WASHINGTON — Sens. Wayne Allard of Colorado and Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania are friends in the Capitol, but when their states' NFL teams go head to head in Denver this weekend, they'll be rivals.

The Republican senators are wagering lunch on the AFC title game: Rocky Mountain rib eye steaks versus Quaker Steak & Lube buffalo wings. The Denver Broncos play the Pittsburgh Steelers Sunday.

"I watched the Steelers' game last Sunday and they looked a little overweight, like they might run out of gas at our high altitude," Allard said. "I predict that our leaner, meaner Broncos will win in the 4th quarter."

But Santorum says Denver is "nothing but a pit stop on the road to Detroit."

"Senator Allard should know that I like my steak Pittsburgh rare," Santorum said.

The upcoming game has inspired other politicians from the states to gamble too.

Colorado Gov. Bill Owens and Pennsylvania Gov. Edward G. Rendell bet a famous culinary favorite from each city — as well as public humiliation for each chief executive.

Rendell is wagering one box of Pittsburgh's Original Hot Dog Shop hot dogs and a case of Heinz condiments. He agreed to wear Bronco quarterback Jake Plummer's No. 16 jersey for one day in the Pennsylvania state capitol if the Steelers lose.

Owens put up a box of Colorado buffalo burgers and promised he will wear Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger's No. 7 jersey around Denver.

Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper on Tuesday bet Pittsburgh Mayor Bob O'Connor six buffalo rib eye steaks with all the trimmings. Should the Steelers lose, O'Connor has promised to send a "tailgate package" to Hickenlooper, complete with barbecued chipped ham, barbecued kolbassi, and Big Ben's BBQ Sauce.

The senators struck the bargain Tuesday when Allard popped down the hall into Santorum's office to yell, "Go Broncos," Allard's spokeswoman Angela de Rocha said.

According to their deal, the senator whose team loses provides a lunch of his favorite food to the winning team's hometown senator.

Allard would buy steaks from Greeley, Colo., meat producer Swift & Co. Santorum's meal would be shipped down from Quaker Steak & Lube, a car-themed restaurant started in Sharon, Pa.

The winner of the Broncos-Steelers matchup will take on the NFC champion — either Carolina or Seattle — in Super Bowl XL on Feb. 5 in Detroit.