Cnotes CFL 2019 News / Notes / Picks / Exhibition Football Schedule

[Cnotes53]

CFL Betting Notes - Div Finals
David Schwab

The final weekend of CFL regular season games kicked things off with Montreal posting its 10th straight-up victory of the year by beating Ottawa 42-32 as a seven-point road favorite on Friday night.

In the first of three Saturday games, Saskatchewan clinched the West Division title with a 23-13 victory against Edmonton in a PUSH as a 10-point home favorite. Hamilton closed out its season with a tight 21-18 win at home against Toronto, but the Tiger-Cats came nowhere close to covering the 13 ?-point spread. Calgary closed as a 6 ?-point road favorite against British Columbia and the Stampeders failed to cover in a 21-16 decision.

Sunday, Nov. 10

Edmonton Eskimos (8-10 SU, 5-12-1 ATS) at Montreal Alouettes (10-8 SU, 10-8 ATS)
Point-spread: Montreal -1 ?
Total: 50

Game Overview

Edmonton enters the playoffs as a crossover team from the West Division. The Eskimos split the season series against Montreal SU with the home team winning each meeting. They were 0-2 ATS with the total staying UNDER 54 points in a 20-10 loss to the Alouettes as 5 ?-point road favorites. Edmonton has just two straight-up wins over its last nine games with a 1-7-1 record against the spread. The total has stayed UNDER in three of its last five contests. It has gone 2-6-1 ATS on the road this season.

Logan Kilgore took the majority of the snaps at quarterback in the season finale. He completed 12-of-22 passes for 88 yards with two touchdown throws against one interception. Taking over for the injured Trevor Harris over final six games of the season, he has thrown for 1,199 yards while completing 65.5 percent of his 174 attempts. Kilgore has six touchdown passes against nine interceptions.

This will be Montreal?s first postseason appearance since the 2014 CFL season. The Alouettes followed a SU win with a SU loss in each of their past nine outings. They went 5-4 ATS during this same span with the total going OVER in three of their final four games. Montreal failed to cover the closing spread in five of its final seven home games.

Vernon Adams Jr. completed 13-of-16 passing attempts in limited action Friday night for 126 yards and two touchdowns before giving way to Matt Shiltz. Adams finished the regular season with 3,942 total passing yards while completing 65.7 percent of his 431 passing attempts. He tossed 24 touchdowns against 13 interceptions. William Stanback was the Alouettes? leading rusher with 1,048 yards and five scores on 170 carries. He gained 45 yards on seven rushing attempts against Ottawa.

Betting Trends

-- With the SU season split, Edmonton has won 11 of its last 12 games against Montreal. It also has an 8-4 edge in these meetings ATS. The total has gone OVER in four of the last five games in this inter-division clash.

Winnipeg Blue Bombers (11-7 SU, 12-6 ATS) at Calgary Stampeders (12-6 SU, 5-12-1 ATS)
Point-spread: Calgary -6
Total: 49 ?

Game Overview

The Blue Bombers have the benefit of a Week 21 bye heading into their third game against Calgary over the past four weeks. This will be the fourth meeting between these West Division rivals this season with the home team winning each game SU. Winnipeg has the 2-1 edge ATS with the total going OVER in all three games. The Blue Bombers are 5-1 ATS this season when closing as underdogs and they have covered in three of their last five road games.

In the season-ending 29-28 home win against Calgary, Zach Collaros was under center at quarterback in his only start this season due to injury. He completed 22-of-28 passes for 221 yards and two scores. He was also picked off once. Andrew Harris gained another 64 yards running the ball on 15 carries. He ended the regular season as the CFL?s leading rusher with 1,380 yards and four scores on 225 carries.

The Week 20 loss to Winnipeg cost Calgary the West Division title after opening that home-and-home series with a 37-33 victory as a 6 ?-point favorite at home. The Stampeders were 7-2 SU in their last nine games with a costly 2-6-1 record ATS after failing to cover in their last five games. The total stayed UNDER 47 points in Saturday?s win against BC after going OVER in six of their previous 10 outings. Calgary is 2-7 ATS at home this season and a dismal 1-11-1 ATS closing as a favorite.

Bo Levi Mitchell ended the season with 3,464 passing yards and 19 touchdown throws in 11 starts. He completed 66 percent of his 415 passing attempts. He threw for a combined 687 yards and seven touchdowns in those final two games against Winnipeg. Reginald Begelton has been his top target with 102 receptions in 17 games. His 1,444 receiving yards is ranked third in the CFL and his 10 touchdown catches are also tied for the third most in the CFL.

Betting Trends

-- Calgary has the slight 6-4 SU edge in the last 10 meetings between these two division foes. This includes a 22-14 SU win in last year?s playoffs as a 7 ?-point home favorite. The series is tied 5-5 ATS with the total going OVER in six of the 10 games.


****************************


CFL
Long Sheet

Week 22

Sunday, November 10

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

EDMONTON (8 - 10) at MONTREAL (10 - 8) - 11/10/2019, 1:00 PM
Top Trends for this game.
EDMONTON is 5-12 ATS (-8.2 Units) in all games this season.
EDMONTON is 5-12 ATS (-8.2 Units) in all lined games this season.
EDMONTON is 1-8 ATS (-7.8 Units) off a division game this season.
EDMONTON is 4-12 ATS (-9.2 Units) in games played on turf this season.
EDMONTON is 7-17 ATS (-11.7 Units) in non-conference games over the last 3 seasons.
EDMONTON is 0-8 ATS (-8.8 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record this season.
EDMONTON is 0-6 ATS (-6.6 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record after 9 or more games this season.

Head-to-Head Series History
MONTREAL is 4-2 against the spread versus EDMONTON over the last 3 seasons
EDMONTON is 5-1 straight up against MONTREAL over the last 3 seasons
4 of 6 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

WINNIPEG (11 - 7) at CALGARY (12 - 6) - 11/10/2019, 4:30 PM
Top Trends for this game.
WINNIPEG is 36-21 ATS (+12.9 Units) in all games over the last 3 seasons.
WINNIPEG is 36-21 ATS (+12.9 Units) in all lined games over the last 3 seasons.
WINNIPEG is 8-2 ATS (+5.8 Units) versus division opponents this season.
WINNIPEG is 9-1 ATS (+7.9 Units) off a division game this season.
WINNIPEG is 12-5 ATS (+6.5 Units) in games played on turf this season.
CALGARY is 2-11 ATS (-10.1 Units) as a favorite this season.
CALGARY is 5-12 ATS (-8.2 Units) in games played on turf this season.

