CIS-CFB Game Preview: Guelph Gryphons (3-5) vs. Laurier Golden Hawks (8-0)

October 29, 2025

Venue & Game Details

Weather Forecast (Waterloo, ON – Nov. 1, 2025)

Injury Report

Guelph Gryphons:
- QB Tristan Aboud – healthy, led comeback vs. Western.
- RB Isaiah Smith – healthy, scored key TD in quarterfinal.
- WR Jaxson Zurby – healthy, caught game-tying TD vs. Western.
Laurier Golden Hawks:
QB Taylor Elgersma – healthy, OUA’s top passer.
WR Ethan Jordan – healthy, leads Laurier in receiving yards.
RB Quinton Soares – healthy, key red-zone option.

Key Player Matchups

Tristan Aboud (Guelph QB) vs. Laurier Secondary: Aboud threw a clutch 20-yard TD to Zurby in the quarterfinal; Laurier’s DBs lead the OUA in interceptions.
Isaiah Smith (Guelph RB) vs. Laurier Front Seven: Smith sparked the comeback vs. Western; Laurier allows under 100 rushing yards per game.
Taylor Elgersma (Laurier QB) vs. Guelph Pass Rush: Elgersma has been nearly flawless, but Guelph’s Max Holmes had a game-changing sack last week.

Team Recent Form

Guelph Gryphons (3-5, 7th seed):
- Last 5: L-L-W-L-W
- Quarterfinal: Upset Western 18-17 on a walk-off rouge
- Strength: Resilient defense, opportunistic offense
Laurier Golden Hawks (8-0, 1st seed):
Last 5: W-W-W-W-W
Bye in quarterfinals
Strength: Balanced attack, top-ranked defense in OUA

Series History

2025 Regular Season: Laurier beat Guelph 33-28 in the season opener (Aug. 23).
Recent Trend: Laurier has won 3 of last 4 meetings.
Playoff History: Guelph has upset higher seeds before, but Laurier has been dominant at home.

Betting Trends

Guelph: 2-6 ATS in regular season; but covered vs. Western in quarterfinal.
Laurier: 6-2 ATS; 5 of 8 wins by double digits.
Totals: Under has hit in 3 of last 4 Guelph games; Laurier games trend Over due to offensive efficiency.

Projected Score: Laurier 34, Guelph 20

Game Odds

Guelph Gryphons 47.5

Laurier Golden Hawks – 14

Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Friday, October 31, 2025