Whoever it was who coined the phrase “the playoffs are a whole new season” knew what they were talking about. In last weekend’s conference finals, the road team/underdog won in each of the four games. In two of the title games, the CanWest and OUA, previously unbeaten teams fell proving once again October is for pretenders, November for contenders.
The west coast is home to the nation’s hottest as the UBC Thunderbirds won their sixth in a row knocking off previously unbeaten Calgary to claim the Hardy Cup and the 2015 CanWest crown. The T-Birds knocked off the Dinos 34-26 to advance to the national semis for the first time since 1997 when they won it all. UBC will now travel across our great country to Nova Scotia where they will take on the hottest team in the east, StFX. The X-Men, on a five game win streak of their own, knocked off Mount Allison for the second time in three weeks, this time on a 41 yard field goal with 45 seconds left to clinch their first AUS crown since 1996.
The nation’s other unbeaten team Western also fell in the conference finals, losing the Yates Cup to Guelph, 23-17. The Gryphons, much like StFX will be making their first national semifinal appearance since 1996. Their opponent however, was here last season. The defending Vanier Cup champs are still alive, winning their second straight Dunsmore Cup, again on enemy turf, with a thrilling 18-16 win over Laval. The Carabins special teams are becoming a thing of legends, blocking a Laval field goal attempt on the game’s final play. Montreal, if you remember won their first Vanier cup title last season, blocking a McMaster field goal in the dying moments to preserve the 20-19 win.
With three of the four teams making their first appearance in the semi-finals since the turn of the century, there should be a new energy brought to this weekend’s games. Always the most intriguing weekend of the year, the debate will only heat up as to which conference is best.
For the first time all year I finished the week with a losing record, going 1-3 in last weekend’s games. My record on the season sits at 65-17 but in games involving the UBC Thunderbirds, I’m a miserable 2-6. So you should probably take anything I say about the Uteck bowl with a grain of salt! On that note here are my picks to advance to the Vanier. Good luck to everyone and make sure to catch the action live or on Sportsnet 360.
CFC CIS PREVIEWS & PREDICTIONS: THE NATIONAL SEMI-FINALS, THE MITCHELL & UTECK BOWLS:
2015 UTECK BOWL:
#4 MONTRÉAL CARABINS (8-2) @ #5 GUELPH GRYPHONS (9-1) – Saturday Nov 21st 12h30 Alumni Stadium, Guelph, ON.
THE MATCH UP: If you like smash mouth football then Guelph is the place for you Saturday afternoon. Two of the country’s top defenses square off against two of the nation’s best backs with Guelph’s Johnny Augustine and Montreal’s Sean Thomas Erlignton set to showcase their talent’s this weekend on a national stage.
The Gryphons flexed their defensive muscles last week in their win over Western, holding the nation’s number one offense to 430 total yards, almost 300 yards less than their season average of 729. The Gryphons were among the best in the OUA defensively and have been even better in the playoffs. But as good as Guelph has been, the Carabins have been even better. Montreal comes in boasting the country’s best defense ranked in the top 3 in most stats. How dominant were les Carabins? Montreal was the only team in any conference to give up less than 100 yards per game on the ground, yielding a stingy 93.5 yards per game on the ground.
MONTRÉAL PLAYERS TO WATCH: QB Gabriel Cousineau, RB Sean Thomas Erlignton, REC Regis Cibasu, DB Malko Zepeda, REC LM Normandin, DB Vincent Chabot
GUELPH PLAYERS TO WATCH: LB John Rush, QB James Roberts, RB Johnny Augustine, HB Nick Parisotto, FS Tristan Doughlin, RET Ryan Nieuwesteeg, REC Jacob Scarfone, LB Curtis Newton
WHY MONTRÉAL WILL WIN: The Carabins defense make them a good bet in any game. Able to slow down any offense in the country, expect them to make life very difficult for the Gryphons and their young QB. If the Gryphons can’t run this one could get away from them. The x-factor however, could be QB Gab Cousineau. Cousineau has been here before and has played in countless big games and may prove the difference maker.
