COMMENTARY: DAVID VS GOLIATH

(Listen daily for the RP Commentary on Cat Country 98, Rock 98.5 FM & LTD Radio)

Some CFL random thoughts on today’s commentary heading into Division Final weekend:

#1 – It’s pretty much all positive things as we look at this weekend’s CFL Final Four match-ups. The only downer is that for the third consecutive year, these games will be played in Toronto and Winnipeg respectively. That’s not the Argos and Bombers fault – it’s the reality of a 9-team league – but variety is the spice of life.

#2 – RP Show viewers voted the West Final as the Game of the Week by a landslide, but I simply think that’s a nod to our show demographics, which leans heavily to Western Canada. (God bless you). However for me, it’s all about the Eastern Final with the Montreal Alouettes at the Toronto Argonauts. I cheer for players, not teams, of course so I’ll have the red & blue pompoms out for my guy Cody Fajardo and the Alouettes.

However it’s as big of a David vs Goliatch match-up than the CFL has ever seen. The Argos set a franchise record with wins at 16, were a team record +27 in the turnover ratio, and led the league in sacks.

Our official betting partner Bet Regal has Toronto as 9.5-point favourites. But as Huff would say, “Boys, we’ve got em right where we want em.”

I think we all keep thinking back to the 1989 West Final where the 9-9 Riders took down the 16-2 Eskimos.

#3 – Before we look at the West Final, I saw a stat whereby TV ratings for semifinal weekend were down 50% from a decade ago. Don’t be alarmed. Or at least, I’m not. Do you recall the World Series was the least-watched since ratings began? We’re in the streaming era folks, where Netflix, Crave and Apple TV really do rule the world. In my opinion, the CFL is actually doing just fine and next week’s Grey Cup will produce mondo ratings. It won’t hurt that Toronto will be in it.

And finally #4 – To me there’s far less intrigue going into the West Final where Bet Regal has Winnipeg as 4.5-point home favourites over BC.

However that narrower point spread tells me the oddsmakers think there could be an upset and don’t forget BC quarterback Vernon Adams Jr. is coming off a semifinal victory which was the finest performance by a quarterback in Lions history.

Not sure about you, but I’ll be watching.

That’s today’s Rod Pedersen Commentary

(The Rod Pedersen Show airs daily at 12 pm & 5 pm on Game+TV, WQEE Radio, Podcast & YouTube Live)