Head-to-Head Series History
CALGARY is 4-4 against the spread versus WINNIPEG over the last 3 seasons
CALGARY is 4-4 straight up against WINNIPEG over the last 3 seasons
4 of 8 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------




CFL

Week 22

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Trend Report
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sunday, November 10

Montreal Alouettes
Montreal is 15-8 ATS in its last 23 games
Montreal is 2-5 ATS in its last 7 games at home
Montreal is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games at home
Montreal is 8-15 SU in its last 23 games at home
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Montreal's last 6 games at home
Montreal is 4-2 ATS in its last 6 games when playing Edmonton
Montreal is 4-8 ATS in its last 12 games when playing Edmonton
Montreal is 1-11 SU in its last 12 games when playing Edmonton
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Montreal's last 5 games when playing Edmonton
Montreal is 1-5 ATS in its last 6 games when playing at home against Edmonton
Montreal is 15-8 SU in its last 23 games when playing at home against Edmonton
Montreal is 1-5 SU in its last 6 games when playing at home against Edmonton
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Montreal's last 7 games when playing at home against Edmonton
Edmonton Eskimos
Edmonton is 1-7-1 ATS in its last 9 games
Edmonton is 2-7 SU in its last 9 games
Edmonton is 1-5-1 ATS in its last 7 games on the road
Edmonton is 3-12 SU in its last 15 games on the road
The total has gone UNDER in 11 of Edmonton's last 14 games on the road
Edmonton is 8-4 ATS in its last 12 games when playing Montreal
Edmonton is 2-4 ATS in its last 6 games when playing Montreal
Edmonton is 11-1 SU in its last 12 games when playing Montreal
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Edmonton's last 5 games when playing Montreal
Edmonton is 5-1 ATS in its last 6 games when playing on the road against Montreal
Edmonton is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games when playing on the road against Montreal
Edmonton is 8-15 SU in its last 23 games when playing on the road against Montreal
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Edmonton's last 7 games when playing on the road against Montreal

Calgary Stampeders
Calgary is 0-5 ATS in its last 5 games
Calgary is 7-2 SU in its last 9 games
Calgary is 1-4 ATS in its last 5 games at home
Calgary is 7-1 SU in its last 8 games at home
Calgary is 20-5 SU in its last 25 games when playing Winnipeg
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Calgary's last 6 games when playing Winnipeg
Calgary is 17-2 SU in its last 19 games when playing at home against Winnipeg
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Calgary's last 6 games when playing at home against Winnipeg
Winnipeg Blue Bombers
Winnipeg is 7-3 ATS in its last 10 games
Winnipeg is 2-4 SU in its last 6 games
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Winnipeg's last 6 games
Winnipeg is 1-6 SU in its last 7 games on the road
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Winnipeg's last 6 games on the road
Winnipeg is 5-20 SU in its last 25 games when playing Calgary
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Winnipeg's last 6 games when playing Calgary
Winnipeg is 2-17 SU in its last 19 games when playing on the road against Calgary
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Winnipeg's last 6 games when playing on the road against Calgary


----------------------------------------------------------


CFL Division Semifinals preview, odds, picks & predictions: Why Winnipeg is worth a wager
Rohit Ponnaiya

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers are 6-point underdogs on the road against the Calgary Stampeders in the CFL Western Division semifinals on Sunday.

The CFL division semifinals take place on Sunday with the Edmonton Eskimos crossing over to play the Montreal Alouettes, while the Calgary Stampeders host the Winnipeg Blue Bombers as 6-point chalk.

We break down the odds (provided by 10bet.com) with analysis and predictions for both CFL playoff games this weekend.

Season Betting Trends

Favorites: 62-19 SU, 38-41-2 ATS
Home teams: 50-31 SU, 40-39-2 ATS
Over/Under: 37-43-1

Week 21 Picks: 3-1
Season to date: 39-36-2

EDMONTON ESKIMOS AT MONTREAL ALOUETTES (-1.5, 50)

This line is a testament to how much the Alouettes have flown under the radar all season. While the Eskimos will have star quarterback Trevor Harris, he's played just one game since September 8 and they had red-zone problems on offense even with Harris under center.

Alouettes QB Vernon Adams Jr might be the front-runner for Most Outstanding Player after accounting for 36 total touchdowns (24 passing and 12 running) in 16 games this season. While the Eskimos defense has been excellent against the pass they've been vulnerable to the run giving up 5.4 yards per carry. That's bad news against the mobile Adams and Montreal running back William Stanback who rushed for 1048 yards in 14 games with 6.2 YPA.

Edmonton has struggled on the road going 3-6 SU and 2-7 ATS. Their three victories away from home came against the three-worst teams in the league in Ottawa, Toronto and B.C. The Als went 6-3 at home, including a 20-10 victory over the Esks in Week 6 - a game which Harris was healthy for. Take the home side to win and cover.

PICK: Montreal -1.5


WINNIPEG BLUE BOMBERS AT CALGARY STAMPEDERS (-6, 49.5)

If the regular-season matchups between these teams are any indication, this should be a close game. The Bombers went 2-1 in the series with a total score of 89-88 for Calgary. The biggest margin of victory was a 37-33 Calgary victory in Week 19 where Winnipeg had a fourth-quarter lead.

While Calgary could certainly repeat as Grey Cup champions this isn't the same juggernaut they've had in years past. The Stamps rank fourth in the league in offense and in defense (both in terms of yardage and scoring), which in a league of nine teams isn't exactly impressive.

The Bombers struggled towards the end of the season but with the recently acquired (and recently healthy) Zach Collaros looking sharp against the Stamps in their season finale, their passing struggles might be over. Winnipeg has the top running attack and the best run defense in the league and, at least on paper, a formidable pass defense that has piled up 48 sacks and 24 interceptions.

When it comes to special teams, Winnipeg has a clear edge. Returner Janarion Grant has two punt return TDs against Calgary this season and Winnipeg is plus-7 in big plays on special teams while Calgary is minus-6.

The Bombers are 6-1 ATS in their last seven games against Western Conference opponents while the Stamps are 0-6-1 ATS in their previous seven games overall. Take Winnipeg and the points.

PICK: Winnipeg +6

-----------------------------------------------------


CFL
Dunkel

Week 22


Sunday, November 10

Edmonton @ Montreal

Game 821-822
November 10, 2019 @ 1:00 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Edmonton
110.395
Montreal
109.972
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Edmonton
by 1
46
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Montreal
by 2
50
Dunkel Pick:
Edmonton
(+2); Under

Winnipeg @ Calgary

Game 823-824
November 10, 2019 @ 4:30 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Winnipeg
116.567
Calgary
117.533
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Calgary
by 1
45
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Calgary
by 6
49 1/2
Dunkel Pick:
Winnipeg
(+6); Under

 

[Cnotes53]

CFL Betting Notes - Semis
David Schwab

Both road underdogs shook things up early in this season?s CFL playoffs. In the first of two division semifinal showdowns on Sunday, Edmonton upended Montreal 37-29 closing as a 2 ?-point underdog on the road. The total in that crossover matchup went well OVER the closing 49 ?-point line.

