CFC “CEGEP PICK ‘EM” (3): Who are the contenders & pretenders?

Time certainly does fly! In the blink of an eye it’s September, everyone is back in school and amazingly we are only a couple of weeks away from the midway point of the 2015 season. If we have figured out anything so far it’s that parity is the name of the game at the D1 level. With only two unbeaten teams left after just three games, it looks to be anyone’s title for the taking.

D2 and D3 are another matter completely, appearing to be the D1 Bizarro world….everything is the opposite. Although it’s only two weeks in, John Abbott and defending champ Saint-Jean appear to be on an island of their own as D2 has the look of a two-horse race. Valleyfield since their jump from D3 have surprised many and at this early stage look to be the sole potential interloper in the two team party. The D3 level seems a little tighter, but St.Lambert and Outaouais look like early favourites in the Southwest Conference and Thetford, the beast of the Northeast.

With a 3-2 mark last week, we improved to a paltry 5-4 record on the season, so maybe one should take the above with a grain of salt….we shall see. On that note here are our fearless predictions for this week’s installment of the CFC CEGEP PICK’EM.

 

CFC CEGEP PICK ‘EM 2015 (3) WEEK 4:

 

LES GRIFFONS DE L’OUTAOUAIS (2-0) @ CHAMPLAIN-ST. LAMBERT CAVALIERS (2-0) – D3

THE MATCH UP: Easily the game of the week at any of the three divisions, this one is for first place in D3’s South-West Conference. Both teams come in sporting 2-0 records and the winner in this one sets themselves up nicely in the early standings.

Les Griffons have looked very good this year, particularly on offense scoring 72 points in their first two, including a 45 point outburst against an Ahuntsic defense that pitched a shutout in week one.

Led by captain and 3rd year man Max Proulx aka Danzig, the Griffons offensive line is among the best in the South-West Conference. Proulx exemplifies the typical Griffons lineman….agile and strong and with rookie running back Sébastien Beland looking every bit as good as advertised, the Griffons have the opportunity to have the league’s scariest ground attack. The really scary part….they may be just as good through the air. QB Oli Sabourin has flourished under the Griffons offensive coaches and has a bevy of targets to hit including 6’4″ Felix Lupien and can go vertical in a hurry.

Not to be outdone, the Cavaliers have looked just as impressive on the defensive side of the ball shutting down their opponents in the first two games while taking the pressure off the offense. First year defensive coordinator Luc Pelland brings a wealth of experience to the table with his most recent stops including heading up defenses in the CIS and for Team Quebec. As good as the Griffons offense has been the Cavs will be well prepared and should be up to the task.

For the Cavaliers to win though they need to manufacture some points on defense or special teams to supplement their offense. That’s not to say the Cavs offense won’t score, because they should enjoy some degree of success against the Griffons but the question is can they score enough? First year man Maxime Giroux has shown flashes of brilliance, already scoring on a punt return in 2015 and more of the same would really help this weekend as the Cavaliers defense should slow down the Griffons, but to ask them to shut them down may be a little much.

WHAT WILL HAPPEN: A great early season battle this one should be very tight going into the fourth. Look for Griffons running back Sébastien Beland to wear down the Cavs defense and with a few big Sabourin passes the Griffs pull away late.

FINAL SCORE: OUTAOUAIS 33 ST. LAMBERT 24

 

 

#1 LE NOTRE DAME DE COLLEGE NOTRE DAME-DE-FOY (CNDF) (3-0) @ LES PHÉNIX D’ANDRÉ-GRASSET (1-2)

THE MATCH UP: The top ranked team visit André Grasset this weekend in a game that could be closer than many anticipate. Les Phénix got their first D1 win shutting down Limoilou last week and holdings the Titans offense without a touchdown. The Phénix defense seems to be gelling and hitting their stride and good thing……

CNDF is #1 for a reason, strong on both sides of the ball, they have been a juggernaut offensively so far. QB David Pelletier has taken over nicely at the pivot spot and continues to impress. Last week Pelletier hit on 22 of 35 last week for 309 yards boosting his 2015 totals to 805 yards and seven TD passes vs. a sole interception. Jérémie Sauvageau and Alexandre Gailloux are two of the league’s best when it comes to catching the ball, with Gailloux fourth overall in receiving yards and Sauvageau sixth in receptions.

