November 21, 2018

Weekly Predictor: A tossup week for Fantasy owners

Dave Chidley/CFL.ca

The 106th Grey Cup Presented by Shaw

OTTAWA VS. CALGARY

There is not much difference between the two teams in the Grey Cup championship.

Bo Levi Mitchell led the league in touchdown passes but in the last few games including the division finals, Trevor Harris was statistically the better quarterback. While experience should pay off for Mitchell, with this being his fourth start in the Grey Cup game, Harris showed last week he’s just fine in pressure situations. While the edge may go to Calgary, it’s not as big as it may have been earlier in the season.

William Powell could take over a game and after the REDBLACKS aired it out against Hamilton, it’ll be interesting to see if Powell becomes a bigger factor in this game. The Bombers averaged over five yards a carry this past week against, so if Ottawa can dictate the game on the ground and keep Bo Levi off the field could be vital for success.

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Trevor Harris answers questions from the media after the Ottawa REDBLACKS arrived in Edmonton ahead of Grey Cup Week. (Walter Tychnowicz, CFL.ca)

That Stampeders defence is extremely physical and brings as much intensity to the game as the Tiger-Cats tried to bring last week. The Stamps will be much more disciplined not only in terms of penalties but the Cats were also not disciplined in their assignments, leading to big chunks of yards by the REDBLACKS.

The Stampeders intrigue will come in who can and can’t play in the receiving corps as there are still some things not quite right between Mitchell and the receivers as they couldn’t execute on second down in the second half, leaving Winnipeg in the game. Eric Rogers is dangerous, but outside of him, Mitchell completed passes to only four other receivers. Harris found double the number of players in their game plan last week.

When it comes to special teams, Lewis Ward missed a field goal and a point after last week after a near-perfect regular season. Rene Paredes makes pressure kick after pressure kick and Rob Maver is one of the best at directional punting. Richie Leone also had a great year punting. The return games may favour Calgary slightly but it’s another close one.

Here is where I feel the Redblacks may not match up with the Stamps and that is the defence. I don’t think they’ll create as much havoc as the Stamps will on Trevor Harris. As I mentioned, that Stamps defence is disciplined, fast, strong, physical and skilled. Ottawa’s offensive line has been shaky at times this season and they’ll need to be better than they were earlier in the year. Calgary had seven sacks to Ottawa’s one in those games in June and July.

Calgary can own the line of scrimmage and from there, control the game.

PICK: CALGARY


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The picks for fantasy is pretty easy. If you’re picking Calgary to win, go with a lot of Stamps. If you’re picking Ottawa, go REDBLACKS.

It’s hard to make the money work, though if you want to go with a quarterback and a starting running back, leaving you looking for value in the receiving corps. Chris Matthews can make big plays if Bo looks deep and I also believe the Stampeders defence will be ready to make a big impact.

If you don’t go defence, it gives you the value to maybe go with a Brad Sinopoli or Greg Ellingson for the REDBLACKS receiver.