Today is the start of another season of OUA football action. Last year, we saw the season conclude with a final second field goal giving the Western Mustangs the Yates Cup at the hands of the Ottawa Gee-Gees. This year’s OUA battle looks to be wide-open but the picture will become a little clearer starting this afternoon with the first slate of OUA football games for 2011.

Toronto Varsity Blues at York Lions [1:00 PM]

Only two weeks into the season and we’ve reached the annual Red and Blue Bowl. I’ve always wondered why they don’t make this the Homecoming game every season for whichever school gets to host in a given year. I’m fairly confident that schools get some say in scheduling Homecoming games so why wouldn’t these two teams be able to get who they want for Homecoming. Anyway, there is a football game to be played and I doubt it will be pretty. Both teams were drubbed last week. Toronto looked slightly stronger than York and just based on the last few years, I have to figure this one is the Blues’ to lose.

Broadcasters:
TV: Rogers TV 10 (Toronto)
Online: SSN Canada

#2 Western Mustangs at #3 McMaster Marauders [1:00 PM]

Neither team played a pretty game in Week 1. Well, Western’s was a massacre of Waterloo. They put up a team record 86 points in a single game to welcome the Warriors back to action. Mac played a much more competent Queen’s Gaels squad who only conceded 26 points. The bad point for the Marauders is that they score only major on offense. The majority of their offense came from four Tyler Crapigna field goals. Mac’s defense will have to win the day here because the offense sure doesn’t look capable of keeping pace with the Mustangs’ offence should they hit their stride..

Pregame Coverage:
Stangs Go Right For Mac (London Free Press)

Broadcasters:
TV: The Score
Radio: CHML 900 AM (Hamilton)

Queen’s Gaels at Ottawa Gee-Gees [1:00 PM]

I think this is our game of the week. Sure, the nationally televised game has the two ranked teams but this one has a shot to be a close one. Ottawa beat Guelph by 27 and put up over 600 yards on offense. Queen’s might have lost by 24 points but managed to keep Mac from getting into the endzone so the defense is definitely up to the task. The Gaels’ defenders will have to keep this game close while the offense tries to find its footing. Still, you’d have to think that this one is Ottawa’s to lose.

Broadcasters:
Online: SSN Canada
Radio: CFRC 101.9 FM (Kingston)

Guelph Gryphons at Waterloo Warriors [1:00 PM]

Welcome home, Waterloo Warriors. For the first time since the October 24, 2009, the Warriors will return to action in Waterloo at Warrior Field this afternoon. The Warriors actually looked halfway decent on offence in the first half last week against Western. However, their defense was atrocious, giving up 86 points. Guelph only managed 8 points against Ottawa last week. I doubt they’ll fare as badly this week against Waterloo. Maybe Waterloo should have tried to book York for their home opener. This one won’t be pretty but at least there are only about 1,000 grandstand seats at Warrior Field.

Broadcasters:
Online: SSN Canada

Windsor Lancers at #8 Wilfred Laurier Golden Hawks [7:00 PM]

Well, Windsor got off to a flying start without Coach Morencie at the helm. Now we’ll have to see if they’ve turned a corner or if last week’s 33 point win over Toronto was just a case of facing the Blues. Laurier will obviously face a bigger test this week than their Week 1 battle against York. The #8 team in the country is nationally ranked for a reason so they shouldn’t have too big an issue dismissing the Lancers. But I also thought they should have put up a 50-point win on York to back up the national ranking. The Hawks should handle Windsor easily but it might end up closer than it should on paper.

Broadcasters:
Radio: CJAM 99.1 FM (Windsor)

OUA Standings
1. Western Mustangs (1-0)
2. Wilfred Laurier Golden Hawks (1-0)
3. Windsor Lancers (1-0)
4. Ottawa Gee-Gees (1-0)
5. McMaster Marauders (1-0)
6. Queen’s Gaels (0-1)
7. Guelph Gryphons (0-1)
8. Toronto Varsity Blues (0-1)
9. York Lions (0-1)
10. Waterloo Warriors (0-1)

CIS Football Rankings
1. Laval Rouge et Or
2. Western Mustangs
3. McMaster Marauders
4. Calgary Dinos
5. Saskatchewan Huskies
6. Montreal Carabins
7. Sherbrooke Vert et Or
8. Laurier Golden Hawks
9. Saint Mary’s Huskies
10. UBC Thunderbirds