The Canadian Football League heads into the final weekend of the 2011 season riding a wave of excitement fuelled by unprecedented parity.
With only one week remaining, five of six playoff teams are tied with the CFL’s best record (10-7) and first and second place in both divisions are up for grabs.
Since 1973, when the respective Divisions adopted equal 16-game (and now 18-game) schedules, the highest number of teams tied for first overall with one game left was only two. Those ties at the top came in 1983 (11-4), 1984 (11-3-1), 1999 (12-5), 2002 (13-4) and most recently last season when Calgary and Montreal were each at 12-5 with a week to play.
With BC hosting Montreal, and Calgary playing Winnipeg this week, excluding potential ties there can be no more than three teams end up at 11-7. In CFL history, there has never been more than a two-way tie for the best overall record, the last time that happened coming in 2003 when Edmonton and Montreal finished up at 13-5. The 1951 season is notable, however, as three western clubs ended up at 8-6 while three Eastern clubs finished at 7-5. Since 1974 and the full 16-game schedule for all teams, the fewest number of wins by the overall leader is 10 (Edmonton 10-5-1 in 1974). Since the 18-game schedule became standard in 1986, the fewest wins by the overall leader is 12 so that mark will change in 2011.
Playoff Scenarios:
West Division
If all West Division teams win or all lose, BC would finish first, Edmonton second and Calgary third.
If Edmonton wins and BC loses, Edmonton clinches first place.
If Edmonton and BC lose, and Calgary wins, Calgary clinches first place.
If Edmonton and Calgary win, and BC loses, Edmonton clinches first place and Calgary hosts Western Semi-Final against BC.
If Edmonton wins and BC and Calgary lose, Edmonton clinches first place and BC hosts Western Semi-Final against Calgary.
If BC wins, and Edmonton and Calgary lose, Edmonton hosts Western Semi-Final against Calgary.
If BC and Calgary win, and Edmonton loses, Calgary hosts Western Semi-Final against Edmonton.
East Division
If Winnipeg wins or Montreal loses, Winnipeg clinches first place and Montreal hosts Hamilton in the Eastern Semi-Final.
If Montreal wins and Winnipeg loses, Montreal clinches first place and Winnipeg hosts Hamilton in the Eastern Semi-Final.
Since 1973, when the respective Divisions adopted equal 16-game (and now 18-game) schedules, the highest number of teams tied for first overall with one game left was only two. Those ties at the top came in 1983 (11-4), 1984 (11-3-1), 1999 (12-5), 2002 (13-4) and most recently last season when Calgary and Montreal were each at 12-5 with a week to play.
With BC hosting Montreal, and Calgary playing Winnipeg this week, excluding potential ties there can be no more than three teams end up at 11-7. In CFL history, there has never been more than a two-way tie for the best overall record, the last time that happened coming in 2003 when Edmonton and Montreal finished up at 13-5. The 1951 season is notable, however, as three western clubs ended up at 8-6 while three Eastern clubs finished at 7-5. Since 1974 and the full 16-game schedule for all teams, the fewest number of wins by the overall leader is 10 (Edmonton 10-5-1 in 1974). Since the 18-game schedule became standard in 1986, the fewest wins by the overall leader is 12 so that mark will change in 2011.
Playoff Scenarios:
West Division
If all West Division teams win or all lose, BC would finish first, Edmonton second and Calgary third.
If Edmonton wins and BC loses, Edmonton clinches first place.
If Edmonton and BC lose, and Calgary wins, Calgary clinches first place.
If Edmonton and Calgary win, and BC loses, Edmonton clinches first place and Calgary hosts Western Semi-Final against BC.
If Edmonton wins and BC and Calgary lose, Edmonton clinches first place and BC hosts Western Semi-Final against Calgary.
If BC wins, and Edmonton and Calgary lose, Edmonton hosts Western Semi-Final against Calgary.
If BC and Calgary win, and Edmonton loses, Calgary hosts Western Semi-Final against Edmonton.
East Division
If Winnipeg wins or Montreal loses, Winnipeg clinches first place and Montreal hosts Hamilton in the Eastern Semi-Final.
If Montreal wins and Winnipeg loses, Montreal clinches first place and Winnipeg hosts Hamilton in the Eastern Semi-Final.
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