:shake:1* MTL/WPG under 49 -110
My number on this game was 49 but long range forecast shows a Colorado low developing that will bring significant storm activity to the Winnipeg area Friday night through Saturday. Rain/snow and high winds possible.
Dont like getting on weather plays this early but it’s already dropped 2 points or more and will likely keep going so buying off won’t be a problem later if need be.
Gun to your head which play is stronger, the under tonight or the side?Week 18 Into the home stretch now. 6 straight weeks of profit...lets keep this momentum going.
1.5* Montreal +4 -106
My number is 2. Two teams trending in opposite directions.
1* Saskatchewan +3 -110
This is a heavyweight tilt for first place in the west and Sask is 9-1 SU in their L10. This game has all the makings of a classic CFL playoff type game and has a good chance of coming down to a FG either way. My number is 1.5.
1* SSK / CAL under 48.5 -110
I love unders in heavyweight fights like this and both these teams have great defences. Calgary has been an under machine this year with their poor crop of receivers (although 2 did surprise me vs Montreal) and BLM still not playing at 100%. Sask not so much but 5/6 of their overs have come vs poor defences (2xBC, 2xOTT, 1xTOR). My number is 46.
As always with these early strikes, buying off is a possibility as news comes out of practice during the week so stay tuned.
Gun to your head which play is stronger, the under tonight or the side?
For the early game today, I am going under as I think this total is a bit high. No playoff ramifications here as Hamilton has forst sewn up and Ottawa was eliminated weeks ago. The cats don't appear to be resting anyone from the look of the depth chart but I really think their main goal is to get out of this game unhurt and wouldn't be surprised to see them work the clock and rest some key guys in the 2H. Ottawa will be rotating in a number of players hungry to earn a shot but they still have no serviceable QB so I doubt they hit 20. Strong lean to the +17 here too but I think the under is the weaker number.
1* OTT / HAM under 51.5 -110
Good call i hade bombers +7.5:tiphat:
Good week...
1.5* Calgary -1 -110
I fully expect Calgary to win out to get the bye and HFA in the west playoffs. This game comes a day before sask plays so it will still be must win at kickoff. Futhermore, Winnipeg may have QB issues after this past weekend and while they would like to win to still have a chance at second and HFA in the semi, they realistically know they will be finishing 3rd.
I mean, obviously if they both get there it is a great hedge but that means you could have both not get there(though not likely)So update on the Hamilton future...
Calgary determines their own destiny and by winning their last 2 can finish first, get the bye and HFA in the west final. It’s looking more and more like its Calgary vs Hamilton in the cup unless we see a major upset.
Then they have HFA in the Grey Cup game. What’s more, by having to win out the stamps are facing some adversity down the stretch which I like. Meanwhile Hamilton has nothing to play for in their final 3 games. Coach Steinauer does a good job of keeping them focused and motivated but there’s something to be said for having to battle all the way through. They could go into coast mode and then get upset when they face a must win game for the first time in weeks.
Hamilton is definitely the hungrier of the 2 teams, having not been to a cup since they lost b2b in 2012 and 2013 and haven’t won it since ‘99. Calgary has been there 4 of the last 5 years, winning it last year. Does that take some of the shine off for them?
With all that being said, Calgary can be had for +300 now and I’m wondering if a hedge would be wise considering all the above. Do you have any thoughts on that strategy?
Okay, I didn't scroll down. I will read through this more tonight.After careful consideration, I've decided to hedge my Hamilton Grey Cup future by adding a future on Calgary. Here's my thinking...
Getting There - Calgary Edition
-Calgary has all but sewn up first in the west...all they have to do is win out. They play the Bombers again this weekend but Winnipeg got pretty beat up this past weekend and I don't like their chances of beating Calgary. After that Calgary finishes on the road against a QB-less BC team.