In a West Division battle later that day, Winnipeg is moving on in the playoffs with a stunning 35-14 road upset against the defending champion Calgary Stampeders. The Blue Bombers were four-point underdogs and the total slipped OVER the 48 ?-point total line.

Sunday, Nov. 17

Edmonton (9-10 SU, 6-12-1 ATS) at Hamilton (15-3 SU, 12-5-1 ATS)
Point-spread: Tiger-Cats -6
Total: 50.5

Game Overview

The Eskimos struggled over the second half of the CFL regular season with just two straight-up victories in their previous nine games. They went just 1-7-1 against the spread in that same span. Edmonton improved to 3-6-1 ATS on the road this season with Sunday?s upset in Montreal. The total has gone OVER in three of its last five games. It is 2-5-1 ATS in eight games this season closing as an underdog.

One of the reasons why the Eskimos struggled to win games recently was an injury to quarterback Trevor Harris. He is also the reason why they still have a chance to play in this year?s Grey Cup title game. He completed an amazing 92.3 percent of his 39 passing attempts for 421 yards and a score in Sunday?s win. Even though he missed six regular season games, Harris was second in the CFL in total passing yards with 4,027. He tossed 16 touchdowns against six interceptions.

Hamilton was probably preparing for Montreal in this division final tilt, but it now has to complete a three-game sweep against Edmonton after winning a pair of regular season matchups both SU and ATS. The Tiger-Cats rolled to a 42-12 home victory over the Eskimos on Oct. 4 as seven-point favorites. They failed to cover in a meaningless three-point win over Toronto in the season finale after covering ATS in six previous games. Hamilton brings a SU six-game winning streak into Sunday?s contest.

The Tiger-Cats lost Jeremiah Masoli at quarterback just six weeks into the season. However, Dane Evans took over the starting role in stride. He ended the year sixth on the list in total passing yards with 3,754. He also threw 21 scoring strikes against 13 picks. Another key factor in this game could be Brandon Banks as the CFL?s leading receiver in both yards (1,550) and touchdown catches (13).

Betting Trends

-- With the two SU victories this season, Hamilton has a 4-1 edge against Edmonton SU in the last five meetings. However, the Eskimos are still 5-2-1 ATS in their last eight road games against the Tiger-Cats. The total has gone OVER in five of the last six meetings overall.

Winnipeg (12-7 SU, 13-6 ATS) at Saskatchewan (13-5 SU, 12-5-1 ATS)
Point-spread: Roughriders -3.5
Total: 44

Game Overview

The Blue Bombers came up with a stellar effort against Calgary when they needed it the most. They lost five of their last eight games SU before Sunday?s win. This was actually their third game in a row against Calgary after splitting a season-ending home-and-home series SU. Winnipeg has been able to cover the closing spread in its last four games and in eight of its previous 11 contests. The total has gone OVER in five of its last seven games.

Trailing 14-8 at halftime, the Blue Bombers own the final two quarters by outscoring Calgary 27-0. Both Zach Collaros and Chris Streveler saw action at quarterback in this game. Collaros ended the day with 193 yards passing and one touchdown throw while Streveler was used more for his running ability with a game-high 82 yards and a score on 13 rushing attempts. Winnipeg?s defense deserves a great deal of the credit after holding Calgary to just 116 yards through the air.

Saskatchewan proved itself to be the best team in the competitive West Division all season long. Going all the way back to late July, the Roughriders reeled off 12 SU wins in 14 games while going a profitable 10-3-1 ATS. They split a home-and-home series against Winnipeg SU in early September before winning the season series with a 21-6 win at home on Oct. 5 as 3 ?-point favorites. The total stayed UNDER in each of those three matchups. Saskatchewan is 9-3-1 ATS this season closing as a favorite. It went 5-3-1 ATS at home.

Cody Fajardo took over the starting quarterback position early in the season and went on to lead the CFL in passing yards with 4,302. He completed a solid 71.5 percent of his 473 passing attempts. He posted 18 passing touchdowns while getting picked off eight times. William Powell led the ground game with 1,093 yards rushing and 12 touchdown runs on 215 carries. Fajardo also showed some excellent mobility running the ball with 611 rushing yards and 10 scores on 107 rushing attempts. There is concern for this game given a strained oblique, but he is insisting he will play.

Betting Trends

-- The Blue Bombers have the 4-1 edge ATS in their last five games against Saskatchewan. The total has stayed UNDER in each of those five meetings. The Roughriders have won 17 of their last 21 home games against Winnipeg SU.

 

[Cnotes53]

CFL
Long Sheet

Week 23

Sunday, November 17

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

EDMONTON (9 - 10) at HAMILTON (15 - 3) - 11/17/2019, 1:00 PM
Top Trends for this game.
EDMONTON is 5-12 ATS (-8.2 Units) in games played on turf this season.
EDMONTON is 1-8 ATS (-7.8 Units) when playing against a team with a winning record this season.
HAMILTON is 13-4 ATS (+8.6 Units) in all games this season.
HAMILTON is 13-4 ATS (+8.6 Units) in all lined games this season.
HAMILTON is 10-3 ATS (+6.7 Units) as a favorite this season.
HAMILTON is 12-4 ATS (+7.6 Units) in games played on turf this season.

Head-to-Head Series History
HAMILTON is 5-1 against the spread versus EDMONTON over the last 3 seasons
HAMILTON is 4-2 straight up against EDMONTON over the last 3 seasons
5 of 6 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

WINNIPEG (12 - 7) at SASKATCHEWAN (13 - 5) - 11/17/2019, 4:30 PM
Top Trends for this game.
SASKATCHEWAN is 12-5 ATS (+6.5 Units) in all games this season.
SASKATCHEWAN is 12-5 ATS (+6.5 Units) in all lined games this season.
SASKATCHEWAN is 21-9 ATS (+11.1 Units) off a division game over the last 3 seasons.
WINNIPEG is 13-6 ATS (+6.4 Units) in all games this season.
WINNIPEG is 13-6 ATS (+6.4 Units) in all lined games this season.
WINNIPEG is 7-1 ATS (+5.9 Units) as an underdog this season.
WINNIPEG is 9-2 ATS (+6.8 Units) versus division opponents this season.
WINNIPEG is 10-1 ATS (+8.9 Units) off a division game this season.
WINNIPEG is 13-5 ATS (+7.5 Units) in games played on turf this season.
WINNIPEG is 17-6 ATS (+10.4 Units) revenging a loss versus opponent over the last 3 seasons.

