While they’re guaranteed a playoff spot in the Canada West University football Conference for a second straight year, the U of S Huskies can finish anywhere between first and fourth once the dust settles Saturday.

The Dogs host Alberta Saturday at Griffiths Stadium. Both teams sport 4-3 records, tied for 2nd place. Manitoba is also 4-3 while Calgary is 5-2. The Dinos are home to U-B-C Saturday while the Bisons travel to Regina Friday night. Following are the possible scenarios for all four teams…

FB: Wild week adds intrigue to regular season finales

Semifinal hosting rights up for grabs

EDMONTON – It all comes down to this for the four teams jockeying in the lead up to the Hardy Cup Playoffs.

After a wild Saturday last weekend, which saw the conference’s top three teams all lose, there’s plenty on the line as the 2019 regular season comes to a conclusion Friday and Saturday.

Here’s a look at the playoff scenarios entering this weekend’s regular season finales.

SCHEDULE

Friday, October 25

Manitoba @ Regina / 7:00 p.m. CST
- WATCH: SaskTel: 48 (SD), 348 (HD) / TELUS: 997 (HD) / BellMTS: 1802 (HD) & Canada West TV Presented by Co-op

Saturday, October 26

Alberta @ Saskatchewan / 2:00 p.m. CST
- WATCH: SaskTel: 49 (SD), 349 (HD) / TELUS: 998 (HD) / BellMTS: 1802 (HD) & Canada West TV Presented by Co-op
UBC @ Calgary / 3:00 p.m. MDT
- WATCH: Canada West TV Presented by Co-op

STANDINGS (As of Oct. 24)

X – Calgary Dinos (5-2)
X – Alberta Golden Bears (4-3)
X – Saskatchewan Huskies (4-3)
X – Manitoba Bisons (4-3)
e – Regina Rams (2-5)
e – UBC Thunderbirds (2-5)

NOTES: X – clinched playoff spot / e – eliminated from playoffs

Calgary has clinched a playoff spot for the 13th consecutive season
Calgary clinches FIRST in the following scenarios:
- Win vs. UBC
- Two-way tie with ALB at 5-3
- Three-way tie with ALB and MAN at 5-3
Calgary (likely) finishes SECOND in the following scenario:
- Three-way tie with SSK and MAN at 5-3
  - See NOTES under MAN for detailed tie-breaker explanation and possibility of MAN finishing second in a three-way tie at 5-3 between SSK, CGY, and MAN.

Alberta has clinched a playoff spot for the second time in the last three seasons
Alberta CAN’T finish FIRST
Alberta finishes SECOND and clinches their first home playoff date since 2005 with:
- Win vs. SSK

Saskatchewan has clinched a playoff spot for the second consecutive season after missing out in 2017
Saskatchewan finishes FIRST in the following scenario:
- Win vs. ALB + CGY loss vs. UBC
Saskatchewan finishes SECOND with:
- Win vs. ALB

Manitoba has clinched a second consecutive playoff spot
Manitoba CAN’T finish first
Manitoba finishes SECOND in the following scenario:
- Win vs. REG + CGY loss vs. UBC
  - NOTES: MAN and CGY are tied in the first two tie-breakers – 1) head-to-head record; 2) PF/PA in head-to-head games.
  - The third tie-breaker is overall conference PF/PA. MAN margin of victory + CGY’s margin of defeat would need to equal 50 or more points to guarantee a second-place finish for MAN.
  - If the combination of MAN’s margin of victory + CGY’s margin of defeat equalled exactly 49, the fourth and final tie-breaker of a coin toss would be applied.