designed to detect if cheats are injeecting synthetic genes which cause the body to produce more of the naturally-occurring hormone EPO, which in turn boosts the bodys ability to carry more oxy

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 . Russ Grimm Youth Jersey . - NASCAR announced a 33-race schedule for the 2014 Nationwide Series with virtually no changes from this years slate. Clinton Portis Redskins Jersey . The defence is doing its part, too. Drew Brees threw a pair of touchdown passes in the first half and the guys on the other side made sure that was enough, sending the Saints to a 17-13 victory over the Atlanta Falcons on Thursday night. https://www.redskinssportsgoods.com/Womens-Alex-Smith-Inverted-Jersey/ .ca! Kerry, Two nights after the Scott-Eriksson incident in Buffalo, the Bruins returned home to play San Jose. In that game, Zdeno Chara put a check on Tommy Wingels that clearly targeted his head. Russ Grimm Womens Jersey . Murray beat Sam Querrey 7-6 (5), 6-7 (3), 6-1, 6-3 to clinch Britains opening-round victory against the United States on Sunday at Petco Park. "Im proud of the way Im playing just now, because I had to do a lot of work to get back to where I want to be," Murray said after celebrating with his teammates on the red clay court in a temporary stadium in left field of the downtown home of baseballs San Diego Padres. Trent Williams Redskins Jersey . -- Al Jefferson found a groove just in time for the Charlotte Bobcats. The International Olympic Committee is looking at a new test for gene doping, although it wont be used at the Rio de Janeiro Games, the IOCs medical and scientific director said.The new test -- developed in Australia to identify if an athlete is artificially adjusting their DNA to enhance performance -- is not yet in use at a World Anti-Doping Agency-accredited laboratory, Dr. Richard Budgett told The Associated Press.But the new procedure, when and if approved by WADA, will be used to test samples from the Rio Olympics after the games to see if any athletes were gene doping, Budgett said.The samples collected in Rio will at some point be tested for gene doping (after the games), but we have a principle, we will not put in place a test that hasnt actually been used yet by a WADA-accredited laboratory, Budgett said in a phone interview.The IOC can re-test doping samples up to 10 years after an Olympics, enabling it to catch drug cheats who evaded detection at the time when new testing methods become available.The gene doping test is designed to detect if cheats are injeecting synthetic genes which cause the body to produce more of the naturally-occurring hormone EPO, which in turn boosts the bodys ability to carry more oxygen in its blood.ddddddddddddThere is already a test to pick up if athletes are directly injecting EPO, the substance at the heart of the Lance Armstrong doping scandal in cycling. This test is designed to pick up if subtle changes have been made to DNA to make the body produce the extra EPO.There had been reports that the IOC was going to introduce the gene doping test to its program at next months Rio Games. But the test isnt ready yet, Budgett said late Thursday from Rio.We will absolutely not experiment at the Olympic Games. We will use tests that are validated by WADA and for which the reference material is available, Budgett said. As I understand it, Im told the reference material for this new gene doping EPO test is not available yet. So, when it is, then the testing will be done. ' ' '