Head-to-Head Series History
WINNIPEG is 6-4 against the spread versus SASKATCHEWAN over the last 3 seasons
SASKATCHEWAN is 5-5 straight up against WINNIPEG over the last 3 seasons
5 of 10 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------




CFL

Week 23

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Trend Report
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sunday, November 17

Hamilton Tiger-Cats
Hamilton is 6-1 ATS in its last 7 games
Hamilton is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games
Hamilton is 7-2-1 ATS in its last 10 games at home
Hamilton is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games at home
The total has gone UNDER in 6 of Hamilton's last 9 games at home
Hamilton is 5-1 ATS in its last 6 games when playing Edmonton
Hamilton is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games when playing Edmonton
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Hamilton's last 6 games when playing Edmonton
Hamilton is 2-5-1 ATS in its last 8 games when playing at home against Edmonton
Hamilton is 2-4 SU in its last 6 games when playing at home against Edmonton
The total has gone UNDER in 6 of Hamilton's last 8 games when playing at home against Edmonton
Edmonton Eskimos
Edmonton is 2-7-1 ATS in its last 10 games
Edmonton is 3-7 SU in its last 10 games
Edmonton is 1-3-1 ATS in its last 5 games on the road
Edmonton is 4-12 SU in its last 16 games on the road
The total has gone UNDER in 11 of Edmonton's last 15 games on the road
Edmonton is 1-5-1 ATS in its last 7 games when playing Hamilton
Edmonton is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games when playing Hamilton
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Edmonton's last 6 games when playing Hamilton
Edmonton is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games when playing on the road against Hamilton
The total has gone UNDER in 6 of Edmonton's last 8 games when playing on the road against Hamilton

Saskatchewan Roughriders
Saskatchewan is 5-0-1 ATS in its last 6 games
Saskatchewan is 6-1 SU in its last 7 games
Saskatchewan is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games at home
The total has gone UNDER in 7 of Saskatchewan's last 10 games at home
Saskatchewan is 1-4 ATS in its last 5 games when playing Winnipeg
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Saskatchewan's last 5 games when playing Winnipeg
Saskatchewan is 17-4 SU in its last 21 games when playing at home against Winnipeg
The total has gone OVER in 9 of Saskatchewan's last 12 games when playing at home against Winnipeg
Winnipeg Blue Bombers
Winnipeg is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Winnipeg's last 5 games
Winnipeg is 4-2 ATS in its last 6 games on the road
Winnipeg is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games on the road
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Winnipeg's last 7 games on the road
Winnipeg is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games when playing Saskatchewan
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Winnipeg's last 5 games when playing Saskatchewan
Winnipeg is 4-17 SU in its last 21 games when playing on the road against Saskatchewan
The total has gone OVER in 9 of Winnipeg's last 12 games when playing on the road against Saskatchewan

 

[Cnotes53]

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 17
GAME TIME(ET) PICK UNITS

EDM at HAM 01:00 PM

HAM -6.0

O 50.5


WPG at SSK 04:30 PM

WPG +3.5

O 44.0

 

[Cnotes53]

GAME RECAP
TICATS PUNCH TICKET TO GREY CUP WITH WIN OVER ESKIMOS
CFL.CA STAFF

HAMILTON ? The Hamilton Tiger-Cats defeated the Edmonton Eskimos 36-16 on Sunday afternoon in the Eastern Final and punched their ticket to the 107th Grey Cup presented by Shaw.

In front of a packed Tim Hortons Field, attendance was officially 25,177, the Ticats won their first East Division crown since 2014.

The Hamilton Tiger-Cats defence was a major factor in the win, as they collected three key turnovers ? including interceptions from Richard Leonard and Justin Tuggle and a fumble recovery from Frankie Williams. As a unit, they also held the Esks to just a single touchdown in the ball game and got in behind the best offensive line in the CFL to add three sacks on QB Trevor Harris. The defensive unit also held Edmonton scoreless in the first and third quarters of the ball game.

Ticats pivot Dane Evans had an impressive outing in his first playoff start, completing 21 of 36 passes and throwing for 386 yards, a touchdown and an interception. Harris was good on 29 of 41 passes for 319 yards, a touchdown and a pair of interceptions.

Backup quarterback David Watford scored two touchdowns for the Tiger-Cats while Bralon Addison hauled in 130 yards on seven catches and Brandon Banks caught four passes for 100 yards and a touchdown.

DaVaris Daniels caught seven passes for 109 yards and the Eskimos only major score while running back C.J. Gable carried the rock 15 times for 55 yards in their team?s loss.

GAME RECAP
TICATS PUNCH TICKET TO GREY CUP WITH WIN OVER ESKIMOS
SHARE

CFL.CA STAFF
HAMILTON ? The Hamilton Tiger-Cats defeated the Edmonton Eskimos 36-16 on Sunday afternoon in the Eastern Final and punched their ticket to the 107th Grey Cup presented by Shaw.

In front of a packed Tim Hortons Field, attendance was officially 25,177, the Ticats won their first East Division crown since 2014.

The Hamilton Tiger-Cats defence was a major factor in the win, as they collected three key turnovers ? including interceptions from Richard Leonard and Justin Tuggle and a fumble recovery from Frankie Williams. As a unit, they also held the Esks to just a single touchdown in the ball game and got in behind the best offensive line in the CFL to add three sacks on QB Trevor Harris. The defensive unit also held Edmonton scoreless in the first and third quarters of the ball game.

Ticats pivot Dane Evans had an impressive outing in his first playoff start, completing 21 of 36 passes and throwing for 386 yards, a touchdown and an interception. Harris was good on 29 of 41 passes for 319 yards, a touchdown and a pair of interceptions.

Backup quarterback David Watford scored two touchdowns for the Tiger-Cats while Bralon Addison hauled in 130 yards on seven catches and Brandon Banks caught four passes for 100 yards and a touchdown.

DaVaris Daniels caught seven passes for 109 yards and the Eskimos only major score while running back C.J. Gable carried the rock 15 times for 55 yards in their team?s loss.

Dane Evans started things off for the Ticats with a 19-yard pass to Bralon Addison but after two incompletions, first to Addison and then Jaelon Acklin, Lirim Hajrullahu had to punt the ball away, bringing Trevor Harris and the Esks offence onto the field.

They weren?t on the turf for long, however, as Richard Leonard snagged the first interception of the ball game, picking off a pass intended for Ricky Collins Jr. on the third play of the Esks? first drive.

Just as it looked like Edmonton?s defence had held the Tabbies to a two-and-out, Ticats head coach Orlondo Steinauer challenged that there was defensive pass interference on defensive back Brian Walker, who was covering Addison, and it was successful, keeping Evans and co. on the field. Hamilton settled for a field goal to finish the drive, as Hajrullahu was good on his 48-yarder to give the home team a 3-0 lead five minutes into the first quarter.

Hamilton?s defence continued to make things difficult for the Eskimos to start the contest. On the visitor?s first play of the ensuing drive, C.J. Gable fumbled the football and Frankie Williams recovered, bringing Evans and his offence back onto the field and into scoring range.

