Utes senior running back Joe Williams against Colorado's stout defensive front. Williams has rushed for 1,088 yards in just seven games.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Utah: Williams, senior DE Hunter Dimick, who leads the nation with 14 sacks, and sophomore punter Mitch Wishnowsky, who leads the nation in punt average (48.6), punts of 50-plus yards (26) and punts inside the 10-yard line (14).

Colorado: QB Sefo Liufau is coming off his first career game in which he threw for 300 yards and ran for 100. His backup, Steven Montez, accomplished the feat earlier this season, the first time that had ever happened in school history.

FACTS & FIGURES

The Buffs' No. 9 ranking is their highest since reaching No. 7 on Aug. 26, 2002. ... Utah, which reached as high as No. 11 on Nov. 13, lost its only game to a ranked opponent this season, falling to No. 4 Washington 31-24 on Oct. 19. ... The Utes are 10-9 when both Utah and its opponent are ranked. ... Although the Buffaloes lead the series 31-28-3, Colorado has lost four of five since both schools joined the Pac-12 but the average point differential in those games is just 4.2. ... Utah is second nationally with 26 takeaways. ... Wishnowsky hasn't had a touchback since the first game of the season. ... Senior kicker Andy Phillips is the first player in Utah history to top 400 points. He has 403.

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More AP college football: www.collegefootball.ap.org