Bison Football travel to play at Alberta (VIDEO)

The Manitoba Bisons football team continues their pursuit of a Canada West playoff spot as they travel to play the Alberta Golden Bears (2-4) in Edmonton, AB on Saturday, October 23. Kickoff will occur at 2 p.m. CT at Foote Field and the game will be shown live as part of Shaw TV’s “Game of the Week”.

This will be a battle of two teams desperate for a win. Manitoba (1-5) is on a three game losing streak and only win so far this season was at UBC on Sept. 18 (W 40-17). The Bears are clinging to the fourth and final playoff spot – tied with UBC – despite a four game losing streak and their last victory was at Manitoba on Sept. 11 (W 31-6). The Bisons are still only one game back of a playoff spot in Canada West.

With only two games left in the Canada West schedule, Manitoba must win this weekend to have a chance at the playoff. With a victory, the Bisons would be tied with Alberta with one home match left against UBC (Oct. 30). Manitoba right now is down 25 points in the tiebreaker to Alberta prior to Oct. 23 game result.

During the 15 years tenure of head coach Brian Dobie at Manitoba, the Bisons are 8-11-1 in the regular season against Alberta. On the road, the Bisons are only 3-5-1 at Alberta but have won the last two times there (Sept. 19/08: W 27-17; Oct. 6/07: W 29-16) and the last time Manitoba lost at Foote Field was in the 2005 season.

In team conference stats, the two teams rank low in some major categories. In scoring offence, Alberta is fifth (21.0 points per game) while Manitoba is sixth (17.3 ppg), while in scoring defence, the Bisons are sixth with 37.3 ppg and the Bears are fourth at 27.0. In total offence, Alberta is fifth with 383.2 yards per game and Manitoba is sixth at 351.8. In total defence, Manitoba is sixth with 492.2 yards per game and the Bears are fourth at 449.5. In pass offence, Alberta is fourth (228.2 yards); Bisons are fifth (204.3). In pass defence, Manitoba is fourth (255.7 yards); the Bears are fifth (258.2). In rush offence, Manitoba is sixth (147.5 yards per game) and Alberta is fifth (155.0). In rush defence, the Bears are fourth (191.3) and Manitoba is sixth (236.5).

The game can be heard live on radio at 101.5 FM (umfm.com) with pre-game starting at 1:45 p.m. CT. Derek Taylor will be handling play-by-play with Matt Rollason as the colour commentary.

Key Stats – Bison FTB History vs. Alberta last 15 seasons
(Regular season: Bisons 8-11-1, Bisons at home: 5-6-0, Bisons on the road: 3-5-1; Playoffs: 0-1)

Saturday September 11, 2010
Alberta 31 Manitoba 6 at Manitoba

Saturday October 3, 2009
*Alberta 1 Manitoba 0 at Manitoba
(* Forfeited game due to ineligible player)
– The original score was 20-13 Manitoba

Friday September 19, 2008
Manitoba 27 Alberta 17 at Alberta

Saturday October 6, 2007
Manitoba 29 Alberta 16 at Alberta

Saturday September 23, 2006
Manitoba 29 Alberta 14 at Manitoba

Saturday November 5, 2005 (CW Semi)
Alberta 33 Manitoba 24 at Alberta

Saturday October 1, 2005
Alberta 24 Manitoba 14 at Alberta

Saturday October 9, 2004
Alberta 39 Manitoba 25 at Manitoba

Saturday September 20, 2003
Alberta 71 Manitoba 16 at Alberta

Saturday September 28, 2002
Manitoba 30 Alberta 15 at Manitoba

Saturday September 22, 2001
Manitoba 46 Alberta 13 at Manitoba

Saturday October 21, 2000
Manitoba 33 Alberta 23 at Manitoba

Saturday September 9, 2000
Manitoba 17 Alberta 17 at Alberta

Saturday October 30, 1999
Alberta 35 Manitoba 18 at Manitoba

Saturday September 18, 1999
Manitoba 59 Alberta 38 at Alberta

Saturday October 3, 1998
Alberta 28 Manitoba 24 at Alberta

Saturday November 7, 1998
Alberta 20 Manitoba 17 at Manitoba

Saturday September 6, 1997
Manitoba 41 Alberta 31 at Manitoba

Saturday October 11, 1997
Alberta 28 Manitoba 14 at Alberta

Saturday September 21, 1996
Alberta 41 Manitoba 14 at Manitoba

Saturday October 26, 1996
Alberta 44 Manitoba 3 at Alberta