There remain only a few real battles for playoff positioning in the Canada West conference but there’s a few teams that are full-on into “playing out the string” mode.

Not surprising, then, that there really isn’t much in the way of shuffling for this week’s Totem.

On with the show:

1. (1) Brandon Bobcats (16-2) — The Bobcats (likely) get to move up the national rankings this week but the tricky road trip to Regina looms this week with the home-and-home against Winnipeg closing out the season. BU may have locked up its place in the playoffs, but now is no time to sleep on two teams that will have some desperation in their games.

2. (2) Calgary Dinos (15-3) — The Dinos and Thompson Rivers did their best CIS impression of “Detroit Pistons-Denver Nuggets Circa 1983″ on Saturday night but not to be lost in all the buckets was that the Dinos officially cemented the fact either Alberta or Saskatchewan will have to come to them in the second round of playoffs.

3. (3) UBC Thunderbirds (15-4) — Speaking of sealing up, the T-Birds locked in on the top seed in the Pacific with two dominant wins over Trinity Western. If a 15-4 team can possibly be a sleeper, this is the one. This year’s version of the Birds has taken a back seat to Brandon and Calgary but they’re still dangerous as all get out.

4. (4) Victoria Vikes (13-6) — A record of 4-3 since the break. Good wins, bad losses. Vic continues to confound. But! No need to play this weekend’s games, Victoria. I already know what will happen. The team that has been the most unpredictable in the Canada West is actually, on closer inspection, quite predictable. The Vikes will split at home with Saskatchewan and Alberta and once again give us all mixed signals as to how good they are. When all is said and done, we still won’t have a clue.

5. (5) Alberta Golden Bears (12-6) — And the luster is wearing off Alberta just a touch even though 12-6 is more than respectable. But we expected more than 5-3 so far in 2008 after starting the season as one of the hottest teams in the conference.

6. (8) Saskatchewan Huskies (10-6) — Sometimes you need to hit rock bottom. And if two losses on the road at Winnipeg and Manitoba were that for the Huskies, then they’ve responded in kind with three wins in their past four games including a nice split against Alberta this weekend. Depending how you see it, the remaining schedule (at UBC/Vic, vs Calgary) is either a demon or a chance to be considered legit again.

7. (6) Simon Fraser Clan (10-10) — The Clan were seconds away from being swept out by Vic at home but were graciously granted a second life in the form of a whole whack of free throws with zeroes on the clock. Sean Burke’s five FTs off a disputed foul and coach Craig Beaucamp’s ensuing technical foul, sealed the deal. SFU is thankful now because it keeps the Clan two points ahead of Fraser Valley for third in the Pacific. But playing a PO’d Vic team in the first round at Victoria might not be a blessing.

8. (7) Winnipeg Wesmen (9-9) — The Wesmen and Regina can’t get their act together and finally decide who wants to host a playoff series. But the Wesmen need to get it first and find another win on the schedule somewhere: The Cougars hold the tiebreaker.

9. (9) Regina Cougars (9-9) — Well, at least they won a road game. That makes one. But, in this instance, it was all they really needed to hold that slimmest of slim edges over Winnipeg.

10. (10) Fraser Valley Cascades (9-11) — Welcome back to the post-season Barnaby Craddock. No disrespect, but we’re not counting on this year’s playoff run going quite as long as last year’s did for you.

11. (11) Trinity Western Spartans (6-14) — I know some of you thought it was premature when I stamped the Spartans with the ELIMINATED tag two weeks ago. Now, with four straight losses, the Spartans have officially done that for themselves.

12. (12) Manitoba Bisons (4-14) — The StatCrew computer program that logs stats for CIS matches crashed at the IGAC at halftime on Saturday night. We don’t know who did what but we do know the Bobcats swept the weekend and the crash simply saved the Herd from having to burn the evidence after.

13. (14) Lethbridge Pronghorns (1-17) — Well Lethbridge, you did it. You made The Scrum’s Jan. 14 prediction come true and you found the win column. Congratulations kids. And, y’know what? We’re reneging on our other promise of not taking you out of the cellar. I don’t know if “earned” is the right word, but … well … just accept our slap on the back.

14. (13) Thompson Rivers WolfPack (2-18) — A word of caution: This might end up being familiar territory.