Queen's and Carleton: A recent classic OUA battle. (Ian MacAlpine photo/Queen's Gaels)
Ah, mid September.
Frosh week is over, syllabuses have been read, and freshmen the country over are realizing what they are in for.
The same goes in U SPORTS football, where the usual suspects — Western, Laval and Calgary — have risen to the top and things are more or less playing out according to script as we enter the middle portion of the university schedule.
Best viewing this week probably lies out west, where Calgary (#3, 2-0) visits Saskatchewan (#9, 2-0) and UBC (#6, 1-1) travels to Regina (1-1); the Dinos remain the odds-on favourite in the Canada West conference, but the Huskies and Rams have both played decent football thus far and a Blake Nill-led team (UBC) can never be counted out.
With the RSEQ conference living up to its reputation — Laval, then Montreal, then a wide gap to everybody else — and Ontario still owned by Laurier and Western, the CW loop looks like it might offer the most intrigue this season.
This week’s #UniversityBlitz matchups are:
Mt. Allison @ Acadia | Saturday, 1 p.m. ET
The Mounties (1-1) will visit Wolfville for a critical Atlantic matchup against the Axemen (1-1); with Saint Mary’s high and dry atop the conference at 3-0, this contest will be pivotal for both teams. Win in Wolfville, and you’re set to challenge SMU for first place. Lose, and you’re more likely jockeying just to make the playoffs. Game on out east.
Queen’s @ Carleton | Saturday, 1 p.m. ET
A big-time matchup in Ontario pits the visiting Gaels (2-1) against the Ravens (#8, 2-1) in the latter’s homecoming game. It’s been nearly a full player cycle since Queen’s knocked Carleton out of playoff contention in the last week of 2014 — and Carleton responded with a resounding 33-8 playoff win in Kingston a year later — but the animosity runs deep between these regional rivals.
Concordia @ McGill | Saturday, 1 p.m. ET
Given McGill’s win over Sherbrooke two weeks ago, both the Stingers (1-1) and Redmen (1-1) control their own playoff destinies moving forward. Concordia is fresh off a ridiculous last-second comeback victory in Week 3, while McGill hasn’t played since stunning Sherbrooke. If the Redmen can pull off a win at Percival Molson Stadium come Saturday, the program would be trending towards just its third playoff appearance in the last 12 seasons: Big opportunity, indeed.
Alberta @ Manitoba | Saturday, 3 p.m. ET
Two teams with their seasons on the line in Week 4 collide at IGF on Saturday afternoon, as the Golden Bears (0-2) visit the Bisons (0-2). Losing a star running back in Ed Ilnicki and two of its best offensive linemen was never going to be easy for Alberta, but 13 points in two games is simply a playoff-level offence; Manitoba has lost a pair of tight ballgames by a combined 12 points to UBC and Saskatchewan, and needs to sweep Alberta in this home-and-away series to have a shot at the playoffs.
Week 4 Schedule
Friday, September 14
#3 Calgary at #9 Saskatchewan | 8 p.m. ET
#6 UBC at Regina | 8 p.m. ET
Saturday, September 15
Mt. Allison @ Acadia | 1 p.m. ET
Toronto @ McMaster | 1 p.m. ET
#10 Guelph @ Windsor | 1 p.m. ET
Queen’s @ #8 Carleton | 1 p.m. ET
Waterloo @ #4 Laurier | 1 p.m. ET
York @ #1 Western | 1 p.m. ET
Concordia @ McGill | 1 p.m. ET
Bishop’s @ St. FX | 2 p.m. ET
#5 Montreal @ Sherbrooke | 2 p.m. ET
Alberta @ Manitoba | 3 p.m. ET
