CFL GREY CUP PREVIEW & PICKS

BY ADAM GREENE

Oh my God, we made it. We’ve been through 23 weeks of Canadian Football League play and here, in our final week, the 24^th, we get to crown a champion.

We made it this far so we might as well use the odds, lines and totals to make ourselves some cash in the process.

PLAYOFF BRACKET

1. WINNIPEG BLUE BOMBERS (15-4)

Winnipeg returns to the Grey Cup final, but the difference is, this year they’ll be the favorite after the Toronto Argonauts xxx. Last week: 2

2. MONTREAL ALOUETTES (13-7)

Montreal shocked the world, or at least the frozen portion above the Great Ice Wall as they knocked off the Toronto Argonauts in the biggest upset of the season in the CFL Eastern Final. Last week: 4

3. TORONTO ARGONAUTS (16-3)

With the chance to become the best team in the history of the CFL, the Argonauts fell short just as the 16-2 Edmonton Elks (they, of course, weren’t the Elks, then) in the playoffs. Toronto fell in a blowout loss to the Montreal Alouettes in a result no one, especially not the Argos, saw coming. Last week: 1

4. BC LIONS (13-7)

Last season the Lions lost 28-20 to the Winnipeg Blue-Bombers in the CFL Western Final. This season, they lost 24-13. Last year they went 12-6 in the regular season. This one, they went 13-5. There’s spinning your wheels, then there’s whatever British Columbia is doing. Either way, this is who they are. Last week: 3

SUNDAY

GREY CUP FINAL

WINNIPEG BLUE BOMBERS AT MONTREAL ALOUETTES (+7, O/U: 47)

Winnipeg returns to the Grey Cup final taking the same route they did a year ago, by defeating the BC Lions in the CFL Western Final, this time by a score of 24-13. Zach Collaros was 14 of 21 passing for 158 yards, no touchdowns and no picks in the win, a relatively quiet game for him. Brady Oliveira rushed 21 times for 109 yards and a score. Kenny Lawler caught six passes for 83 yards. Defensively, Redha Kramdi recorded four tackles and a sack. Brian Cole had three tackles, a sack and tackle for a loss. Kyrie Wilson had three tackles, a sack and a pick. Willie Jefferson had two tackles, two sacks and a fumble recovery. Evan Holm had two tackles and an interception. Malik Clements and Jackson Jeffcoat both had two tackles and two sacks. Demerio Houston had a tackle and a pick.

Those of us who wrote off the Alouettes last week have been forced to eat our words as Montreal obliterated the Toronto Argonauts, 38-17, thanks to a total meltdown from Toronto quarterback Chad Kelly, who tossed four killer interceptions in the defeat. Cody Fajardo put up his regular USFL-level stats, going 18 of 25 passing for 175 yards, one touchdown and an interception. He led the team in rushing, carrying the ball five times for 38 yards. Jeshrun Antwi had three carries for 16 yards and a touchdown. Tyson Philpot finished with six receptions for 42 yards. Tyler Snead caught three passes for 31 yards and a score. On defense, Reggie Stubblefield led the team with 11 tackles and a pick. Tyrice Beverette had 10 tackles. Darnell Sankey had six tackles, an interception and a forced fumble. Marc Antoine-Dequoy had two tackles and a pick. Shawn Lemon had two tackles, an interception and a fumble recovery. Kabion Ento had a tackle and a pick.

Montreal surprised us all last week, but it’s too much to ask for them to do it two weeks in a row. As good as Kelly has been for the Argos this year, Calleros could probably play in the NFL, at least as a backup. That’ll make the difference here. Blue Bomers 38, Alouettes 30

Last week

Straight up: 1-1

Against the spread: 1-1

Season

Straight up: 61-23

Against the spread: 45-39

Follow Adam Greene on Twitter @TheFirstMan.

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