That turnover turned into points once again for the Tiger-Cats as Evans used Brandon Banks (five-yard gain) and Anthony Coombs (20-yard gain), along with a four-yard run himself, to set up backup quarterback David Watford?s two-yard major score. That touchdown on third down, along with the convert, gave Hamilton a 10-0 lead.

On the next scoring play for the Tiger-Cats, Hajrullhu booted his second FG of the contest with just under two minutes left in the quarter, hitting the 19-yarder and adding three points to the home team?s lead (13-0).

To start the second quarter, DaVaris Daniels scored the first touchdown of the afternoon for the Eskimos, shaking off a tackle from Cariel Brooks and running into the end zone for the major. The 75-yard, eight-play scoring drive, that included a 31-yard gain from Daniels to start things off, cut the Tiger-Cats? lead to 13-7.

It only took two plays for the Tiger-Cat to score another major, as Brandon Banks showed exactly why he was the East Division nominee for Most Outstanding Player. The Ticats receiver was the only player Evans used on the two-play scoring drive, as ?Speedy B? hauled in a 22-yard pass before his 47-yard score, an outstanding grab on the goal line. The score put the home team up 20-7.

Following Hamilton?s first two-and-out of the ball game, Edmonton cut the lead with just over five minutes left in the half. Sean Whyte booted a 49-yard field goal to make it 20-10.

As the Eskimos were driving with the clock ticking down, Harris was moving the chains and put his team into scoring position. Once again, Whyte had to come on the field and kick a 17-yard field goal to cut Hamilton?s lead to 20-13. The 57-yard scoring drive was stopped, thanks to another knockdown from Williams, on the Ticats? 10-yard line.

The Tiger-Cats weren?t finished scoring in the first half with 30 seconds on the clock. Evans used Coombs, Tasker and Acklin to bring the Ticats into field goal range. Hajrullahu booted a 41-yard field to to add to his team?s lead (23-13) with no time left on the clock in the first 30 minutes.

Hamilton was moving the chains down the field to start the second half and the Eskimos hauled in their first turnover of the ball game as Tyquwan Glass intercepted Evans? pass intended for Coombs.

Edmonton couldn?t take advantage of the turnover, however, as the Ticats defence held the Green and Gold to a two-and-out. Backed up in their own end zone, O?Neill conceded a safety, adding two more points to Hamilton?s lead (25-13) with eight minutes left in the third frame.

Once again, Hajrullahu had to boot a field goal to finish off a drive for the Tabbies. His 34-yarder sailed through the uprights and added another three points to his team?s lead (28-13).

The defence in black and gold kept their foot on the gas on the ensuing drive. Defensive end Julian Howsare tipped a pass from the Esks pivot and it was middle linebacker Justin Tuggle who snagged the interception. This time the Tabbies couldn?t take advantage of the turnover and were forced to punt the ball back to the Eskimos.

Defensive back Godfrey Onyeka got in on the turnovers for the Eskimos, recovering a Luke Tasker fumble, a fumble that was forced by linebacker Don Unamba. It was the fifth turnover of the ball game and the second for Edmonton of the half.

As Edmonton was trying to move down the field, the Ticats defence held them to a Whyte field goal attempt and scored three points off the turnover. The Esks? kicker nailed his 30-yard attempt and cut the Tabbies lead to 28-16.

And on the next drive, Evans had no hesitation throwing down field, using running back Cameron Marshall for a 34-yard gain and receivers Acklin and Banks for 26 yards each, setting up Watford?s second QB sneak TD of the game. That touchdown increased the Ticats lead to 35-16.

The final scoring play of the contest was a single from Hajrullahu to make the score 36-16 and the Tiger-Cats left Tim Hortons Field with the victory.

The Ticats now await the winner of the Western Final between the Saskatchewan Roughriders and Winnipeg Blue Bombers to see who they will play in the Grey Cup next Sunday.

 

[Cnotes53]

GAME RECAP
FOR THE W: LATE GOAL LINE STAND SENDS BOMBERS TO GREY CUP
CFL.CA STAFF

REGINA ? The Winnipeg Blue Bombers will play in their first Grey Cup since 2011, after a late goal line stand preserved a 20-13 win over the Saskatchewan Roughriders in the Western Final on Sunday.

Zach Collaros led a 107-yard touchdown drive in the first quarter, while Justin Medlock added four field goals, helping the Bombers silence a sold out Mosaic Stadium crowd of 33,300. Winnipeg will take on the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in the 107th Grey Cup presented by Shaw on Sunday, Nov. 24 in Calgary.

The Bombers led by 10 points in the fourth quarter, but Mercy Maston?s tackle on Riders quarterback Cody Fajardo at the one-yard-line on third down stopped a potential game-tying touchdown with 2:37 left in the game.

Fajardo would get one last chance, but Winnipeg safety Brandon Alexander had a late pass knockdown while a third down throw with no time on the clock struck the crossbar of the upright, clinching a Bombers victory.

Kenny Lawler scored the game?s only touchdown late in the opening quarter, while Winston Rose had a 62-yard interception return in the third quarter of a game that Winnipeg led almost from start to finish.

Collaros was an efficient 17 of 25 for 267 yards and a touchdown, while Darvin Adams had a team-high 93 receiving yards for Winnipeg. Riders receiver Kyran Moore led the game with 119 receiving yards on nine receptions in a losing effort.

After a week of uncertainty due to an injured oblique, Fajardo started and finished the game at quarterback for the Riders, throwing for 366 yards on 27 of 41 passing. He rushed for 23 yards and was intercepted once.

Fajardo put his arm to the test early, throwing a strike to Naaman Roosevelt on the slant for an 11-yard pickup inside the Winnipeg 50 on the game?s opening drive. The Bombers? defence answered with a sack from Drake Nevis, eventually leading to a punt single, but it was an encouraging start for Fajardo who completed his first two attempts and also sustained a hit.

Facing the CFL?s stingiest defence, Collaros and the Bombers went after the Riders vertically from start to finish on Sunday. After a deep shot to Adams fell incomplete, Collaros connected with Nic Demski for a 56-yard pass that would have put the offence inside the 10. But Demski was called for offside, negating the long gain and forcing Winnipeg to punt.

After two punts per side, the first game-changing play came on fumble by William Powell. The Riders? running back had the ball knocked loose by Alexander, and it was recovered by the Bombers? Steven Richardson at the Saskatchewan 34. The result was a 33-yard field goal by Medlock, giving the Bombers their first lead of the game, 3-1.

A 58-yard punt by Jon Ryan, followed by an illegal block against Winnipeg, pinned the Bombers at their own three. But their aggressive offence paid off, as Collaros found an open Adams, who beat man coverage for a 63-yard gain. Two plays later, Collaros connected with an open Lawler for a 26-yard touchdown, extending the Bombers? lead to 10-1 late in the first quarter.

