Alex D'Addese/CFL.ca
TORONTO — The math has gotten a little simpler in the CFL playoff race, with two teams dropping out of the equation after the Argos and Als were eliminated.
On the other hand, there are still a multitude of possible Grey Cup matchups, especially considering the pending crossover with four teams in the West eligible to head east.
With November on the horizon, this is the time for fans to begin dreaming of the perfect Grey Cup matchup.
The CFL Simulation pegs Calgary-Hamilton as the most likely Grey Cup matchup, with a Stamps-REDBLACKS meeting a distant second. Winnipeg vs. Hamilton and Winnipeg vs. Ottawa rank third and fourth respectively, with Saskatchewan vs. Hamilton rounding out the top five.
Then again, the chance of an all-West Grey Cup also looms. As of now, the BC Lions would be the team to cross over to the East, but the Lions, Bombers and Eskimos are all in close proximity as the playoff races intensify.
What would be the ideal Grey Cup matchup? The writers weigh in with this week’s Weekly Say.
What is your ideal Grey Cup matchup for this season?
Bo Levi Mitchell (left) and Dave Dickenson (right) look to reach a third straight Grey Cup (Adam Gagnon/CFL.ca)
Don Landry: Hamilton vs Winnipeg. Because one long drought would have to end, another would have to agonizingly continue. That’d be great drama.
Matthew Cauz: Calgary versus Hamilton. Either I get to see the Ticats win their first Grey Cup since 1999 or Calgary finally gets some sense of vindication for past Grey Cup failures.
Jim Morris: I would like to see a Saskatchewan-Hamilton matchup. First, having the Riders in the Grey Cup would generate a lot of excitement. Having Zach Collaros facing his old team would be a great story line. The coaching matchup between June Jones and Chris Jones would be a lot of fun to watch. The Rider defence against Jeremiah Masoli.
Marshall Ferguson: Saskatchewan vs. Hamilton… It’s a Molotov cocktail kind of offence-defence matchup.
Jamie Nye: Riders vs. Stampeders. Give me best on best all day, every day. I know the odds of this happening are extremely thin because they seemed destined to match up in the Western Final but I’m also a proponent of a one division league, so that’s my ‘ideal’ matchup for the final game of the season.
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Is Jeremiah Masoli a legitimate MOP candidate?
With Mike Reilly‘s recent struggles, has Jeremiah Masoli jumped into the MOP conversation? (The Canadian Press)
Ferguson: 100 per cent yes. Imagine what could have been with a full host of receivers.. But the same can be said for Reilly.. and Bo Levi.. and.. Okay, never mind.
Morris: Of course, he is. Masoli has thrown for over 4,200 yards and 21 touchdowns. He’s a major cog on the Hamilton machine.
Landry: Yes he is. It’s difficult to see anyone other than Masoli as the East nominee right now. If he has a special stretch drive, he could rise right to the top of the heap on voting day.
Nye: How does the season finish? If he can get the Tiger-Cats to 10 wins and the Eastern crown over Ottawa then Masoli is absolutely in the conversation, but with a second place, .500 record or so it’ll be hard to see him beating out the nominee from the West. Masoli would be a top vote getter for me in the East anyway (if I voted for the East) but with Mike Reilly dropping off in the back half of the season, Bo is starting to pull ahead in the run for the likely winner.
Cauz: If this was MVP than I would be more inclined to give him some love but the award is for outstanding player. He is having a great year but I can’t put him ahead of Mike Reilly, Andrew Harris, Duke Williams or Willie Jefferson.
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Which veteran QB would you choose to lead your team: Collaros or Nichols?
Matt Nichols has gotten the Bombers back on track, leading them to three straight wins (The Canadian Press)
Cauz: Wow, walking into a hornet’s nest with this question. Nichols has better numbers but he also has better weapons. However Winnipeg does have the better offence so I’m going Nichols.
Landry: Right now, I’d grudgingly go with Matt Nichols as I think he’s over his mid-season slump. He looks more like the Nichols we’ve gotten used to, more confident and on target.
Morris: I would take Nichols. The Riders’ success is due largely to the Saskatchewan defence. Collaros manages most games. Nichols engineers wins.
Nye: Aren’t they the same guy? Really though, they have similar numbers but I really would like to see what Collaros could do with Andrew Harris out of the backfield and how that could open things up. Collaros has also gotten a team to the Grey Cup and they nearly won. A slight edge goes to Zach….. very slight.
Ferguson: Collaros, guy knows how to run any type of huddle.
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