Panda, more Top 10 matchups, and one OUA team fighting for their life.
Here’s a quick read of must-watch games happening this weekend.
Note: Click “where to watch” links to view games
#9 Manitoba Bisons (2-2) vs #2 Saskatchewan Huskies (4-0)
When: Friday, September 30 at 7 PM CDT
Where to watch: Canada West TV (Paid)
For the fourth consecutive week, the Saskatchewan Huskies find themselves in another Top 10 matchup, this time against the Manitoba Bisons.
The Bisons have come storming back into the Top 10 after beginning their season 0-2. Over their last two games, they’ve put up a total of 67 points, while giving up only 20 - the third largest winning margin in the nation over that span.
Now, just like UBC did, just like Regina did, and just like Alberta did, the Bisons have to go through the Canada West litmus test in the Saskatchewan Huskies.
The Huskies on the other hand, are slowly engineering one of the most impressive runs of all time.
Through four games, the Huskies still have the top ranked passing attack in the nation, producing 352.2 passing yards per game (1st in U SPORTS). Defensively, Saskatchewan has only allowed an average of 10.3 points per game all season (1st in U SPORTS) and a total of only 41 points (T-1st in U SPORTS).
Outside of the stats, and the fact that they have the Hec front-runner at quarterback, what’s made Saskatchewan’s run so impressive is that they’ve already defeated three Top 10 opponents. Despite Western currently having no losses - and possibly extending their undefeated streak this weekend - should the Huskies defeat a fourth Top 10 opponent in Manitoba, a legitimate case can be made for this group to be positioned as the new No. 1 team in the nation.
#7 Ottawa Gee-Gees (4-1) vs #10 Carleton Ravens (3-2)
When: Saturday, October 1 at 12 PM EDT
Where to watch: OUA TV
The game sells itself, seriously.
Must be worth noting however, the only thing better than the Panda Game, is a ranked Panda Game, and that’s what we’ll get this weekend when the No. 7 Ottawa Gee-Gees link up with the No. 10 Carleton Ravens.
#1 Western Mustangs (4-0) vs McMaster Marauders (1-3)
When: Saturday, October 1 at 1 PM EDT
Where to watch: OUA TV
Why on earth would a matchup between the No. 1 ranked team in the nation and a 1-3 team, tied for last place in their conference, be considered must-watch?
It’s quite simple, the McMaster Marauders aren’t a true 1-3 team at all by any sorts.
Yes, they lost their week one matchup to Carleton, and even their week three matchup to Ottawa, but had it not been for a week two forfeit to the York Lions - due to the use of an ineligible player - the Marauders could very well be sitting at 2-2 and currently tied for fifth-place in the OUA.
Not to mention, their losses to Carleton and Ottawa both came by a margin of only six points - those close losses lowkey burn the most.
By now, you’ve probably come to realize that Stefan Ptaszek’s squad has honestly just had an unlucky season so far, and if it weren’t for a 43-0 frustration-dump win over Waterloo two weeks ago, their season would already be over at this point.
But, due to the competitive nature across the OUA in 2022, McMaster’s playoff hope are alive and well entering week 6. The criteria for the Marauders to qualify for the playoffs, however, has become a bit more complicated.
With four games remaining, it’s easy to look at the Marauders and say all they would need is three more wins to have a legitimate shot at making the playoffs, right?
Not that simple.
In most years, 4-4 will have you on the brink of making the playoffs. From there, it would come down to tie-breakers. With McMaster having a forfeit loss to York - a team that will likely go 1-7 this season - most teams would have a tie-breaking advantage over the Marauders - unless McMaster has beaten them head-to-head, of course.
In that case, if the Marauders would like to give themselves the best chance at playing postseason football in 2022, they have to run the table. They have to go 5-3
That being said, they’ll be treating their meeting this weekend with Western as a playoff game.
Side Note: If the Marauders some how, some way, do make the playoffs, they immediately become a favourite to make a Yates Cup run
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