Collaros finished the opening frame with 113 yards and a touchdown on 5-of-6 passing, while Fajardo struggled to get in a rhythm, completing just three of seven attempts. The Riders punted on four of their first five drives and fumbled on the other, amassing just 34 yards of offence and two first downs.

While Fajardo?s early struggles continued into the second quarter, Bombers linebacker Adam Bighill made him pay the toll physically. The Riders? pivot had to absorb two big hits in a row before the team?s fifth punt of the opening half.

With the first half winding down, the Riders? offence suddenly came to life, ignited by three receptions from Roosevelt and two more from Shaq Evans, who was a game time decision due to a foot injury, deep into Winnipeg territory. However, Fajardo?s streak of six straight completions would come to an end, resulting in a 13-yard field goal by Brett Lauther to make it a 10-4 game.

The Bombers added a punt single with 19 seconds remaining, taking a seven-point advantage into the break.

Any momentum the Riders gained before halftime was squandered early in the third quarter, as the Bombers moved right into scoring range on a 42-yard pickup by Demski. However, the Saskatchewan defence tightened the screws, eventually forcing a 13-yard field goal following a nine-play, 63-yard drive.

Saskatchewan answered with a 42-yard field goal from Lauther, his second of the game, to stay within a touchdown, 14-7.

As Fajardo continued to find his rhythm, a 31-yard completion to Powell along the sideline put the Riders right back within striking distance. However, Fajardo?s next pass fell short of the intended target and into the hands of Rose, the CFL?s 2019 interception leader, who ran the ball back into Rider territory.

The Bombers would settle for Medlock?s third field goal of the game, a 43-yarder to make it 17-7, while Saskatchewan answered right back with a 13-yarder to restore a seven-point deficit with 10 minutes remaining.

With a trip to the Grey Cup at stake, the Bombers? offence wasn?t about to ease up. Collaros continued to attack the Riders? defence vertically, this time finding Drew Wolitarsky for a 34-yard gain down to the Saskatchewan 41. Medlock?s fourth field goal of the game would restore a 10-point lead for the road team.

Trailing by two scores, the Riders needed a big play, and fast. A 45-yard catch-and-run by Cory Watson prolonged hope, setting up a 33-yard kick by Lauther to make it 20-13 with 6:19 remaining.

A quick defensive stop later and the Riders would get their biggest play of the game thanks to some special teams trickery. As Marcus Thigpen split for the other side of the field, Medlock?s punt landed in Nick Marshall?s hands on the far side with nothing but open space in front of him. Marshall?s 58-yard return set Saskatchewan up inside the Winnipeg 40.

The Riders came within inches of scoring on a dive to the end zone by Powell, who was ruled down at the one after a second down carry. Then, on third and goal from the one, Fajardo was immediately swarmed by a sea of Bombers. Defensive back Maston was credited with the tackle.

One possession later, Saskatchewan was allowed one final opportunity to equalize after Fajardo?s fumble was ruled an incompletion following an automatic review. Fajardo threw incomplete on second down, setting up third-and-10 with 27 seconds remaining. At that point, Moore made an acrobatic grab off a deflection from Marcus Sayles to sustain life in the Riders? season.

A knockdown by Alexander set up a last-gasp, third-and-eight play, but Fajardo?s pass struck the crossbar, sealing a 20-13 victory for Winnipeg.

In a battle of two of the CFL?s most productive ground games, both Powell and Andrew Harris were held at bay. Powell finished with 48 yards on eight carries with a fumble while Harris was limited to 41 yards on 10 carries. Powell added 52 yards on three catches through the air.

Despite a slow start, the Riders wound up having the better day offensively, piling up 442 yards and 22 first downs compared to just 322 yards and 14 first downs for Winnipeg. In the end, however, the Bombers won the time of possession battle, while Saskatchewan failed to find the end zone, relying on four field goals from Lauther and a punt single for all their points.

For the Bombers, the win marks a second straight year they?ve eliminated their prairie rival from the post-season, after a 23-18 win over the Riders in the 2018 Eastern Semi-Final, also at Mosaic Stadium. Winnipeg looks to end the CFL?s longest active Grey Cup drought, which dates back to 1990.

The Riders, meanwhile, face a disappointing ending to an otherwise positive season, which saw them claim their first regular season West Division title in a decade, finishing with a 13-5 record.

After victories over Calgary and now Saskatchewan, Winnipeg will try to become the first third-seeded team to win a Grey Cup since the Ricky Ray-led Edmonton Eskimos in 2005.

 

[Cnotes53]

GREY CUP

SUNDAY, NOV. 24
Away Home Score ATS Result Total Result
TBD TBD - - -

************************


CANADIAN FOOTBALL LEAGUE NOVEMBER THRU GREY CUP BEST BETS AND OPINIONS

DATE W-L-T % UNITS RECORD

11/17/2019...........3-1-0............75.00%.............+9.50
11/10/2019...........2-2-0............50.00%..............-1.00
11/02/2019...........4-2-0............66.66%.............+9.00
11/01/2019.......... 1-0-0.......... 100.00% ...........+5.00

TOTALS................10-5-0 ..........66.66% ...........+22.50


******************************


BEST BETS:

DATE........................ATS........... ..UNITS..............O/U..............UNITS.............TOTAL

11/17/2019.............2 - 0..............+10.00...........1 - 1..............-0.50...............+9.50
11/10/2019.............1 - 1...............-0.50.............1 - 1..............-0.50...............-1.00
11/02/2019.............1 - 1...............-0.50.............1 - 1..............-0.50...............-1.00
11/01/2019.............0 - 0...............+0.00............1 - 0..............+5.00..............+5.00


TOTALS...................4 - 2...............+9.00.............4 - 3..............+3.50............+12.50


****************************


AUG-OCTOBER BEST BETS AND OPINIONS

Totals..............48-38-2..... 55.81%.... +29.00

AUG-OCTOBER BEST BETS

Totals....................26 - 20..........+19.50.........27 -19 - 1..........+41.00............+60.50

 

[Cnotes53]

107TH GREY CUP
NOVEMBER 17, 2019

GREY CUP BOUND: TICATS, BOMBERS SET FOR CLASH IN CALGARY

TORONTO ? Following the Hamilton Tiger-Cats? 36-16 win over the Edmonton Eskimos? and the Winnipeg Blue Bombers holding off the Saskatchewan Roughriders 20-13, the 107th Grey Cup presented by Shaw is set for next Sunday.

This will be the first time the two teams have met in the championship since 1984 when Winnipeg defeated Hamilton 47-17.

GC AT A GLANCE

The Hamilton Tiger-Cats are 8-12 (.400) in the Grey Cup. They last played for the championship in the 102nd Grey Cup in BC where they were defeated 20-16 by Calgary. They last won the Grey Cup in 1999 by a score of 32-21 over Calgary.

