CIS PREVIEWS AND PREDICTIONS (8): Supremacy in the Q and playoff spots in the OUA on the line!

Let the fun begin. Only three weeks to go and although the haves and have-nots have separated themselves from each other, seeding for the 2015 postseason is wide open. After a lighter schedule due to Thanksgiving, things are back to normal this weekend with a full slate of action from coast to coast. Once again we will look at all 13 games and after a very shaky start this year, last week’s 5-1 record brings the season tally to 27-8. Below are the picks for week eight, see you next week.

 

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 16^th

No. 1 Calgary Dinos (5-0) @ Saskatchewan Huskies (2-3) – The Huskies get Calgary for the second time in as many games and can only hope that it goes a lot better this time around. Although Saskatchewan is good, Calgary is great. The Dinos have given up 99 points in five games, averaging 19.8 points against per game. The next best defense in the conference, Manitoba, have given up 176 points or 35.2 per game. If that wasn’t enough, they are the only team in the pass happy west to surrender less than 300 yards per game passing (287 ypg against). The really scary part; the Dino offense is as good or better than the D. It might be closer than the last result, a 59-19 Dino win, but not much.

CALGARY 48 SASKATCHEWAN 24

 

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 17^th

St. Francis Xavier X-Men (2-3) @ St. Mary’s Huskies (0-5) – The X-Men are 2-0 against St. Mary’s in 2015, 0-3 against everyone else. You think maybe they’re happy to see the Huskies again.

StFX 28 SMU 17

Mount Allison Mounties (3-2) @ No. 10 Acadia Axemen (3-2) – The rubber match….for now. In what looks to be a preview of the 2015 Loney Bowl the Mounties head to Wolfville to take on the Axemen in in a battle for sole possession of first in the AUS. The Mounties got redemption for the last minute early season loss to the Axemen by handling them 32-14 in a game also contested in Wolfville. Mount A really should be 2-0 against Acadia and will reinforce that fact this weekend.

MOUNT ALLISON 30 ACADIA 20

Toronto Varsity Blues (2-4) @ Waterloo Warriors (0-6) – U of T still have a shot at making the postseason and a win in this one would boost their chances. Fortunately for them they play winless Waterloo.

TORONTO 49 WATERLOO 19

No. 8 McMaster Marauders (5-1) @ Laurier Golden (3-3) – I am not going to lie, I didn’t see the 65-30 pummeling of Ottawa, but in hindsight the way Campbell has been running the ball the Laurier win was probably not an upset. McMaster’s run defense is significantly better than Ottawa’s, in fact they are 2^nd in the OUA giving up only 100 yards a game (keep in mind that the two top ranked run defenses have not played Western and their 358 ypg rushing). They won’t shut down Campbell but will contain him. Offensively Mac has a balanced enough attack to take the pressure off the defense and pull away in the fourth.

MCMASTER 37 LAURIER 28

Ottawa Gee-Gees (2-4) @ No. 3 Western Mustangs (6-0) – How the Gee-Gees have fallen. Once ranked in the top 10 and seen as a contender in the OUA, Ottawa find themselves in danger of not making the playoffs for only the second time in over a decade. Western has been Western this season dominating the OUA jumping out to a 6-0 mark and outscoring opponents 385-67 in the process. With a date at McMaster looming next week, this one has all the makings of a trap game and with Derek Wendel guiding the OU attack the Gees are in any game. But don’t expect a Western letdown, the ‘Stangs are on a mission after injuries derailed the 2014 season. Of note Western is first in the CIS in rushing averaging 358.7 yards a game on the ground. Ottawa ranks 22^nd in rushing defense giving up 206.5 ypg and they haven’t faced anyone like Western. If Western is focused, this could get ugly.

WESTERN 63 OTTAWA 24

Queen’s Gaels (4-2) @ York Lions (1-5) – Flying under the radar for most of the season, Queen’s thrust themselves into the OUA spotlight with last weekend’s 23-15 win over Guelph. With first year starter Nate Hobbs getting better each week (289 ypg passing, 12 TDs, 2 INTs) and the return of receiver Doug Corby, Queen’s has hit their stride offensively. Defensively the Gaels have bounced back from pastings at the hands of Ottawa and Western and York’s anaemic offense should offer little to no challenge. Queen’s will score and score often….York will not.

QUEEN’S 44 YORK 10

Windsor Lancers (1-5) @ No. 7 Guelph Gryphons (5-1) – The Gryphons have had an extra week to stew over their first loss of the year, a 23-15 decision at the hands of Queen’s. Bad news for Windsor.

GUELPH 38 WINDSOR 14

***Upset Alert*** No. 2 Laval Rouge et Or (5-0) @ No. 4 Montreal Carabins (3-2) – A rematch of the last two Dunsmore Cups and more recently the 2015 season opener. the Laval/Montreal rivalry has quickly developed as one of the country’s best. Winners of the last three Vanier Cups, the rivalry now garners national attention. Montreal will be looking to bounce back after falling to Sherbrooke and will play with a sense of urgency in this one, couple that with the fact it’s in Montreal… Not really an big upset but 5-0 Laval will fall this weekend.

MONTREAL 17 LAVAL 13

Bishop’s Gaiters (1-4) @ Concordia Stingers (2-3) – A must win for the Stingers, they will win and then some.

CONCORDIA 38 BISHOP’S 9

McGill Redmen (3-2) @ No. 9 Sherbrooke Vert et Or (3-2) – A battle of 3-2 teams fighting for a first round home playoff game, both teams come in on hot streaks of sorts. McGill has scored 95 points in their last two, while Sherbrooke is coming off a win against fourth ranked Montreal. McGill has improved drastically from last season and continue to get better, but Sherbrooke, especially at home will prove to much.

SHERBROOKE 33 McGill 14

No. 8 Manitoba Bisons (3-2) @ Regina Rams (0-5) – The Rams have three games left to avoid a winless season and at the same time will be looking to play spoiler. One of the best 0-5 teams I have seen, the Rams have inexplicably had trouble scoring and in the Wild West, that ain’t good. Led by QB Theo Deezar, RB Jamel Lyles and a skilled offensive front, the Bisons have no problem scoring and can win a shootout with anyone. Regina will keep this one interesting but Manitoba will take control late.

MANITOBA 44 REGINA 28

Alberta Golden Bears (2-3) @ No. 10 UBC Thunderbirds (3-2) – After starting 2-0 and looking like a playoff contender, the Golden Bears have dropped three in a row and risk missing the playoffs. In their defense all three losses came against top 10 teams, but it doesn’t get any easier with #10 UBC up next. Last time these two got together we were calling for the upset, but not this time. UBC doesn’t appear to have the run game or defense to make a deep playoff run, but they have enough of both to win this game and clinch a playoff spot.

UBC 38 ALBERTA 28

 

Record Last Week: 5-1 Record This Season: 27-8