-Even if Calgary fails to win out, Sask would have to win out to overtake them. Sask has B2B games against Edmonton and it looks like Trevor Harris will be back for at least the final game if not sooner. Edmonton is already locked into the crossover spot but I don't think they want to throw away their final 2 games entering the playoffs...they will play hard.
-So assuming its Sask @ Calgary in the western final, I'll take the stamps all day. As good as Sask has looked at times this year, Calgary has shown them to be paper tigers. Cody Fajardo has impressed but he's not playoff tested. Without HFA in the west final, I don't see the green Riders advancing.
Getting There - Hamilton Edition
-Hamilton is locked into first place with 2 games to go. I hate when a team wraps things up this early as I'd prefer to have them tested down the stratch. But the east final will feature either Montreal or Edmonton and I'll take the cats against either one of those opponents in a playoff showdown at the litter box where they haven't lost all year.
The Big Game
So assuming its Cats vs Stamps, there are a lot of reasons to think Calgary would be the fav...
-Teams were 1-1 vsd each other this year with the cats winning at home but against Nick Arbuckle when BLM was out with his pectoral injury. BLM has looked stellar since returning. Then in Calgary, the cats outplayed the stamps but lost on a last-play blocked field goal. Very even matchup.
-Calgary will have HFA - huge in a GC Game
-Calgary has had to battle all the way down the stretch and will be in playoff shape, Hamilton will only have one important game between now and then
-Weather can always be a factor in a western grey cup and while the stamps will be living in it for a few weeks, Hamilton, an eastern team will be jetting into it and only get a couple of practices in it: advantage stamps
-BLM, Dikenson and many other stamps are playoff tested and know how to win this time of year. They've been to 3 of the last 4 cups. OTOH, maybe its getting routine for them and they might not be as hungry?
-Cats don't have nearly as much experience and a rookie HC and a QB who has yet to play a full season or in a Canadian winter game (Evans played his college ball at Tulsa so he knows wind but not bitter cold).
So with that in mind, I feel now is the appropriate time to hedge while there is still a decent number on Calgary. I considered it a couple weeks ago at +450 but there were still too many possible variations. Now I feel pretty good about their chances of getting to the game.
All Grey Cup futures now as follows...
1* Hamilton to win Grey Cup +725
0.75* Winnipeg to win Grey Cup +533
0.6* Calgary to win Grey Cup +300
Okay, I didn't scroll down. I will read through this more tonight.
I see Calg is up to 2* now.
Lots of home dogs this week ...
1* HAM / MTL under 53.5 -110
Both these teams are locked into their playoff position and both know there is a good chance they will play each other in the eastern final. I don't think either one is going to show the other anything special offensively. IMO it'll be a very vanilla game and while Montreal will be trying to win to gain some confidence by knocking off the leagues best team (by record anyway), the cats won't give a shit. They won't be running a hurry-up offense if down late for example. I don't know where they got this sky-high total (I made it 49.5 before even factoring in the situation) but I think its way off the mark. I did want to wait until I see rosters tomorrow but I see it starting to fall at some outs so I want to get the 53.5 while its still available.
1* Saskatchewan +1.5 -110
With Calgary losing, the door is open for Sask to take first place and I don't think they waste this chance.
And holy cow Collaros. I didn't think he'd do anything but he had his best game in a long long time. Winnipeg is suddenly in the playoff conversation.
Good stuff.More or less I just wanted someone to blame it if all goes wrong. I never know when hedging is a good idea in situations like this.
But I still like it. Everything has been heading toward a Calgary vs Hamilton matchup. There is a chance of one or both getting upset of course, but I think now is the time to hit Calgary. In the CFL, the 1st place team in each division has, by far, the easiest path to the cup and it would take a couple of upsets for the stumps not to finish first at this point.
I took just enough to cover my Hamilton and Winnipeg futures. I want to be able to cheer wholeheartedly for my lifelong favourite team to win.
Alright, let's finish the regular season strong. Excited for the playoffs, obviously!