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers own a 10-14 (.417) record in the Grey Cup. They last appeared in the championship game in 2011 at the 99th Grey Cup where they were defeated by the BC Lions 34-23. The last time Winnipeg won the Grey Cup was in 1990 against Edmonton.

Teams from Hamilton and Winnipeg have met in the championship game ten times, including as the Tigers and ?Pegs in 1935 and in 1943 as military service teams.

The modern-day incarnations of the two teams have met in the Championship game eight times:

1953 (Hamilton won 12-6)
1957 (Hamilton won 32-7)
1958 (Winnipeg won 35-28)
1959 (Winnipeg won 21-7)
1961 (Winnipeg won 21-14)
1962 (Winnipeg won 28-27)
1965 (Hamilton won 22-16)
1984 (Winnipeg won 47-17)

Hamilton swept the season series:
Week 7: HAM 23 ? WPG 15 in Hamilton
Week 16: HAM 33 ? WPG 13 in Winnipeg

Orlondo Steinauer and Mike O?Shea will be making their Grey Cup head coaching debuts. Steinauer played in three Grey Cups, winning twice (1999 and 2004). He won the Grey Cup as the defensive backs coach of the Toronto Argonauts in 2012. O?Shea played in and won three Grey Cups with Toronto.
Dane Evans will make his Grey Cup debut, while Zach Collaros will be starting in his second Grey Cup start with his first coming in 2014.

Dane Evans is 1-0 against Winnipeg in his career while Zach Collaros is 0-1 versus Hamilton.
The game will mark the first time Calgary has hosted the Grey Cup in a decade and the fifth time overall (1975, 1993, 2000 and 2009).

 

[Cnotes53]

CFL Division Finals preview, odds, picks & predictions: Bet on defensive battle out West
Rohit Ponnaiya

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers and Saskatchewan Roughriders meet up in the CFL Western Division Final on Sunday with the total set at just 44.

It's the division finals in the CFL and after both underdogs won on the moneyline last week we take a look at two more possible upsets in the making.

Hamilton currently have the best odds to win the Grey Cup and they are 6-point favorites at home against the Edmonton Eskimos. Out west the Saskatchewan Roughriders host the rival Winnipeg Blue Bombers for the right to move on to the Grey Cup.

We break down the odds with analysis and predictions for both CFL playoff games this weekend.

Season Betting Trends

Favorites: 62-21 SU, 38-43-2 ATS
Home teams: 50-33 SU, 40-41-2 ATS
Over/Under: 39-43-1

CFL Division Semifinal Picks: 1-1
Season to date: 40-37-2

EDMONTON ESKIMOS AT HAMILTON TIGER-CATS (-6, 51.5)

Edmonton upset the Alouettes last week thanks to an incredible performance from quarterback Trevor Harris who completed 36 of 39 passes for 421 yards. While the Esks are a much better team with Harris at the helm, he'll have a harder time making his usual quick throws with the Tiger-Cats pass rush in his face. Hamilton racked up 54 sacks during the regular season and held opposing QBs to a league-low 61.9 completion percentage.

The Eskimos also have a terrific pass rush but it did little to slow down the Ti-Cats offense during the regular season. Hamilton rolled up 455 yards and 42 points against the Esks in Week 17, and 417 yards and 30 points two weeks earlier in Edmonton.

The Eskimos have struggled against quality opponents all year going 1-8-1 ATS against teams with a winning record while the Ti-Cats finished the season with a 6-1 ATS mark over their last seven games. The one game they failed to cover? The final game of the season which didn't matter in the least and where they rested most of their starters including QB Dane Evans.

Edmonton had an average scoring margin of plus-0.3 points per game during the regular season, while Hamilton had an average scoring margin of plus-11.5 ppg. Take the Ti-Cats to win and cover.

PICK: Hamilton -6


WINNIPEG BLUE BOMBERS AT SASKATCHEWAN ROUGHRIDERS (-3, 45)

The Riders are currently at +250 to win the Grey Cup which is wild when you consider they started the season 1-3 with their only win coming against the godawful Argonauts. Since then they've gone 12-2 including 7-0 at home. Saskatchewan quarterback Cody Fajardo has emerged as a Most Outstanding Player finalist after beginning the year as a backup to...drumroll please...current Bombers signal-caller Zach Collaros.

These teams have played three games since September. Saskatchewan won both games in Regina by an average score of 20-11.5, while the Bombers routed the Riders 35-10 in Winnipeg. The Riders have one of the best front sevens in the league and allowed just 18.6 ppg at home this season.

Winnipeg's stop-unit went through an ugly spell towards the end of the year but played with a vengeance against Calgary in the semifinal, absolutely destroying last year's MOP in Bo Levi Mitchell. The Bombers run defense is the best in the CFL while their pass defense had the second-most interceptions in the league and held opposing QBs to the second-lowest completion percentage. Bet the Under.

PICK: Under 44.5

 

[Cnotes53]

107TH GREY CUP
PREVIEW: BOMBERS, TICATS SET FOR 107TH GREY CUP PRESENTED BY SHAW
CFL.CA STAFF

CALGARY ? Depending on who you ask, there could be some restless moments before the 107th Grey Cup presented by Shaw.

One of the CFL?s two longest active Grey Cup droughts will come to an end on Sunday, when the Hamilton Tiger-Cats and Winnipeg Blue Bombers square off at McMahon Stadium in Calgary.

It?s times like this when, for many players, even some of the simplest tasks fail to be routine.

?I?m a bad sleeper, I?ve never been a good sleeper,? Bombers quarterback Zach Collaros said following Saturday?s walkthrough. ?It?s usually once I wake up, whether it?s 5 or 6 a.m. that I?m not falling back asleep. The scenarios start playing through your head.?

Collaros has restored faith in the Bombers? offence, leading the team to road playoff victories over Calgary and Saskatchewan. The Bombers were 7-2 when opening day starter Matt Nichols suffered a season-ending injury, at the time putting their season in serious jeopardy.

However, Collaros has won all three starts with his new team, averaging 9.2 yards per attempt while compiling a quarterback rating of 109.1. His ability to challenge defences vertically has complemented an offence averaging a CFL-high 148 rushing yards per game in 2019.

Of the many Blue Bombers feeling the weight of a 28-year Grey Cup drought, a victory on Sunday would mean a lot to Andrew Harris. The Winnipeg native led the league with 1,909 yards from scrimmage and a career-high 6.1 yards per carry, and is in search of his first championship since 2011, when he broke into the league with the BC Lions.

?In 2011 I didn?t really realize or appreciate how difficult it is to get in these games,? said Harris. ?Representing my city that I grew up in, how excited everyone is back home. The sense of pride that a community has for our team. It?s massive.?

