One wonders why a Grey Cup rematch was scheduled for the final week of the regular season. So often teams of this calibre have wrapped up a division title by now and don’t have much to play for. Such is the case for the host Alouettes. One thing is for sure, they’ll face a hungry Blue Bombers squad,who need a win to secure first place in the West Division.
Under those circumstances, our CFL odds have pegged Winnipeg as a considerable -7 favourite.
CFL Odds and Betting
The story of the recent history between Winnipeg and Montreal belies a critical detail. Their last 10 head-to-heads are all square at 5-5, but of course, the Als took the most important match of all, the 2023 Grey Cup. Week 21 concludes the season series between these sides, with Montreal taking the first game, 27-12.
Head coach Mike O’Shea has done a wonderful job adapting to new challenges in 2024. Winnipeg’s offence is nowhere near the level it once was (22.9 points per game, seventh in the CFL), but the defence is stonewalling everybody (19.5 points against per contest, best in the league). Furthermore, announcements of the Blue Bombers’ demise in July when they were 2-5 in the standings were greatly exaggerated.
As for Montreal, things have slowed down to a crawl recently. After storming out to a 10-1 tally, they’ve stumbled to a 2-3-1 record since. The once-vaunted attack now only scores 23.9 points a game (sixth-best). That said, they rank only behind Winnipeg defensively, conceding 20.6 points. The Alouettes would do well to rekindle some mojo even though the final score changes nothing about their set-in-stone role as hosts of the East Final.
Winnipeg Blue Bombers
Call it a quirk of the CFL having an uneven number of clubs, but the Bombers were on a bye in Week 20. They rested at home, as did the Saskatchewan Roughriders, the team chasing them for first place in the West.
When we last saw Winnipeg in action, it was at home to the Argonauts in Week 19, a game that started with fireworks and quickly mutated into a grind-it-out defensive slugfest. QB Zach Collaros had one of his better games this season by throwing for 249 yards even though he didn’t score a TD and was picked off once. It was a rare forgettable day for RB Brady Oliveira, who only tallied 64 yards (including a long of 26 on a single carry).
But as they have done numerous times in 2024, the Blue Bombers clamped down on defence. They limited Toronto to just over 300 total yards of offence. LB Tony Jones and DB Evan Holm had nine and eight tackles, respectively. The Argos only converted eight of 20 opportunities on second down. Alas, the defence needed the offence to accomplish just a little more, but it was not so. Winnipeg lost 14-11, making this Week 21 game the most important of the season.
Montreal Alouettes
We previously talked about the Alouettes needing to find some mojo as they have another bye after this week by virtue of hosting the East Division Final in a fortnight.
That could not be more evident given the performance they put in last week versus the BC Lions. To be fair, BC opted to start QB Vernon Adams Jr., who helped that club race out to a terrific start earlier this season. That, coupled with a Montreal defence that simply wasn’t up for the game, might have influenced the result. Even so, the 27-3 defeat was the worst outing of the entire campaign. Offensively, two red zone situations resulted in turnovers on downs, and defensively, BC receivers were wide open for three quarters, hence a 24-0 deficit by the time the final period commenced.
Cody Fajardo didn’t look great. Davis Alexander didn’t look great. The receiving corps was mostly MIA. Nobody looked great. All in all, it was a game to completely forget.
Who Will Win Blue Bombers vs. Alouettes?
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BLUE BOMBERS
23 -
ALOUETTES
20
Score
Prediction
Line History
Sports Interaction customers are placing their bets on:
time | fav | line | total |
---|---|---|---|
Opening 23 Oct 5:23am | - | - | O +48.5 -110 |
Closing 26 Oct 3:23am | - | - | O +45.5 -110 |
- Regular Season
- Playoffs
Blue Bombers Team Leaders
Touchdowns |
6 |
Rushing |
1353 |
Passing |
4336 |
Receiving |
76 |
Sacks |
6 |
Interceptions |
7 |
Touchdowns |
7 |
Rushing |
764 |
Passing |
3105 |
Receiving |
71 |
Sacks |
7 |
Interceptions |
5 |
Touchdowns |
3 |
Rushing |
203 |
Passing |
503 |
Receiving |
10 |
Sacks |
2 |
Interceptions |
1 |
Touchdowns |
1 |
Rushing |
69 |
Passing |
330 |
Receiving |
7 |
Sacks |
1 |
Interceptions |
1 |
- Regular Season
- Playoffs
Alouettes Team Leaders
Touchdowns |
6 |
Rushing |
1353 |
Passing |
4336 |
Receiving |
76 |
Sacks |
6 |
Interceptions |
7 |
Touchdowns |
7 |
Rushing |
764 |
Passing |
3105 |
Receiving |
71 |
Sacks |
7 |
Interceptions |
5 |
Touchdowns |
3 |
Rushing |
203 |
Passing |
503 |
Receiving |
10 |
Sacks |
2 |
Interceptions |
1 |
Touchdowns |
1 |
Rushing |
69 |
Passing |
330 |
Receiving |
7 |
Sacks |
1 |
Interceptions |
1 |
Weather
No weather to report.
