The Calgary Stampeders once again find themselves playing host to the West Division final, which has become an annual tradition for this team.
Nevertheless, their path to first place in the West was far more difficult this season, and the Stamps encountered much more attrition due to injuries and struggles on the football field as a result.
They will entertain one of the hottest teams in the CFL, the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. There is a definite chip on the shoulder of the Stampeders entering the playoffs, having been to the Grey Cup game two years in a row only to lose both times against Ottawa and Toronto. The veterans on this Stampeders team have voiced their desire to get back to a third straight Grey Cup game and finally win it this time around.
Nevertheless, the Stamps limped to a 4-4 SU, 3-5 ATS finish to the regular season in their last eight games. The decline in this Calgary offense was a big one. They were plagued by injuries at wide receiver and along the offensive line, and it showed up as the Stamps were held to fewer than 30 points in their last five games. The lack of options at wide receiver took its toll on Calgary QB Bo Levi Mitchell, who threw far more interceptions than normal and was much more inaccurate than usual.
Winnipeg finished the season 6-1 SU and ATS in their last seven games. The Blue Bombers might have caught a break against Saskatchewan in the West semifinal last week, with Riders QB Zach Collaros not playing, but the fact remains they went to a tough place to play and came out with the win playing rock-solid defense while using a very balanced offense behind QB Matt Nichols and RB Andrew Harris to control the clock while putting up points when needed.
These two teams split the head-to-head meetings during the regular season, with each team winning and covering on their respective home field. I think Calgary is vulnerable, and this may not be that same team that is just a shoe-in to defend their home turf once again in the West final. They have a lot of question marks and Winnipeg is playing terrific football and is fully capable of challenging to win this game outright. That has me taking the points in what should be a great, competitive, down-to-the-wire contest.
The play: Winnipeg, +5.