THE CANADIAN PRESS
CFL.ca Staff
TORONTO — After being completely unanimous last weekend and going 1-1 on Semi-Final Sunday, the CFL.ca writers are back with their picks for the Eastern and Western Finals.
A berth in the Grey Cup is on the line as things get more interesting while the matchups get harder to call
In the nation’s capital, the REDBLACKS look to earn a spot in the 103rd Grey Cup Championship with a matchup against a familiar foe. Ottawa won first in the East thanks to back-to-back wins over the Ticats to close out the regular season, but now must defend home turf in a showdown for all the marbles.
The Ticats have lost two in a row to Ottawa but have a chance to get the last laugh as a win would knock Ottawa out of the playoffs, while REDBLACKS quarterback Henry Burris has a chance to eliminate the team that released him almost two years ago.
The action heats up even more out west as the CFL’s top two teams clash in a duel of 14-4 teams. The Stampeders and Eskimos are already heated rivals, and now they’ll face in the Western Final for the second straight season.
The Eskimos look to return the favour a year after falling to Calgary in the playoffs, only since then Edmonton has won two of three games this season while also ending a 12-game losing stream against the Stampeders.
Which teams will come out on top and meet in the Grey Cup? Here are the CFL.ca writers with their Eastern and Western Final picks:
Steinberg Landry Morris Nye Cauz Dunk
Pedersen
In a battle of Hamilton’s elite defence vs. Ottawa’s high-flying offence, both the writers and fans are giving the nod to the future Hall of Famer in Henry Burris rather than first-time starter Jeremiah Masoli.
Masoli showed well in leading a comeback victory over the Argos in the Eastern Semi-Final, but Burris is the leading candidate to win Most Outstanding Player and at age 40 is having one of the best years of his career. The REDBLACKS also have the mental edge of having already beaten Hamilton twice late in the season, while they also have the added benefit of being well-rested and healthy coming off the bye.
The Ticats will have their hands full but will be sure to make it a battle, especially with a scrappy defence and special teams that can turn the game in an instant.
Pedersen Steinberg Landry Morris Nye Cauz Dunk
No Picks
The fans are fairly split but the writers are leaning all on the Eskimos at home, who aim to make it three straight wins against the hated division rival Calgary Stampeders.
The Eskimos own an 8-1 record at Commonwealth Stadium this season and they’re well-rested and relatively healthy entering the game on the heels of a 21-day break. They also own the CFL’s number one defence and one of the most explosive offences, led by exciting playmakers in Derel Walker and Adarius Bowman.
But while Walker led the league in yards per game and Bowman placed second in receiving yards, Eric Rogers leads the CFL in receiving yards and touchdowns. Bo Levi Mitchell is a perfect 3-0 in his playoff career and overall is one of the winningest young quarterbacks in CFL history. Finally, Calgary’s defence, while still dealing with some injury issues, was just about on par with Edmonton’s this season.
The biggest question may be on Calgary’s O-line, where the status of nationals Shane Bergman and Pierre Lavertu remains unknown. Those injuries on top of already-existing injuries could leave Mitchell scrambling against a relentless Eskimos defensive front.
CFL Playoff Pick ‘Em: Where the battle intensifies
While the action is heating up on the field on the road to the Grey Cup presented by Shaw, CFL Pick ‘Em is back for the playoffs and tougher than ever. Only three games remain and on the line is a chance to win the tropical vacation of a lifetime presented by RedTag Vacations.
Pick the right team, pick with full confidence and hit on your tiebreakers as the stakes are higher than ever.
