One by one the Calgary Stampeder players picked up their suitcases and headed to the buses Tuesday evening for the trip from the airport to the team hotel.

Maybe the heaviest baggage being carted around was the expectations the Stampeders are carrying into 104^th Grey Cup presented by Shaw.

Many CFL fans believe Sunday’s game against the Ottawa REDBLACKS is simply a formality. Given how the Stampeders marauded through the league during the regular season, maybe you should start engraving the Stampeders’ names on the Cup now.

“Favourites are something y’all can deal with,” quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell told reporters. “We don’t buy into it, we don’t believe in it.”

Head coach Dave Dickenson knows everything Calgary has accomplished this season means nothing without winning the final game.

“I don’t think anyone in our room is expecting anything to be given to us,” said Dickenson, who could join Ron Lancaster as the only person to be named a CFL most valuable player and also coach a Grey Cup winning team.

“You have to go out and earn everything. They are a great team. They have a lot of great players.”

The Stampeders arrived in Toronto walking with a bit of a swagger. Mitchell warned don’t confuse that with over-confidence.

“Go back to the old cliché, confident but not cocky,” said Mitchell, who threw for over 5,300 yards, a league-leading 32 touchdowns and just eight interceptions this year. “We look around and say if you feel like you’re the better team why, shouldn’t you act like it?

“It’s all in the right manner.”

Slotback Marquay McDaniel was part of the 2012 Stampeder team that upset the favoured BC Lions in the West Final to earn a trip to the 100^th Grey Cup in Toronto. They lost that game 35-22 to the hometown Argonauts.

“In 2012 I think we were more excited to win the West and kind of didn’t expect to win the West,” said McDaniel, who led the Stampeders with 83 catches for 1,074 yards and four touchdowns. “This year we kind of expected that and kind of expected to be here. I think we kind of expect to win Sunday.

“It’s all about us. We worry about us, kind of put the focus on having the same kind of week we did last week with the focus and details, and let the game take care of itself.”

The Stampeders rolled through the CFL with a 15-2-1 record. They secured a playoff spot on Sept. 17 and clinched first place in the West Division on Oct. 10.

The Stamps had a bye in the final week of the season, but any fears a long layoff might leave them rusty in the Western Final were quickly dismissed. They led the BC Lions 32-0 at halftime and rolled to a 42-15 victory.

Calgary heads into the Grey Cup having scored the most points in the league (586), allowed the least (369) and with Mitchell expected to be named the league’s most valuable player Thursday.

They are playing a REDBLACK team with an 8-9-1 record this year. Ottawa is also without injured players like offensive lineman SirVincent Rogers and wide receiver Chris Williams.

Dickenson isn’t underestimating Ottawa.

“We feel like we’ve got our work cut out for us,” he said. “Their record at times wasn’t what they wanted, but they hit their stride, just like we have.

“It’s going to be a dogfight. Both teams are ready to go. It should be quite a good game.”

Soft spoken and understated, Dickenson managed to let his feelings be known on a couple of topics.

Neither team will be allowed to practice on the grass at BMO Field prior to the game. The CFL has also told the Stampeders their touchdown horse Quick Six won’t be allowed to gallop down the sidelines during the game.

“I guess the grass is super special, they don’t let too many people on it, horses included,” Dickenson deadpanned.

“It is what it is. It’s a good field. I enjoy playing there. I love the environment.”

Calgary defensive end Charleston Hughes also chuckled when told Ottawa quarterback Henry Burris, a former Stampeder, arrived in Toronto wearing a black cowboy hat.

“If he had a black cowboy hat on you know where his heart lays,” said Hughes, who led the league with 16 sacks. “You know he still likes Calgary. He still has a little soft spot in his heart for Calgary.”