Jimmy Jeong/CFL.ca
TORONTO — If the Stampeders and Lions play again after Week 9 it might just be for a chance to play in the Grey Cup, but for now, Friday night’s matchup is just exciting.
The top two teams in both the West Division and the CFL square off for the third and final time this regular season at BC Place, and Friday’s contest has just about something for everyone.
If you include their 5-1-1 start to this season, the Stamps have been far and away the best team in the CFL over the last three seasons with a 34-8-1 mark. The Lions, meanwhile, are back in their Grey Cup-winning form of 2011 as Wally Buono has ignited something special on the West Coast along with his young 24-year-old quarterback Jonathon Jennings.
For the Stampeders, a road matchup against the Lions represents an opportunity to widen the gap between themselves and BC (5-2) along with the rest of the West, as a victory would mean tiebreakers over both Winnipeg and BC are officially secured as a result of head to head play.
The Lions have been out of the conversation when it comes to elite teams the last couple of years but are on everyone’s radar now. A win against Calgary and a first-place standing through nine weeks would only cement their status as a league powerhouse.
Given what’s riding on this week’s Marquee Matchup, you can see why Friday night in Vancouver will feel like a playoff game for everyone involved, from the fans to the coaching staff.
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You don’t have to go back very far to see just what kind of matchup we could be in for in this one. Calgary vs. BC was also our Marquee Matchup in Week 6, and deservedly so after the Stampeders rallied from a late 15-point deficit while forcing two interceptions to steal a 44-41 overtime victory over the Lions.
In Week 1 it was BC rallying from a two-score second-half deficit, pulling out a narrow two-point victory on a Chris Rainey punt return touchdown.
So far the home teams have the edge and that’s why the Lions are a slight favourite among both the fans and the writers:
CFL.CA WRITER PICKS
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| Pedersen (4-2-1) | Landry (6-0-1) | Nye (5-1-1) | Steinberg (4-2-1) |
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| Morris (4-2-1) | Cauz (4-2-1) |
55 per cent of fans are taking the Lions while four out of six writers are also siding with the home team.
In what appears to be a toss up going in, which of these West Division rivals will take control of the West as the season’s midway point approaches?
Keep an eye on the pick trend and if you haven’t already, log in and make your pick! Kickoff arrives Friday night at 10 p.m. ET.
