Commentary: A Win

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If you’re a CFL fan, you could truly say this is the most wonderful time of year. Especially for fans of the Roughriders.

The Canadian Football League is down its Final Four and the Division Final games will be played Saturday with Montreal at Hamilton in the East (Alouettes favored by a point-and-a-half) and BC at Saskatchewan in the West (the Riders are favored by 3.5).

Are you a betting man? I am not but still like to make picks and although 92% of voters on the RP Show said the Game of the Week is the West Final, it feels like there’s plenty more intrigue in the Eastern game.

Sure … the Ticats are at home, and since 1996 – when the CFL moved back to a 9-team loop – home teams are 75-39 in the playoffs. And for whatever reason, home teams’ playoff winning percentage has swelled to .833 since Covid.

But the road team’s favored in this one! And why wouldn’t it be? Look no further than Montreal quarterback Davis Alexander, who’s now 12-0 as a starter. HE’S NEVER LOST!

That should be reason enough right there to put your money on the Als. But is it though? And is that enough to beat the CFL’s leading passer, Hamilton’s Bo Levi Mitchell, who’s the only QB to start all 18 games this season?

In the West, the Riders are a much safer bet. They’ve got the CFL’s best home record and best defense. If you’re looking for a lock, this is it.

Although the Lions are riding in on a 7-game win streak and are flying high on the arm of CFL MVP-to-be, QB Nathan Rourke.

He needs to win this game to establish himself as the next face of the league. Across the field is Rider quarterback Trevor Harris, who at 38, has never led a team to a Grey Cup victory.

The intrigue is unbearable!

Oh, and news dropped Wednesday that Ryan Dinwiddie is fleeing Toronto to become the Head Coach & GM of the Ottawa RedBlacks and quite frankly, that’s stolen all the thunder from this weekend’s games. Temporarily anyway.

I can see why leagues frown on news like this on the week of big games but this is a different time. Having people buzzing about your league and its news at anytime, is a win.

That’s today’s Rod Pedersen Commentary.

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