Washington State has been winning ugly the past two games, while Colorado has been just plain ugly.

Both teams open Pac-12 play today at Martin Stadium in Pullman.

Washington State (2-1) posted narrow victories over Eastern Washington and UNLV that came down to the last play of the game.

Colorado (0-3) is the only winless team in the Pac-12, and is coming off a 69-14 pounding at the hands of Fresno State, after losing its previous game to lower-division Sacramento State.

Colorado coach Jon Embree insisted the losing is not getting to his team.

"They are still preparing hard, as if we were 3-0," Embree said of his players. "Eventually things will break for us, and they'll be rewarded for their effort."

Embree took special steps for his players this week, holding private meetings with each to gauge their spirits. "They are all in a good place," he said.

Washington State, rebuilding under new coach Mike Leach, is a 19-point favorite.

Leach will not say whether senior Jeff Tuel or sophomore Connor Halliday will start at quarterback. Tuel started the first two games, then sat out last week’s win over UNLV with a knee injury. Halliday threw for 378 yards and four touchdowns in the 35-27 win over UNLV, but was intercepted twice.

“You’ll have to stay tuned and watch very closely,” Leach said this week when asked who will start. “The anticipation is killing everyone, including me.”

Colorado also is unsettled at quarterback, although Jordan Webb is expected to remain the starter today, Embree said. Webb has started all three games, but backups Connor Wood and Nick Hirschman saw action against Fresno State. None was effective, with the three combining to complete 11 of 30 passes for 173 yards, one touchdown and four interceptions, two returned for touchdowns.