WHAT WILL HAPPEN: Les Phénix will be on a high after their first win and should come out guns a blazing, maybe even lead at some point, but by early in the third there will be little doubt as to who the winner will be.

FINAL SCORE: CNDF 42 ANDRÉ-GRASSET 21

 

 

#2 CHAMPLAIN-LÉNNOXVILLE COUGARS (3-0) @ VANIER CHEETAHS (1-2)

THE MATCH UP: Another one of those games that you would have circled when the schedules came out,  looked to have lost it’s luster heading into last weekend. But with the Vanier Cheetahs getting their first W, this game all of a sudden became a lot more interesting.

Much has been said about the Cougars offense and for good reason. Mike Arruda can throw and run, while his favourite target Marc Antoine-Pivin may be the best in the business. Pivin can do it all, he can stretch out the defense, out jump defenders, catch in traffic….you name it. Pivin is a big target who leads the league in catches and receiving yards while also finding himself third overall in yards per catch. With Arruda and Pivin hooking up the Cougars are in any game. Defensively the Cougars are as strong as ever, Khadeem Pierre joins veteran star Samuel Brodrique to lead a secondary, second to none.

Vanier snapped out of their malaise and laid one on arch rival Vieux Montréal last week and will look to build on that. QB Dimitri Sinodinos has been very good, despite the 1-2 start and defensively Kean Harelimana and Zack Fitzgerald lead the way. Fitzgerald broke the Spartiates back last week, icing the Vanier win with a 100 yard pick six.

WHAT WILL HAPPEN: Vanier is not as bad as the 1-2 start and will play this one tight, expect Champlain have a little bit more and win a great ballgame.

FINAL SCORE: CHAMPLAIN 35 VANIER 26

LES LYNX DU ÉDOUARD MONTPETIT (0-3) @ LES ÉLANS DU GARNEAU (0-3)

THE MATCH UP: Les Lynx will now try to avoid making it seventeen losses in a row when they do battle against fellow winless squad, les Élans du Garneau. Both teams are searching for their first win of the season and although it’s only week four, the loser can start talking about next year.

For les Lynx to have any chance at snapping the streak the defense has to play big and the offense wake up. Averaging under 10 points a game, Les Lynx have to improve on that to have any hope. Running back Rida Malki has averaged 6.8 yards per carry and if he gets enough touches…..good things may happen.

WHAT WILL HAPPEN: The Lynx losing streak ends at sixteen!!

FINAL SCORE: ÉDOUARD MONTPETIT 17 GARNEAU 11

 

 

#3 LES FAUCONS DU LÉVIS-LAUZON (2-1) @ LES NOMADES DU MONTMORENCY (1-2)

THE MATCH UP: For les Nomades, probably the wrong weekend to host les Faucons. Lévis-Lauzon feel as if they should be 3-0 and will be looking to prove that point after they lost their first game so far, 26-21 against #2 Champlain-Lennoxvile.

WHAT WILL HAPPEN: Expect les Faucons, to be very rude guests. This one will be settled by the beginning of the fourth.

FINAL SCORE: LÉVIS-LAUZON 38 MONTMORENCY 18

 

 

LES TITANS DU LIMOILOU (1-2) @ #4 LES SPARTIATES DU VIEUX MONTRÉAL (2-1)

THE MATCH UP: Les Spartiates will try to get back on track after suffering their first loss of the season a 44-20 loss at the hands of Vanier. However don’t let the 2-1 record fool you, this is a team with a lot of question marks and could just as easily be 0-3. Big things were expected out of CFC100 QB Frédéric Paquette-Perrault this season and so far he has struggled. Paquette-Perrault has completed just over 50% of his pass while posting a 4/5 TD/INT ratio. Not exactly the numbers you are looking for from one of the nation’s best pivots.

Les Titans came crashing down to earth last week, turning the ball over seven times with four interceptions to fall 32-16 to André Grasset. Anything close to that number and the Titans are in deep trouble.

WHAT WILL HAPPEN: I’m really tempted to say the Titans, what the heck…here’s your upset of the week.

FINAL SCORE: LIMOILOU 23 VIEUX MONTRÉAL 21