CIS Previews and Predictions (5): The calm before the storm!

A wild weekend it was with old rivalries being renewed, an overtime shootout a couple of upsets being scored. In the RSEQ things all of a sudden got a lot more interesting with Sherbrooke knocking off Montreal and creating a three-way tie for third.

In the OUA Toronto hammered York 40-3 in the annual Red/Blue Game, while the “Battle of Waterloo” was anything but a battle with Laurier shutting out Waterloo 42-0. For the second year in a row, the Panda Game was an absolute thriller. Crosstown rivals Ottawa and Carleton topped last year’s Hail Mar ending with a double overtime 48-45 Carleton win. Finally Kingston was home to the upset of the week with unranked Queen’s knocking off #5 Guelph 23-15.

Another decent week, going 10-3 and bringing the season record to 22-7. With the Thanksgiving weekend here, it’s a lighter than usual slate in the CIS as the Q and CanWest take the weekend off. Below are my picks for week seven, enjoy the holiday weekend!!

 

 

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 8th

 

No. 3 Western Mustangs (5-0) @ Toronto Varsity Blues (2-3) Toronto kept their playoff hopes alive last weekend, with their impressive blowout of crosstown rival York in the annual Red/Blue Game. With the win the Blues control their own destiny when it comes to the playoffs and if they win out they clinch the last playoff spot. That’s the good news. The bad news….Western is up first.

Injuries kept the Mustangs from reaching their potential in 2014 and they have looked like a team possessed this year. The ‘Stangs have outscored the opposition 327 to 65 and have been a runaway train rushing the ball this season averaging 372.6 yards per game so far. Toronto has been a middle of the pack team defensively and that won’t cut it against this Western team. Western wins easily.

WESTERN 59 TORONTO 13

 

Waterloo Warriors (0-5) @ No. 6 McMaster Marauders (4-1) The Marauders are another team that control their playoff destiny, but in a much different manner. If Mac wins out they would get a first week bye, while still having a shot at first. The Marauders boast the nation’s fourth ranked defense, holding opponents to a pedestrian 345 yards per game and if that’s not enough the offense is firing on all cylinders led by first year pivot Asher Hastings who is 4th in passing yards, 2nd in completion percentage and first in TDs. Hastings has completed 131 of 181 passes for 1761 yards with 21 TDs and only two picks.

Waterloo conversely comes in averaging under ten points per game…. see the problem?

MCMASTER 44 WATERLOO 16

Asher Hastings 2015

 

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 9th

 

Acadia Axemen (2-2) @ St. Mary’s Huskies (0-3) – There are four team in the AUS and three are tied at 2-2, great news for the three teams that are tied, bad news for the odd-man out. St. Mary’s have stumbled to an 0 and 5 start and to have any hope of making the playoffs need to win out. That ain’t happening.

Back-to-back one-sided losses have to have taken a toll on the Axemen and the Huskies may be just what the doctor ordered.

ACADIA 36 SMU 10

 

Ottawa Gee-Gees (2-2) @ Laurier Golden Hawks (1-3) – For the second straight year the Gee-Gees come out of Panda losing a game they should have won. Last year they bounced back nicely and should do the same this year, facing Laurier under Friday Night Lights. Ottawa QB Derek Wendel is the only passer to reach 2k so far this season and with his crew of receivers they give Ottawa a shot against anyone. The issue is on the other side where the Gees rank 22nd in points against giving up 38.8 ppg and 18th in yardage with opponents averaging 464 yard per game. Fortunately for Ottawa, life after running back Dillon Campbell has not been easy for Laurier and they will have a lot of trouble keeping pace with the Gees. Ottawa wins going away.

OTTAWA 52 LAURIER 26

York Lions (1-4) @ Carleton Ravens (4-2) The Ravens need to guard against a letdown, but they have too much talent on either side of the ball for the Lions to be competitive. The Ravens have the third best ground game in the country piling up 1249 so far this year and should feast on the less than stellar Lions defense.

CARLETON 49 YORK 18

Carleton 2015 Panda

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 10th

 

Mount Allison Mounties (2-2) @ St. Francis Xavier X-Men (2-2) – Let the separation process begin. The Mounties are again the class of the AUS and will show us why Saturday.

MOUNT ALLISON 33 StFx 19

 

Record Last Week: 10-3 Record This Season: 22-7

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