2019 PLAYOFFS - THE DIVISIONAL FINALS

[KnowItAll]

Admit it...

We all want to finally see an All-West Grey Cup.

Two great games played on Sunday. Well done by the road warriors from Winnipeg, and Edmonton.

Go Evil Empire.

I don't. Not good for the league.

[B.C.FAN]

I’ve decided to pull for Saskatchewan and Hamilton in the divisional finals. I don’t like Jason Maas or Mike O’Shea so it’s easy to root against their teams.

A Saskatchewan-Hamilton Grey Cup would also be the best matchup for the league and its TV audience. I read today that this will be the first West Final since 2003 that doesn't include either Calgary or B.C. Change is good.

Calgary, Ottawa, Montreal and Edmonton have appeared in more than their share of Grey Cups lately. Saskatchewan and Hamilton have a good history of meeting in the Cup, most recently in 2013 and 1989. The Ticats are still looking for redemption for those losses.

[Hambone]

Admit it...

We all want to finally see an All-West Grey Cup.

Two great games played on Sunday. Well done by the road warriors from Winnipeg, and Edmonton.

Go Evil Empire.

Only if the Lions are part of it via crossover. I'd rather see an All-East GC before a Lion-less All West GC.

[Hambone]

$419.00 sideline seats for McMahon Stadium. Pfffft.


DH

$419.00? Mine cost me $466.00.

[Hambone]

I'm pulling for a Winnipeg/Hamilton game. Love to see one or the other break their long Cupless streaks. Especially would love to see Rider fans have to give up their lame #1990 line as their snappy witty comeback to Bomber fans.

[Gridiron Ernie]

In the East Final match-up I'll definitely be cheering for Hamilton -- not a snowball's chance I'd cheer for Edmonton. In large part that's due to their organization's current make-up re personnel etc, but also CFL history factors in for me; i.e. Hamilton hasn't won a Grey Cup since 1999 (I think it is) and I'd be pleased to see them giving themselves another shot at it. That's a bit iffy though, as Trevor Harris and company will be formidable foes, and I wouldn't be surprised if the East Final turns out to be a classic battle, and I'll make no prediction re the winner. I'm really looking forward to it!

That said, I hope whoever comes out of the East meets their match in the Grey Cup, and here in the West I would personally prefer the Bombers, but would welcome either a Winnipeg or a Saskatchewan win over the East. I'm not usually a West "homer", I've often cheered for the East reps in the big game, as so often the Lions' arch-rivals are playing. I never have cheered for either of the Alberta teams in the Grey Cup.

But this year I'm all in for either the Bombers or the Riders, due to them both having fave ex-Leos on their rosters or in their organizations, be it Buck Pierce, Biggie, Andrew Harris etc, or Sol E and Manny etc. But historically, I definitely lean toward support of the Bombers over the Riders. Also, the Riders won the Cup a couple times in recent decades (I think 2007?, 2013?), and the Bombers have not since 1990. That's even longer than the 'Cats' drought. Whoever comes through, I got a feeling this West Final, like the East Final will be one to thoroughly enjoy!

[Belize City Lion]

As long as Edmonton doesn't win the Grey Cup I am fine with any of the other 3 teams winning. I probably should hate Winnipeg, but they eliminated the Stumps, so props for that.

[TheLionKing]

$419.00 sideline seats for McMahon Stadium. Pfffft.


DH

$419.00? Mine cost me $466.00.

With the Stamps being eliminated, I suspect that there will be a lot of tickets for sale.

[B.C.FAN]

CFL simulation projects Hamilton and Saskatchewan as overwhelming favourites to meet in the Grey Cup but that assumes that Rider QB Cody Fajardo is fully recovered from his oblique injury, and that remains to be seen.