WHY GUELPH WILL WIN: If Johnny Augustine can find a way to wear down the Carabins defense on the ground, John Rush and the Guelph D will take care of the rest. The Gryphons front is solid and if they are able climb downhill, even a yard or so, Augustine will make the Carabins pay. Augustine has rushed for 353 yards in Guelph’s two wins and needs to have another big day against Montreal if Guelph hopes to advance.
WHAT WILL HAPPEN: This should be a low scoring affair where 20 points gets you the win and the Carabins are a touch more multi-dimensional on offense. Senior Gab Cousineau can carry this offense if needs be. Guelph pivot James Roberts is good and has the looks of being one of the country’s premier passers for years to come, but I like the edge in experience Cousineau provides. Both defenses will contain the run and Gab Cousineau will convert a few more second downs, make an extra play or two, etc. A close one, with the defending champs going back to Vanier.
FINAL SCORE: MONTRÉAL 22 GUELPH 16
2015 MITCHELL BOWL:
#6 UBC THUNDERBIRDS (8-2) @ SAINT FRANCIS XAVIER X-MEN (7-3) – Saturday Nov 21st 17h00 AT Oland Stadium, Antigonish, NS.
THE MATCH UP: Possibly the country’s two hottest teams square off as east meets west in a battle of the coasts. UBC will cross Canada to meet St.FX in a surprising match-up to say the least.
Word around the AUS, for some time now, has been that the league’s best talent resides in Antigonish, Nova Scotia. Untapped potential seemed to be the best way to describe the X-Men and with an unimpressive 2-3 start to the season, mediocrity seemed inevitable. The X-Men however got on that ever important roll and have beaten both Acadia and Mount Allison, twice each in the last four weeks, leaving little doubt as to who the “tops of the pops” is in the AUS. St.FX’s strong finish reinforced, that it doesn’t matter how you start, it matters how you finish. Just ask UBC.
The Thunderbirds opened the season with head coach Blake Nill visiting his old stomping ground, only to be greeted abruptly, losing 49-16 to the Calgary Dinos. UBC’s offense righted things quickly, but it wasn’t until mid-season that the defense started to have the look of a contender. UBC has looked as good or better than anyone in the country, outscoring their opposition 86-36 in their two playoff games.
UBC PLAYERS TO WATCH: QB Michael O’Connor, LB Terrell Davis, LB Mitch Barnett, RB Brandon Deschamps, RET Trivel Pinto, SB Will Watson, SB Marcus Davis, DB Stavros Katsantonis
StFX PLAYERS TO WATCH: RB Ashton Dickson, QB Tivon Cook, DL Jimmie Cunningham, LT Vernon Sainvil , REC Randy Roseway, SB Donald Taber, LB Daniel Tshiamala,
WHY UBC WILL WIN: The Thunderbirds are playing as well as anyone in the nation. UBC should dominate upfront, neutralizing the AUS’ best player running back Ashton Dickson. The X-Men have not been forced to rely on the pass and if UBC forces them to, on this big a stage……
WHY StFX WILL WIN: The aforementioned Dickson has a game for the ages. On paper UBC is the better team, by a few notches, but Ashton Dickson is the best player on either roster. Dickson can change the outcome in a hurry and in front of the home crowd, a few big runs and StFX will be heading to the Cup……
WHAT WILL HAPPEN: Earlier in the year I said Blake Nill would have this UBC team competing for a Vanier soon, just not this year…..I was WRONG. UBC’s win last weekend against Calgary was no fluke, the T-Birds are red hot and more importantly, believe they are unbeatable. UBC is the better team and have been playing at maximum capacity. The T-Birds advance to Vanier, pulling away in the third
FINAL SCORE: UBC 30 StFX 19
Record Last Week: 1-3 Overall Record This Season: 65-17
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