CFCs Football Canada Cup Day 1 game predictions (all 4 games)

Here are the Football Canada Cup day 1 game predictions. The first game of the tournament is always the toughest and most ‘nerve racking’ for coaches and players because there are so many unknowns. You don’t know your opponent, you don’t know your teammates / players in game situations, you don’t know how certain people will perform.

So it is also the one day with the most unpredictable results, and the greatest chance for an upset. The teams with more pre-tournament preparation will have more of an advantage in game 1 then any of the other games in the tournament. The unknown is the equalizer, and the reason it is so much fun. Here are our humble CFC predictions:

All times are MOUNTAIN TIME ZONE

Game 1 – Ontario West vs. Nova Scotia @ 10:00 am

Ontario West started their training camp in Lethbridge on Wednesday afternoon. This was the first time the team was together since a one-day scrimmage / selection camp with Ontario East in mid-may. In between those two dates Team Nova Scotia has played New Brunswick’s U18 squad and practiced on numerous occasions.

Nova Scotia benefited from great preparation in the 2010 tournament by defeating Alberta in game one. A last minute scoring drive orchestrated by QB Jesse Mills sent the home crowd into a frenzy. Ontario West opened against Quebec in 2010 and the lack of preparation showed with a series of fumbles and busted plays.

This year Ontario West will benefit from the fact that all their coordinators have returned (Behie, Donovan, Brown) and have tournament experience. For Nova Scotia, recently hired Guelph Gryphon offensive coordinator Todd Galloway and Acadia’s Chris Judd hope to use the ‘motion’ offense to keep the Ontario West defense on its heels.

Ontario West should benefit from the presence of QB Will Finch who has led his 3-down Burlington Stampeder’s to a 6-0 record early in the summer season. Nova Scotia had 8 players play in their own Varsity football league final 2 weeks ago (NSVFL). If there will be an upset (based on CFC Power Rankings) in the first round this is the one.

Ontario West 24 Nova Scotia 17

Game 2 – British Columbia vs. Manitoba @ 1:00 pm

British Columbia’s pre-tournament mantra is ‘bring home the gold’. Best to take care of game one and not get too far ahead of themselves. Manitoba returns 6 veterans of the tournament (Timothy Demidiuk, Donovan Gregoire, Jordan Medal, Rhys Hansen, Quinn Horton, Jamie Turek). Receiver Rhys Hansen and running back Timothy Demidiuk will have to be contained by the Team BC defense. Rhys is a big time player.

British Columbia has 4 coaches returning from 2010 and have brought along QB Guru Jay Prepchuk as the offensive coordinator. Recent Washington State commit and tournament veteran Terrell Davis will be the focal point of the Manitoba defense. But if you stop Terrell coach Prepchuk has many more weapons at his disposal. All 3 QBs have had tremendous success in their high school careers. But which one will lead the offense?

Like Nova Scotia, Manitoba is the most prepared team in the tournament. Unlike Ontario West, British Columbia has had a series of camps leading up to the 3-day camp in Calgary.

Key match up will be in the trenches, especially the Manitoba front 7 versus the Team BC offensive line.

British Columbia 22 Manitoba 9

Game 3 – Ontario East vs. Québec @ 4:00 pm

We have picked Quebec as our pre-tournament favourite and for good reason. Four hundred players ‘invited’ to tryout for the team. High caliber coaching staff. The juvenile division 1 (top 10 teams in Quebec) is the best high school football league in the country. Started training camp last Friday, the longest of any teams pre-tournament training camp. However, the ball is still shaped the way it is and this is what makes it such a great game.

Quebec will need better offensive production this year in order to reclaim the gold medal after a 2 year drought. The defense and special teams will be solid and no other team will have the depth of talent.

Ontario East may have the best kicker / punter in the tournament with Sean Decloux. Two solid quarterbacks will be put to the test when they play in game at a level of speed they have never witnessed before. The key will be the defense and if they can hold on long enough to allow the kicking game and offense to catch up. Defensive coordinator Ryan Bechmanis is in his 5th year at the tournament and will have his players ready, albeit in 2 and 1/2 days.

Quebec is known to use a certain ‘psychological’ approach to their games and the Ontario East players are best not to get involved in that battle. Key match up will be the Offensive Line of Ontario East versus the front 7 of Quebec. The winner, wins the game.

Quebec 18 Ontario East 11

Game 4 – Alberta vs. Saskatchewan @ 7:00 pm

This is our most anticipated game of day 1. The host vs. the defending champions. U19 gold medal game opponents in 2009. Prairie football bragging rights.

Alberta hopes to rebound from a dissappointing 2010 tournament and have put a larger emphasis on this tournament because of that and also because they ‘don’t’ want to be a great hosts…at least on the field. Quarterback play should be improved with Taylor Armsworth (Foothills, Okotoks) and Matthew Bonaca (Salisbury, Sherwood Park). They have an abundance of talent to throw too this year.

Saskatchewan will look to lean on the power of running back Drake Drum (5’11”, 200) and the ‘niftyness’ of running backs Matthew Frass (5’8″, 160) and Moose Jaw’s Brandin Cannon (5’6″ 160). There is no Drew Burko (last years QB) on this team but 3 QBs whose style’s compliment one another.

Did we mention this should be the best game of day 1?

Alberta 17 Saskatchewan 16