The Pac-12 has quite the precarious situation on its hands with its 2016 football title game, to be played Friday at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif. between the No. 4 Washington Huskies and No. 8 Colorado Buffaloes. A Huskies win likely secures a spot in the College Football Playoff – where the Pac-12 was not represented last year much to the conference’s dismay. A Buffs win completes a Cinderella season and could deliver Mike MacIntyre AP coach of the year honors, but likely hands the fourth and final CFP spot to Michigan, who will not even play in their conference championship game but beat the Buffaloes in Week 3. Although Washington is an eight point favorite, Pac-12 Network’s Yogi Roth says these teams are very evenly matched, especially on the outside of the field.

“When you look at the film,” Roth says, “there’s some amazing matchups that I think will dictate this ballgame.

“Number One: The wide receivers versus the secondary.[Washington’s] John Ross, I think one of the top receivers in the entire country, he’ll be going against [Colorado’s] Chidobe Awuzie, one of the top corners in the nation.”

Awuize and the Buffs’ secondary will have to stop the quick slants from quarterback Jake Browning to slow down a Washington offense that is averaging 279.6 yards per game.

“I think this kind of play on third-and-five, third-and-six, is going to be critical,” Roth says.

On the other side of the ball, Washington will have its hands full slowing down Sefo Liufau and his receivers, who aren’t far behind at 268.8 yards per game through the air.

“Colorado, I think, one of the most improved wide receiver groups in the entire conference this year. They really attack you, schematically, in an incredible way,” Roth says. “They’re going to be looking for leverage against Budda Baker and Taylor Rapp all evening long … Rapp, a true freshman, Defensive Player of the Year in the Pac-12 Conference for the freshmen.”

The real key to the game, then, will be the guys working to get the ball to those receivers, says Roth.

“This is going to be a fun matchup to watch. The secondary of both these teams, the wideout groups, I think it comes down to how does their quarterbacks handle pressure. Colorado, they pressure 40 percent of the time. Can Jake Browning spit the ball out? Can his receivers make plays like they have all season long?

“Contrary, [Washington], they blitz only 16 percent of the time. Can Sefo Liufau handle it when they do bring unique pressures? Can he get the ball out? Who’s going to make plays when the ball is in the air? That’s what championship games are all about.”

Colorado and Washington kick off at 6 p.m. Friday night.