OUT OF THE TUNNEL: WELCOME TO THE STRETCH RUN

BY: RODPEDERSEN.COM STAFF

The days are getting shorter and the nights are getting colder. This can only mean one thing:

We are in the final stretch of the CFL season.

After some great games this past weekend, the West Division is incredibly tight at the top and the East is surprisingly no different.

Let’s have some fun and do some forecasting on how the final standings will roll-out. Here’s a spoiler; the final standings in the West could get extra fun! (Read on)

While the CFL has their super-computer doing the percentages on who will win the Grey Cup, we at Out of the Tunnel favour a pen, paper and a little common sense which computers don’t provide. We also love chaos and that has a little to do with our prediction of the final result.

WEST DIVISION

Remaining schedules and win predictions:

Winnipeg (9-4): v./HAM(W), @SSK(L), v./MTL(W), @CGY(L), v./CGY(W)

Calgary (9-4): @MTL(L), v./SSK(W), v./WPG(W), @WPG(L), @BC(W)

Saskatchewan (8-4): @TOR(W), v./WPG(W), @CGY(L), @BC(W), @EDM(L), v./EDM(W)

Edmonton (6-7): @OTT(W), @HAM(L), v./BC(W), v./SSK(W), @SSK(L)

B.C. (3-10): v./MTL(W), v./TOR(W), @EDM(L), v./SSK(L), v./CGY(L)

FINAL STANDINGS PREDICTION:

1. Calgary 12-6

2. Winnipeg 12-6

3. Saskatchewan 12-6

4. Edmonton 9-9

5. B.C. 5-13

So, here’s the chaos. Saskatchewan wins the season series with Winnipeg but loses the series to Calgary. Winnipeg loses the season series to Saskatchewan but beats Calgary, and Calgary wins the season series with Saskatchewan and loses to Winnipeg.

Tie break #1 – the club that has won the greater number of games played against all member Clubs of the League. This is out the door, so off to…

Tie break #2 – the club that has the higher winning percentage in all games played against all of the other tied Club(s).  This is where we finish things.

The combined records of the season series between the top three teams:

Calgary 3-2 (lost series to Winnipeg 1-2 and beat Saskatchewan 2-0)

Winnipeg 3-3 (lost to Saskatchewan 2-1 and beat Calgary 2-1)

Saskatchewan 2-3 (lost to Calgary 0-2 and beat Winnipeg 2-1)

This means Calgary will host the West final while Saskatchewan will play in Winnipeg in the West Semi-Final. Saskatchewan will do what the Bombers did to them in 2018 and win in hostile territory to set up a Riders/Stamps West Final for a chance to go to the Grey Cup.

This is the outcome we are here for, pure chaos with fans in the stands, scoreboard watching with their calculators out.

One thing that could get in the way is that Edmonton will have the crossover sealed by the time they face Saskatchewan in the home-and-home series to finish the season. They may rest their guys and for that Saskatchewan may have the overall edge.

In the beginning of the season most thought the crossover team from the West would have the easier path to the Grey Cup in Calgary. Now heading into either Montreal or Hamilton is a tall task for any team to overcome.

EAST DIVISION

Hamilton (10-3): @WPG(L), v./EDM(W), V./OTT(W), @MTL(L), v./TOR(W)

Montreal (7-5): @BC(L), v./CGY(W), @WPG(L), v./TOR(W), v./HAM(W), @OTT(W)

Ottawa (3-10): v./EDM(L), @TOR(W), @HAM(L), @TOR(L), v./MTL(L)

Toronto (2-10): v./SSK(L), @BC(L), v./OTT(L), @MTL(L), v./OTT(W), @HAM(L)

FINAL STANDINGS PREDICTION:

Hamilton 13-5

Montreal 11-7

Ottawa 4-14

Toronto 3-15

Pretty chalky to finish off the season but this is how things have been since week five of the season. Montreal will beat Edmonton in the East Semi-Final and then head to Hamilton for what will be a great East Division Final for a berth to the Grey Cup in Calgary.

This Week in Canada West:

The University of Alberta Golden Bears are the surprise of the Canada West in 2019. Their great season continued with a 19-17 victory over the University of Saskatchewan Huskies.

The Golden Bears needed some last second heroics for their third win of the season. With 2:10 left in the fourth quarter, the Huskies held a slim 17-16 lead. The Golden Bears started the drive from their own four-yard line when quarterback Brad Laundardt directed a nine play drive to set up a 45-yard, game winning field goal by Jonathan Giustini for the victory.

The Calgary Dinos continued their undefeated season by beating the struggling Regina Rams 20-7. Adam Sinagra threw for 347-yards and a touchdown in the victory for the Dinos while Seb Britton made his first start of the season for the Rams and had 218 yards through the air.

The Manitoba Bisons up their record to 2-2 by easily handling the UBC Thunderbirds 37-19. Victor St. Pierre-Laviolette led the way offensively for the Bisons with 108-yards on the ground with an average of 8.3 yards per carry while the Bisons defence collected three interceptions.

Week 5 in Canada West (all times local):

Friday, September 27

Calgary (4-0) at Saskatchewan (2-2) 7:00pm Griffiths Stadium

Saturday, September 28

Regina (1-3) at Manitoba (2-2) 2:00pm IG Field

Alberta (3-1) at UBC (0-4) 3:00pm Thunderbird Stadium

This Week in the Prairie Football Conference:

The Regina Thunder had the biggest win of the weekend with a 24-21 victory over the Edmonton Huskies at Mosaic Stadium. The Thunder trailed 21-12 late in the fourth quarter when they scored two touchdowns in the last 2:40 to complete the fantastic finish and are now in a tie for second with the Huskies in the PFC.

The Saskatoon Hilltops continue to roll through the PFC regular season. Sunday afternoon they walked over the visiting Calgary Colts 53-6 at SMF Field. With just three games left, this all but seals first spot for the ‘Toppers.

The Edmonton Wildcats won their second game of the season, going on the road to knock off the Winnipeg Rifles 28-2. With the victory, the Wildcats climb into the fourth and final playoff spot in the PFC with just three games to go.

Week 7 in the Prairie Football Conference (all times local):

Sunday, September 29

Edmonton Huskies (3-2) at Winnipeg Rifles (1-4) 1:00pm IG Field

Saskatoon Hilltops (5-0) at Edmonton Wildcats (2-3) 1:00pm Clarke Park

Regina Thunder (3-2) at Calgary Colts (1-4) 1:00pm McMahon Stadium

Canadian to Watch in the NCAA:

QB – Mike Beaudry (Grad Transfer)
Connecticut (AAC)
6′ 5″ 250lbs.
Orlando, Florida
High School – Haggerty High School

Beaudry was born in and spent his first 11 years in Saskatchewan.

Played high school at Haggerty High School in Oviedo, Florida and attending West Florida to begin his college career.

Beaudry flashed signs of brilliance in 2017, leading the Argos to the NCAA Division 2 National Championships. He missed all of 2016 and all but one game of 2018 because of injuries.

In 2019, Beaudry has dressed in two games and started in the Huskies opener against Wagner College and completed 14/21 passes for 158 yards.

He is a strong candidate to get a shot at a CFL camp in the spring of 2020.

(RODPEDERSEN.COM STAFF)

Week 15 Recap by Larry “The Poolmaster” Schwentke