CALGARY – It's the most heated race to the finish in recent memory in Canada West, with first place, second place, and the final playoff spot still up for grabs heading into the final weekend – so plenty will be on the line as the University of Calgary Dinos head to Vancouver to face the UBC Thunderbirds Saturday.

On the surface, the ramifications are simple: for the Dinos, a win clinches home field; for the Thunderbirds, a win clinches a playoff spot. Other results could exacerbate those outcomes, especially in Winnipeg. If Manitoba beats Regina, a Calgary win would both clinch first place for the Dinos while also knocking the defending Vanier Cup champion Thunderbirds out of the playoffs.

Both teams limp into this game after tough losses last week, a stark contrast from their first meeting back on Sept. 9 in Calgary when they were ranked No. 2 and No. 3 in the nation before Calgary's 35-8 win. UBC was its own worst enemy in a 35-33 loss at Regina last Friday, while Calgary sputtered on defence in a 38-35 home loss to Saskatchewan.

The stakes are high – and kickoff is set for 5 p.m. local (6 p.m. MT) Saturday night, live on CanadaWest.tv.

GAME NOTES (.pdf)

HEADLINES

• Second of two meetings between the teams in 2016, with Calgary winning 35-8 Sept. 9 at home
• Calgary's first trip to Vancouver since the second week of the 2014 season
• Calgary is currently riding a 14-game regular season win streak over the Thunderbirds, dating back to 2006. UBC's last conference win over the Dinos was Blake Nill's very first game as the Dinos' head coach, at Thunderbird Stadium (note: a subsequent loss in 2011 was later forfeited by UBC for use of an ineligible player)
• The Dinos are 50-31-2 all-time against UBC

No. 5 Calgary Dinos (5-2)
Last week: lost to Saskatchewan 38-35
Next week: Canada West Semifinal

• Adam Sinagra will lead the Dinos into Vancouver after starting the first game of his U Sports career last week against Saskatchewan. Sinagra, replacing the injured Jimmy Underdahl, completed 21 of 35 passes for 230 yards and two touchdowns in last week's loss to Saskatchewan
• Austen Hartley is currently second in the conference with 106 receiving yards per game, while Micah Teitz (2nd) and Boston Rowe (4th) are both near the top of the leaderboard in tackles. Defensive lineman Jack McEwan has 4.5 sacks on the year, leading the way in Canada West.
• Last Saturday's loss to Saskatchewan marked the Dinos' lowest offensive production of the season, gaining just 328 yards. The previous low came in Week 1 with 427 at Manitoba.
• However, the Dinos remain the stingiest defence in the conference with just 132 points and 375.1 yards per game allowed. Their best totals in both categories came in the previous game against UBC, when the Thunderbirds managed just eight points and236 offensive yards, including zero in the fourth quarter.
• A five-year streak of finishing first in Canada West is on the line for the Dinos. Calgary has finished no lower than second in the conference each year since 2008 and has only played one Canada West playoff game away from McMahon Stadium in that time – the 2009 Hardy Cup in Saskatoon. The Dinos will need a win and a Regina loss to Manitoba to finish in top spot.
• The Dinos will play either Saskatchewan or Manitoba next week. If it's Manitoba, the Dinos will have finished first and will be at home, while this weekend's results will determine whether a game against the Huskies would take place in Calgary or Saskatoon.

UBC Thunderbirds (3-4)
Last week: lost to Regina 35-33
Next week: TBD

• UBC is playing for its playoff lives this weekend, needing a win to guarantee the season will continue. A loss would not necessarily eliminate the Thunderbirds, unless Manitoba were to beat Regina
• The Thunderbirds return home after a tough two-game road swing through Saskatchewan, falling 40-10 to the Huskies before last week's 35-33 heartbreaker to the Rams in Regina. In the win, the Rams scored 21 points in the fourth quarter, including a 70-yard bomb Noah Picton to Mitchell Picton for the game-winning score with just 96 seconds remaining.
• Michael O'Connor set a school record with 182 completions on the season last week against Regina
• UBC is averaging 30.7 points (4th) and 472.9 yards (4th) per game. Defensively, the T-Birds have allowed 29.1 points (4th) and 457.1 yards (2nd) per game through the first seven weeks of the season
• The Thunderbirds can finish no better than fourth and, if they make the playoffs, will play the Regina Rams on the road next week.

-UC-