FB: Playoff picture coming into focus
Final playoff spot, semifinal hosts still to be determined
EDMONTON – Just two weeks remain in the 2019 Canada West football regular season, and while three teams have clinched their spot in the conference playoffs, there's still plenty to be decided.
Here's a look at the playoff scenarios entering this weekend's trio of games, which are all set for Saturday.
SCHEDULE - Saturday, October 19
- Regina @ Alberta / 1:00 p.m. MDT
- WATCH: SaskTel: 48 (SD), 348 (HD) / TELUS: 997 (HD) / BellMTS: 1802 (HD) & Canada West TV Presented by Co-op
- Calgary @ Manitoba / 2:00 p.m. CDT
- Saskatchewan @ UBC / 3:00 p.m. PDT
- WATCH: SaskTel: 49 (SD), 349 (HD) & Canada West TV Presented by Co-op
STANDINGS (As of Oct. 18)
- X - Calgary Dinos (5-1)
- X - Alberta Golden Bears (4-2)
- X - Saskatchewan Huskies (4-2)
- Manitoba Bisons (3-3)
- Regina Rams (1-5)
- e - UBC Thunderbirds (1-5)
NOTES: X - clinched playoff spot / e - eliminated from playoffs
- Calgary has clinched a playoff spot for the 13th consecutive season
- Calgary can clinch FIRST overall this week with:
- Win vs. MAN (Oct. 19) + SSK loss vs. UBC (Oct. 19)
- Calgary guarantees a top two finish and home semifinal this week with:
- Win vs. MAN (Oct. 19)
- Alberta has clinched a playoff spot for the second time in the last three seasons
- Alberta can finish FIRST overall for the first time since 2004 with:
- Win vs. REG (Oct. 19) + Win vs. SSK (Oct. 26) + CGY losses to MAN (Oct. 19) and UBC (Oct. 26)
- Alberta can finish SECOND and clinch their first home playoff date since 2005 with:
- Win vs. SSK (Oct. 26)
NOTE: Alberta's playoff seed can't be determined this week and will come down to their regular season finale vs. Saskatchewan October 26 in Saskatoon.
- Saskatchewan has clinched a playoff spot for the second consecutive season after missing out in 2017
- Saskatchewan can finish FIRST overall for the first time since 2010 with:
- Win vs. UBC (Oct. 19) + Win vs. ALB (Oct. 26) + CGY loss vs. either MAN (Oct. 19) or UBC (Oct. 26)
- Win vs. ALB (Oct. 26) + CGY losses to MAN (Oct. 19) & UBC (Oct. 26)
- Saskatchewan can finish SECOND and clinch their first home playoff date since 2014 with:
- Win vs. ALB (Oct. 26)
NOTE: Saskatchewan's playoff seed can't be determined this week and will come down to their regular season finale vs. Alberta October 26 in Saskatoon.
- Manitoba can clinch a second consecutive playoff spot this week with:
- Win vs. CGY -OR - REG loss vs. ALB
- Regina needs the following to finish FOURTH and clinch a third playoff spot in the last four seasons:
- Win vs. ALB (Oct. 19) + UBC loss vs. either SSK (Oct. 19) or CGY (Oct. 26) + MAN loss vs. CGY (Oct. 19) + Win vs. MAN (Oct. 25)
NOTE: Along with needing to win this week and have Manitoba lose, Regina would need to beat Manitoba by at least two on Oct. 25 to avoid additional tiebreakers coming into effect.