We’re down to the final three games of the 2024 CFL season – I certainly hope we have some entertainment left here. I can’t think of a better way to celebrate turning 32 this weekend – hope you join me in double-screening your football between JV and CFL action on Saturday!

In league news this week:

• The league announced its 2024 Awards nominees late last week:
  • Most Outstanding Player: RB Brady Oliveira, WPG; QB Bo Levi Mitchell, HAM
  • Most Outstanding Defensive Player: DB Rolan Milligan, Jr., SSK; LB Tyrice Beverette, MTL
  • Most Outstanding Canadian: RB Brady Oliveira, WPG; DL Isaac Adeyemi-Berglund, MTL
  • Most Outstanding Offensive Lineman: Logan Ferland, SSK; Ryan Hunter, TOR
  • Most Outstanding Special Teams Player: K Sean Whyte, BC; KR Janarion Grant, TOR
  • Most Outstanding Rookie: LB Nick Anderson, EDM; WR Shemar Bridges, HAM
  • Coach Of The Year: Corey Mace, SSK; Jason Maas, MTL
• The Edmonton Elks named former O-lineman Chris Morris as their new team president late last week; after a lot of uncertainty surrounding the team between Victor Cui’s departure from the job last year and the team’s subsequent transition to private ownership and sale to Larry Thompson, there’s now a chance to start rebuilding the football ops staff and try to regroup for the year ahead. The first job will be to try and get a new GM in place following the mid-season firing of dual GM/HC Chris Jones; Morris will have to act quickly to be set for the rush of expiring contracts in December ahead of the opening of free agency in early February.

Onto the games!

DIVISION SEMIFINAL RECAPS

EAST DIVISION SEMIFINAL

(3) Ottawa 38 vs. (2) Toronto 58: The REDBLACKS looked like the team they were in the second of the regular season, particularly in the second half, as the defence absolutely imploded and couldn’t do their part to assist the offence. Dru Brown, who completed 46 passes for 476 yards and three TDs, had absolutely zero run game going on, and was forced to throw 61 times in this game; with the REDBLACKS down in the second half, he had no choice but to keep chucking, and threw two pick-sixes that iced the game. Credit to the Argos for another complete three-phase game; in addition to the D attacking effectively, Sex Pest Chad Kelly and the offence were razor-sharp – especially in the second half as they blew things wide open. This was a disappointing loss for Ottawa – despite being back in the playoffs for the first time since 2018, the team looked much as they did through the second half of the regular season. They dominated the time of possession in the first half, holding onto the ball for 24 minutes, but Toronto but up 20 points in those six minutes. Both head coach Bob Dyce and GM Shaun Burke will be back next year for the REDBLACKS as they’re under contract through the end of 2025 – and while I think there’s definitely some talent on the roster, I think there are some serious questions about coaching and tactics that need to be very heavily reviewed in the meantime.

PICK: Toronto

RESULT: Toronto

WEST DIVISION SEMIFINAL

(3) BC 19 vs. (2) Saskatchewan 28: The BC Lions will not have the chance to play for the Grey Cup on home turf this year after a weak outing by Vernon Adams, Jr. spelled defeat. The Lions QB threw three interceptions while the defence just couldn’t stop the bleeding all game long. Riders QB Trevor Harris completed almost 80% of his passes on the night, even as the wind played havoc on both teams’ possessions all evening. It was RB AJ Ouellette who got the home crowd their money’s worth on their tickets, rumbling for 70 yards and two TDs on 14 carries; DPOY nominee Rolan Milligan, Jr., the CFL leader in interceptions, iced things for good late in the fourth quarter by picking off Adams in the end zone as time was close to running out. While it was not the offensive showdown that the East semifinal was, the Roughriders crowd has to feel really good about the strides this team has made compared to last year, no matter what the outcomes of next week’s game entail.

PICK: Saskatchewan

RESULT: Saskatchewan

BYE: (1) Montreal (12-5-1), (1) Winnipeg (11-7)

DIVISION FINAL PREVIEWS

EAST DIVISION FINAL

(2) Toronto (11-8) vs. (1) Montreal (12-5-1), Saturday, November 9th, 3:00 PM EST (CTV, TSN, CFL+): The Alouettes, despite winning the East early and electing to rest some key players down the stretch, don’t, to me, feel like the hottest team in the East right now. With the way that the Argos have turned it on since Sex Pest Chad Kelly’s return for the second half of the year, it feels like they have a really strong chance to play spoiler for this one. The Argos have a good run game; if the Alouettes have weaknesses, outside of numerous various injuries on the roster, it’s their ability to stop the run. I like the potential for Toronto to go and challenge them at the line of scrimmage early to try and open things up for later on in this matchup. Just as well that Montreal’s had the chance to rest over the last while – despite being the home crowd, I think they’ll need all the help they can get for this one.

PICK: Toronto

WEST DIVISION FINAL

(2) Saskatchewan (10-8-1) vs. (1) Winnipeg (11-7), Saturday, November 9th, 6:30 PM EST (TSN, CFL+): It’s the two biggest, most bitter rivals in the entire CFL, facing off for a West Division championship and a trip to the Grey Cup. In 2021, the Bombers hosted the Riders and won a tight-fought game. In Saskatchewan’s first postseason trip in three years since that fateful game, it’s only fitting that they find themselves back in the same position once more. While Winnipeg has the league’s best defence, is rested, and ready for just about anything, I will say that the ability of Saskatchewan to elevate their game over these last few weeks of the season has been a remarkable change when comparing to how this team looked when Craig Dickenson was head coach last year. In particular their running game has significantly improved; while Winnipeg is strong pretty well everywhere on the defensive side of the ball, it’s nice to see that the Riders have an option to keep swapping backs to even out carries and keep guys fresher for longer. That play in the trenches might be what wears down the Bombers. Still, winning in Manitoba is a Herculean task for any road team as of recent.

PICK: Winnipeg

Enjoy the games, everyone.