Harris has a special relationship with the city he grew up in, signing with his hometown as a free agent in 2016. Now, after losing in the Western Final last year, the Bombers? running back is closer than ever to bringing a Grey Cup back to Winnipeg.

?Growing up I saw them go to the cup and lose,? Harris said of the Bombers. ?It?s indescribable to me at this point. I?ve been reflecting about it since I?ve been in Winnipeg. Leading up to this it?s definitely a dream come true and now it?s about going out and executing and getting it done.?

The Mike O?Shea-led Bombers could be described as resilient, which showed in the Western Final when a 107-yard touchdown drive and two late goal line stands led Winnipeg to a 20-13 win over the Riders. Cody Fajardo?s third down pass hit the crossbar of the upright on the final play of the game to seal victory, as the Winnipeg defence didn?t allow a single touchdown.

?Three down football with moments left and them on the doorstep and finding ways to finish, that?s a championship calibre effort and performance,? said linebacker Adam Bighill. ?Now we just have to go out there and do it again.?

For Bighill, who won a Grey Cup in 2011 alongside Harris, the magnitude of Sunday?s game is not lost.

?Stepping on the field during walkthrough and thinking about the moment, I almost had a tear in my eye,? he said. ?The emotions and feelings of winning a Grey Cup, and when you win, you rush the field and show so much love to every teammate you have. That feeling reminded me of how much I want this again.?

While the Bombers last played for a Grey Cup in 2011, the Ticats make their return to the spotlight for the first time since 2014. That year conjures up bad memories for several players on the team, as a holding penalty against linebacker Taylor Reed negated a potential game-winning punt return touchdown by Brandon Banks in the game?s final moments.

The Ticats would lose 20-16 to the Stampeders, their second Grey Cup loss in as many years. For linebacker Simoni Lawrence, the wound still hasn?t healed. Lawrence led the CFL with 98 tackles and was the runner up for Most Outstanding Defensive Player to Winnipeg?s Willie Jefferson.

?It hurts a lot,? he said. ?It?s one of those feelings that?s hard to get out until you win, because it?s still in my heart. It still hurts. I feel like the only way for me to remove that feeling is to win one with my teammates.?

Receiver Luke Tasker and defensive tackle Ted Laurent were also key members of the 2014 Ticats, but they aren?t the only ones looking back on what happened. Orlondo Steinauer, named the CFL?s Coach of the Year on Thursday night, uses five years ago as a teaching point for the entire roster.

?I think I?d be lying if I said it didn?t bother them at all, or it hasn?t crossed their mind,? said Steinauer. ?But it is in the past. We just said we do not want to put the game in the referee?s hands, because half the time they?re going to call it and half the time they?re not. Let?s control what we can control.

?That?s the only address we?ve made to the past,? he added. ?Should things turn out in our favour, I?m sure it?ll be very sweet for those that had to endure that pain.?

The Ticats won a franchise record 15 games this season, the most in the CFL thanks in part to the play of sophomore quarterback Dane Evans. The 26-year-old took over in Week 8 after Jeremiah Masoli suffered a season-ending injury, but has played his best football since Labour Day, averaging 374 yards per game with 17 touchdowns and eight interceptions in his last eight games

Despite a long layoff between games, Evans was at his best last week, throwing for 386 yards and a touchdown in a 36-16 win over the Edmonton Eskimos in the Eastern Final. Of his 36 passing attempts, a season-high 11 were in the 20-plus yard range, including a highlight-reel 47-yard touchdown to Banks.

Banks and Bralon Addison form the league?s deadliest receiving duo this season, combining for 2,786 yards and 20 touchdowns. Their big-play ability helped Hamilton lead the CFL in explosive plays, with 31 passes of 30-plus yards. The Ticats will likely air it out again on Sunday, as the Bombers boast the second best run defence in modern history, allowing just 64.2 yards per game on the ground.

Hamilton enters the Grey Cup as the CFL?s top-ranked offence, leading in most major categories including points per game (30.6), yards per game (395.8), first downs (398), and touchdowns (57). Still, despite owning the better regular season record, the Ticats don?t view themselves as the favourite to win ? even if the odds say otherwise.

?I don?t feel that at all,? said Steinauer. ?Anybody can beat anybody. This team is physical, they?ve earned their way here. I?m just looking forward to the competition. I don?t put much stock into who?s favoured and who?s not. It?s 0-0. This is the fun part, the buildup, but you have to play the game.?

The Ticats, after all, feel almost the same pressure as the Bombers, looking to end a Grey Cup drought dating back to 1999. Asked what it would mean to bring a championship to the city of Hamilton, Steinauer summed it up easily.

?Everything,? he said. ?There?s a lot of people vested in this and there would be a lot of happy people. That?s an understatement. It?s about the city, the ticket sales people, the janitors, the bus drivers ? all the little things that nobody pays attention to. There?s so much that goes into it. So yeah, go back to the first word, everything.?

The Bombers have activated national safety Jeff Hecht, who returns from the injured list to back up Brandon Alexander. Offensive lineman Geoff Gray will not dress, with Patrick Neufeld and 2019 draft pick Drew Desjarlais getting the starting assignments at guard. Receiver Lucky Whitehead remains sidelined, while short-yardage quarterback Chris Streveler is listed as the third string.

Hamilton will make only one change since last week?s win, replacing Cameron Marshall with veteran Tyrell Sutton at running back. Sutton, a seventh-year back with more than 4,000 career rushing yards, wasn?t healthy enough to play last week.

The Ticats swept the two-game season series against the Bombers, including a 33-13 win on the road back in September.

BY THE NUMBERS:

5 ? Consecutive Grey Cup losses for the Bombers. The record is seven losses in a row by Regina-Saskatchewan from 1923 to 1951.

+7 ? The Bombers? turnover ratio in two post-season wins over Saskatchewan and Calgary, matching their regular season total. Winnipeg ranked second in the CFL with 45 takeaways.

11 ? Of the last 14 Grey Cups have been won by the team with the better regular season record. The Ticats have the edge in that department after a franchise record 15-win season.

19 ? Combined passing attempts of 20-plus yards in depth for Zach Collaros and Dane Evans. In that range, Collaros was 4-of-8 for 165 yards and a TD; Evans was 6-of-11 for 204 yards, one TD and one INT.

20 ? Justin Medlock?s streak of successful field goal attempts entering the Grey Cup, including a perfect 8-for-8 in the playoffs.

24 ? Explosive plays on offence for the Ticats over the last eight games, including pass plays of 30-plus yards and run plays of 20-plus yards. Winnipeg has made seven explosive plays in two playoff games.

308 ? Passing yards for Dane Evans in the first half alone the last time these teams met. The Ticats led 24-10 at halftime and rolled to a 33-13 victory to sweep the season series.

 

[Cnotes53]

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 24
GAME TIME(ET) PICK UNITS

HAM at WPG 06:00 PM

WPG +3.5

O 52.0