Johany Jutras/CFL.ca
TORONTO — The 105th Grey Cup Playoffs are close to kicking off and the picks are finally in.
The post-season brings a fresh slate for everyone involved, but the writers believe they’ve got a good read on Sunday’s Eastern and Western Semi-Final matchups based on what’s transpired over the past six months.
First comes a meeting between two of the CFL’s up-and-coming teams, who had nothing between them in the regular season, splitting their two meetings with both games decided by only a single point. Yet when it comes to the Riders and REDBLACKS, the writers are leaning towards the visitors.
Capping off Sunday’s double-header is an all-West clash between Edmonton and Winnipeg. Despite a 2-0 Bombers sweep in the regular season series, Edmonton appears to be a strong road favourite going into what will be a jam-packed Investors Group Field.
Will the playoff picks prevail or will Sunday be for the upsets?
CFL.ca Pick ‘Em Leaders: Regular Season
| Writer | Record |
| Matthew Cauz | 55-25 |
| Pat Steinberg | 53-27 |
| Don Landry | 53-27 |
| Jim Morris | 52-28 |
| Marshall Ferguson | 52-28 |
| Jamie Nye | 47-33 |
| Chris O’Leary | 44-36 |
ESF: SASKATCHEWAN @ OTTAWA
This year it’s the Riders’ turn to cross over, with hopes of becoming the first ever crossover team to appear in a Grey Cup. If anyone can do it it’s Chris Jones’ club, which has plenty of momentum despite a season-ending loss to Edmonton, going into the playoffs on a 12-4 run.
It’s true, the odds do not favour a team crossing over to make it to the Grey Cup. That shouldn’t deter fans from picking the Green and White on Sunday however, as the semi-final has not always been an obstacle for those traveling east for the playoffs.
In his second year in Saskatchewan, Jones has finally got a Riders team that he can say is in his image — one that will play smash-mouth football on offence and make a ton of big plays on defence.
While having to cross over shouldn’t intimidate the traveling Riders, the REDBLACKS are an obstacle that won’t be easy to overcome. Ottawa is the second-hottest team in the league, coming into the playoffs with three straight victories. The REDBLACKS are also well-rested, on the heels of two weeks off out of their last three.
Trevor Harris is making his first career post-season start, but make no mistake: The REDBLACKS’ quarterback has played at an MOP level all season. Harris has Ottawa flying high going into the post-season, making for an evenly-matched semi-final Sunday in the nation’s capital.
WSF: EDMONTON @ WINNIPEG
Those quick to pick the Eskimos in Sunday’s semi-final should not factor out the Bombers’ home crowd, which will be stronger than we’ve seen yet in Winnipeg’s first home playoff game since moving into the new digs.
The Bombers are a little banged up, with Matt Nichols battling through injury and Maurice Leggett, Darvin Adams and Jamaal Westerman all out of the lineup entirely. Yet this Bomber squad has had a recurring theme throughout the last couple of seasons under Mike O’Shea: No matter what the situation, there’s simply no quit.
Turnovers are a great equalizer in football and no team forces turnovers like the Blue and Gold, the CFL’s highest-scoring defence with 166 points off turnovers. The Bombers won the turnover battle outright in 13 of their 18 games, going 11-2 in the process.
For the Eskimos, Mike Reilly has to avoid turnovers for the Double E to take care of business on the road. A clean game for the Esks’ pivot should equate to a victory, with the Eskimos coming in on a current league-best five-game winning streak.
The Esks are firing on all cylinders on both sides of the ball, but their wealth of talent on offence stands out above all else. Especially when you consider, for a moment, that Adarius Bowman is probably the third option in the receiving corps, behind the ultra-talented Brandon Zylstra and Derel Walker.
