CIS-CFB Game Preview: Laurier Golden Hawks (7-0) vs. Western Mustangs (7-0)

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Venue & Game Details

  • Location: Western Alumni Stadium, 100 Philip Aziz Ave, London, ON
  • Kickoff: 1:00 p.m. ET
  • Competition: OUA regular season finale, potential Yates Cup preview
  • Broadcast: OUA TV / CBC Sports digital stream
  • Weather: Mid-October in London – ~14°C (57°F), partly cloudy, light winds

Team Recent Form

  • Laurier Golden Hawks (7-0):
    • Wins: Guelph (33–28), Windsor (30–9), Queen’s (47–32), Waterloo (41–19), Ottawa (30–24), Toronto (59–21), Carleton (55–12)
    • Trend: Laurier has averaged 42.1 PPG while allowing just 20.7 PPG. Their offense is balanced, with QB efficiency and a strong run game.
  • Western Mustangs (7-0):
  • Wins: Guelph (53–33), Ottawa (55–29), Carleton (63–26), Queen’s (45–42 OT), McMaster (52–22), Windsor (15–6), York (TBD but expected win)
  • Trend: Western leads the OUA in scoring at 49.0 PPG and has the league’s stingiest defense at 18.4 PPG allowed.

Injury Report

  • Laurier:
    • WR Ethan Jordan (ankle, questionable)
    • LB Daniel Valente Jr. (probable, shoulder)
  • Western:
  • RB Keon Edwards (hamstring, probable)
  • OL Spencer Nichols (knee, questionable)

Key Player Matchups

  • QB Battle: Laurier’s Connor Carusello (league leader in completion % and TD passes) vs. Western’s Evan Hillock (defending Yates Cup MVP, 20+ TDs already).
  • RBs: Laurier’s Tanner Nelmes vs. Western’s Keon Edwards – both top-5 in OUA rushing yards.
  • WRs: Laurier’s Quentin Scott vs. Western’s Savaughn Magnaye-Jones – explosive playmakers who can flip field position instantly.
  • Defenses: Laurier’s aggressive pass rush (league-best 24 sacks) vs. Western’s offensive line (fewest sacks allowed).

Series History

  • Western leads the all-time series comfortably.
  • Last meeting: Western defeated Laurier 34–19 in 2024.
  • Laurier’s last win over Western came in the 2016 Yates Cup (43–40).
  • Western has won 8 of the last 9 matchups.

Betting Trends

  • Western is 6-1 ATS this season.
  • Laurier is 5-2 ATS.
  • The Over has hit in 5 of Western’s 7 games.
  • Laurier is 4-1 ATS in last 5 road games.

Score Projection: Western 34 – Laurier 30

Game Odds

Laurier Golden Hawks                   56

Western Mustangs                          – 7.5

Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Friday, October 17, 2025