It's going to be a low key final week of the regular
season. In three of the games there's nothing to play for apart from player's
individual records. The exception will be Saturday's East Division title
decider between Ottawa and Hamilton. There's no live TV coverage in the UK this
week.
As part of the publicity for the Grey Cup in Winnipeg, an
interactive illuminated sign has been erected which reacts to Twitter messages.
If you use the hashtag #greycup and then the hashtag of a team the sign will
change to the team's colours.
Meantime the CFL have announced that Grammy-nominated rock group Fall Out Boy will perform at the Nissan Titan Halftime Show.
Meantime the CFL have announced that Grammy-nominated rock group Fall Out Boy will perform at the Nissan Titan Halftime Show.
Winnipeg Blue Bombers at Toronto Argonauts – Friday
Winnipeg have missed out on post season football for the fourth straight year and there's a lot of dissatisfaction coming from their fanbase, mainly aimed at the front office. It's probably just as well they're away this week or it could have become ugly. Quarterback Dominique Davis is getting a try-out in their starting line-up.
The game should be the Argonauts last ever fixture at the Rogers Centre and no one is sorry about it. They've been second class tenants in the dome and were forced to play four home games on the road this year. It's to their credit that they've done so well despite all the travel. The players and staff have already been to their new venue, BMO Field, for a look around, but the business at hand is to get back on track for the East semi-final after three consecutive losses. Since he was brought back into the line-up veteran quarterback Ricky Ray hasn't performed as well as he used to (the CFL's version of Peyton Manning?) but he will start this game. Trevor Harris should get a chance to compete for the job though. Kicker Patrick Swayze will return from injury again.
Winnipeg have missed out on post season football for the fourth straight year and there's a lot of dissatisfaction coming from their fanbase, mainly aimed at the front office. It's probably just as well they're away this week or it could have become ugly. Quarterback Dominique Davis is getting a try-out in their starting line-up.
The game should be the Argonauts last ever fixture at the Rogers Centre and no one is sorry about it. They've been second class tenants in the dome and were forced to play four home games on the road this year. It's to their credit that they've done so well despite all the travel. The players and staff have already been to their new venue, BMO Field, for a look around, but the business at hand is to get back on track for the East semi-final after three consecutive losses. Since he was brought back into the line-up veteran quarterback Ricky Ray hasn't performed as well as he used to (the CFL's version of Peyton Manning?) but he will start this game. Trevor Harris should get a chance to compete for the job though. Kicker Patrick Swayze will return from injury again.
The Game of the Week –
Hamilton Tiger-Cats at Ottawa Redblacks
- Saturday
The Redblacks are on the verge of a remarkable feat. From finishing dead last in the CFL last year with a 2&16 record they're just one game away from winning the East Division. Ottawa have a one game lead in the table so the Tiger-Cats need a result to level the number of wins. If they do the title will be decided on head to head record. Effectively this is a European football style two leg aggregate match, and Ottawa have a six point lead from the first game.
If that wasn't enough of a disadvantage for Hamilton they'll be without quarterback Jeff Matthews who suffered a concussion last week. The starter will be a third stringer, either Jacory Harris or Jeremiah Masoli.
Henry Burris should become the only QB to start all 18 games this season while the Ottawa offence will be chasing an unusual record. If Greg Ellingson can make 81 yards then they'll have four receivers who've made 1000 yards in the season. Burris himself needs 26 completions to set a season record.
The Redblacks are on the verge of a remarkable feat. From finishing dead last in the CFL last year with a 2&16 record they're just one game away from winning the East Division. Ottawa have a one game lead in the table so the Tiger-Cats need a result to level the number of wins. If they do the title will be decided on head to head record. Effectively this is a European football style two leg aggregate match, and Ottawa have a six point lead from the first game.
If that wasn't enough of a disadvantage for Hamilton they'll be without quarterback Jeff Matthews who suffered a concussion last week. The starter will be a third stringer, either Jacory Harris or Jeremiah Masoli.
Henry Burris should become the only QB to start all 18 games this season while the Ottawa offence will be chasing an unusual record. If Greg Ellingson can make 81 yards then they'll have four receivers who've made 1000 yards in the season. Burris himself needs 26 completions to set a season record.
Calgary Stampeders at BC
Lions - Saturday
These teams will meet again next week in the West semi-final, so don't expect them to make any great effort in this one. There will be plenty chances for back up players to get reps and they'll probably start running out the clock in the first quarter. Both sides have already announced a change at quarterback, Drew Tate comes in for the Stampeders, Travis Lulay for the Lions.
The seasons rushing title is up for grabs in this game. BC's Andrew Harris is the leader and he only needs 3 yards to make his 1000 for the season. Calgary's Jerome Messam starts 50 yards behind. The question is will either of them get enough carries to make a difference? In the defensive stats the Lion's linebacker Adam Bighill has a 10 tackle lead over the Roughriders' Jeff Knox Jnr to defend.
These teams will meet again next week in the West semi-final, so don't expect them to make any great effort in this one. There will be plenty chances for back up players to get reps and they'll probably start running out the clock in the first quarter. Both sides have already announced a change at quarterback, Drew Tate comes in for the Stampeders, Travis Lulay for the Lions.
The seasons rushing title is up for grabs in this game. BC's Andrew Harris is the leader and he only needs 3 yards to make his 1000 for the season. Calgary's Jerome Messam starts 50 yards behind. The question is will either of them get enough carries to make a difference? In the defensive stats the Lion's linebacker Adam Bighill has a 10 tackle lead over the Roughriders' Jeff Knox Jnr to defend.
Saskatchewan Roughriders at
Montreal Alouettes – Sunday
The final game of the regular season features the bottom team of each division. Both have Acting Head Coaches who are unlikely to keep the role for next year and they've only pride to play for. If the Riders can't get a result their season record will be 2&16, the team's worst ever. For the Als it's the first time they've missed out on the post season since the team moved to Montreal twenty years ago.
The final game of the regular season features the bottom team of each division. Both have Acting Head Coaches who are unlikely to keep the role for next year and they've only pride to play for. If the Riders can't get a result their season record will be 2&16, the team's worst ever. For the Als it's the first time they've missed out on the post season since the team moved to Montreal twenty years ago.
Edmonton Eskimos are on
the bye week. They also have a bye for the first round of the play-offs. The
players have been given the luxury of a ten day holiday before they get back to
training for the Western Final on the 22nd.
This week's TV
Schedule
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