ODDS TO APPEAR IN 107TH GREY CUP
Hamilton Tiger-Cats 82.03%
Saskatchewan Roughriders 70.53%
Winnipeg Blue Bombers 29.47%
Edmonton Eskimos 17.97%

MOST LIKELY MATCHUPS IN 107TH GREY CUP
Saskatchewan-Hamilton 57.77%
Winnipeg-Hamilton 24.26%
Saskatchewan-Edmonton 12.76%
Winnipeg-Edmonton 5.21%

CFL SIMULATION: AND THEN THERE WERE FOUR

[Hambone]

Rider fans were having a bit of a coniption fit and rightfully so. It was reported that TSN would be showing the WDF on TSN1, 4 and 5 and a NASCAR race on TSN3 which is the regional feed for SK and MB. TSN has since corrected that and will show CFL WDF on TSN 1, 3 and 4 while bumping NASCAR to TSN5 (QC and Maritimes). TSN2 will be showing Cards and 49ers.

[SammyGreene]

Former Lions listed as starters tomorrow

Riders
Elliminian
Purifoy
Leonard
Edem
Fajardo
Arceneaux

Bombers
Harris
Rose
Bighill
Hardrick

Eskimos
Collins
Johnson

[Gridiron Ernie]

Former Lions listed as starters tomorrow

Riders
Elliminian
Purifoy
Leonard
Edem
Fajardo
Arceneaux

Bombers
Harris
Rose
Bighill
Hardrick

Eskimos
Collins
Johnson

Lots of 'em, eh.

Additionally for the Riders, another ex-Leo, starting at slotback all season: Cory Watson. (Nice to see that Manny also will be starting, as you've noted. He's not had a lot of starts this season.)

Additionally for EE: their important P/K special teams tandem, ex-Lions Whyte and O'Neill. Also, although he's listed behind Usher I've noticed Alex Bazzie rotating in fairly often over recent games.

Additionally for the Bombers, not starting, but returning from injury and listed as backup -- Chandler Fenner. And I'll mention with an asterisk Buck Pierce -- part of the starting line-up for the coaches, heh heh. What can I say... I'm a Buck fan. Too bad he'll likely never leave Winnipeg.

[Gridiron Ernie]

Speaking of 2019 playoffs, in U Sports today, the teams for next Saturday's 55th Vanier Cup have been decided in their respective bowl games; It will be Montreal Carabins vs Calgary Dinos for the championship. Today both teams won handily by wide margins. I wasn't able to watch today's contests but always enjoy the upcoming annual Vanier Cup. A real nice little appetizer for the Grey Cup.

Not sure how many of the top-ranked CIS/CFL draft-pick candidates will be playing, but I suppose some one among the players next weekend could be the high pick for the Lions. (?) I'd be interested to know if anyone knows which top CFL prospects might be playing, and who Geroy might have his sights on.

[SammyGreene]

Speaking of 2019 playoffs, in U Sports today, the teams for next Saturday's 55th Vanier Cup have been decided in their respective bowl games; It will be Montreal Carabins vs Calgary Dinos for the championship. Today both teams won handily by wide margins. I wasn't able to watch today's contests but always enjoy the upcoming annual Vanier Cup. A real nice little appetizer for the Grey Cup.

Not sure how many of the top-ranked CIS/CFL draft-pick candidates will be playing, but I suppose some one among the players next weekend could be the high pick for the Lions. (?) I'd be interested to know if anyone knows which top CFL prospects might be playing, and who Geroy might have his sights on.

What's interesting is the Dinos are loaded with BC players, including Cory Philpot's twin boys. I'm sure hoping this has more to do with Calgary's academic requirements compared to UBC that continues to regress after its Vanier Cup win 4 years ago.

The Dinos have several players from the BC lower mainland on either their active or are “red-shirts.” Active players include the Philpot Twins from Delta, BC, running back Robinson Rodriques and long snapper Chaz Marshall, Burnaby, BC, receiver Nathaniel Durkan, Nanaimo, BC (via Simon Fraser University), linebackers Grant McDonald, Jacob Kirk, and Charlie Moore (Tsawwassen, BC). Red Shirts are defensive back Steen Rasmussen (Nanaimo, BC), offensive lineman Simon Li (West Vancouver), receiver Dante Carbone (Nanaimo, BC), receiver Alex Wahl (North Vancouver).

[Robbie]

I will say congratulations to the Eskimos if they manage to win this trophy that no other west division team has ever won.