WINNIPEG BLUE BOMBERS (10-7) vs. CALGARY STAMPEDERS (10-7)
In what has shaped up to be the most intriguing final week of the CFL season in the history of the league, the Winnipeg Blue Bombers will shoot for a win and first place in the Eastern Conference and the Calgary Stampeders will hope that a win will carry them to the Western Conference title.
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Date/Time: Saturday, November 5, 4:00 PM ET
Venue: McMahon Stadium, Calgary, Alberta
Broadcast: TSN
Bombers vs. Stampeders Betting Lines from betonline.com
Spread: Stampeders -6
Moneyline: Bombers +205: Stampeders -245
Over/Under: 51 ½ points
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Needless to say, there is a whole lot to play for on Saturday afternoon. Get the snacks ready, it is going to be a fun day of CFL football.
The formula is simple for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers – win and they clinch a first round bye in the playoffs. This would also mean hosting the Eastern Conference final in roughly two weeks time. Adversity is something that the Bombers will have to overcome on Saturday – they will be forced to play without their starting QB and arguably their most effective Defensive Back.
Winnipeg lost Buck Pierce to a knee injury last week and it is unlikely that he will suit up this week. That leaves Alex Brink who went 16 of 27 for 219 yards and a touchdown last week to command the offense. He will be aided by an emerging running back – Chris Garrett was sensational last week on his way to 159 yards rushing in a shocking loss to the Toronto Argonauts. Greg Carr has also come on in the passing game and will be heavily leaned upon by the Bombers second-string pivot.
Defensively, Winnipeg has been one of the best units all season long allowing a league low 224.1 yards passing per game and holding opponents to a third best 23.6 points per game. This unit will certainly challenge the Stampeders at every turn but will be without highly effective DB Johnny Sears who was suspended after a brutal hit on Steven Jyles last week.
The Calgary Stampeders put themselves into a tie in the Western Conference standings with an impressive 32-27 road win over the Montreal Alouettes last week. Drew Tate has been an absolute revelation at quarterback for the Stamps who benched former MVP Henry Burris earlier this season. Tate went 25 of 36 for 333 yards, two touchdown and two interceptions against Montreal and looked very good in the process. [ad-4437448]
Johnny Forzani, Nik Lewis, Ken-Yon Rambo and Romby Bryant make up one of the more explosive receiving corps. in the CFL – good weapons for the young and inexperienced quarterback. Forzani has come on late in the season and had his best game last week – 6 catches, 108 yards and two touchdowns against the Alouettes.
Calgary’s defense has been nothing special this season. Last week they gave up a staggering 540 yards but won the game. The Stampeders defense gets a break this week – Alex Brink is certainly a downgrade from Buck Pierce.
Betting Prediction: The Winnipeg Blue Bombers are 5-3 SU and ATS on the road this season and despite being only 1-5 SU in the last six games against Calgary are 7-2-1 ATS in their last 10 meetings with the Stamps.
To me, it is simple – no Buck Pierce, no victory for the Blue Bombers. Both teams will leave it all on the field on Sunday. But the lack of a quality, true #1 QB will be the difference. Drew Tate may not exactly be the most experienced pivot but he does have a great command of his offense.
If he struggles, there is always some guy named Henry Burris ready to step in. Calgary should make things pretty interesting in the first of the marquee Saturday matchups!
Pick: Calgary Stampeders -6
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