Injuries
Lucky Whitehead (WR)
Nic Demski (WR)
Ontaria Wilson (WR)
Lucky Whitehead (WR)
Nic Demski (WR)
Drew Wolitarsky (WR)
Chris Streveler (QB)
Bailey Feltmate (LB)
Lucky Whitehead (WR)
Zach Collaros (QB)
Walter Fletcher (RB)
Nate Behar (WR)
Austin Mack (WR)
David Cote (K)
Tyson Philpot (WR)
Regis Cibasu (WR)
Caleb Evans (QB)
Cody Fajardo (QB)
Kaion Julien-Grant (WR)
Tyler Snead (WR)
Injuries
player (position) | status | ats*current | o/u* | notes | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Lucky Whitehead (WR) | Ques Sat | Ankle - 22 / 10 / 24 | 1-2 | 2-1 | + - |
No detailed notes found. |
|||||
Nic Demski (WR) | Ques Fri | Knee - 10 / 10 / 24 | 2-2 | 2-2 | + - |
No detailed notes found. |
|||||
Ontaria Wilson (WR) | Ques Fri | Head - 10 / 10 / 24 | 2-2 | 2-2 | + - |
No detailed notes found. |
|||||
Lucky Whitehead (WR) | Ques Fri | Ankle - 10 / 10 / 24 | 2-2 | 2-2 | + - |
No detailed notes found. |
|||||
Nic Demski (WR) | Ques Fri | Knee - 03 / 10 / 24 | 3-2 | 3-2 | + - |
No detailed notes found. |
|||||
Drew Wolitarsky (WR) | Ques Nov. 9 | Ribs - 19 / 09 / 24 | 5-2 | 3-4 | + - |
No detailed notes found. |
|||||
Chris Streveler (QB) | out for season | Knee - 11 / 09 / 24 | 5-2 | 3-4 | + - |
No detailed notes found. |
|||||
Bailey Feltmate (LB) | Ques Sat | Ankle - 06 / 09 / 24 | 6-2 | 4-4 | + - |
No detailed notes found. |
|||||
Lucky Whitehead (WR) | Que Fri | Ankle - 04 / 09 / 24 | 6-2 | 4-4 | + - |
No detailed notes found. |
|||||
Zach Collaros (QB) | Ques Sat | Neck - 02 / 09 / 24 | 6-2 | 4-4 | + - |
No detailed notes found. |
player (position) | status | ats*current | o/u* | notes | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Walter Fletcher (RB) | Ques Oct. 26 | Undisclosed - 19 / 10 / 24 | 1-1 | 1-1 | + - |
No detailed notes found. |
|||||
Nate Behar (WR) | Que Sat | Hamstring - 05 / 09 / 24 | 2-5 | 3-4 | + - |
No detailed notes found. |
|||||
Austin Mack (WR) | Ques Oct. 26 | Undisclosed - 05 / 09 / 24 | 2-5 | 3-4 | + - |
No detailed notes found. |
|||||
David Cote (K) | Ques Nov. 9 | Quadricep - 22 / 08 / 24 | 3-5 | 4-4 | + - |
No detailed notes found. |
|||||
Tyson Philpot (WR) | out for season | Foot - 15 / 08 / 24 | 4-5 | 5-4 | + - |
No detailed notes found. |
|||||
Regis Cibasu (WR) | Ques Nov. 9 | Hand - 08 / 08 / 24 | 5-5 | 5-5 | + - |
No detailed notes found. |
|||||
Caleb Evans (QB) | out of season | Knee - 06 / 08 / 24 | 5-5 | 5-5 | + - |
No detailed notes found. |
|||||
Cody Fajardo (QB) | Out Mon | Personal - 11 / 07 / 24 | 6-7 | 7-6 | + - |
No detailed notes found. |
|||||
Kaion Julien-Grant (WR) | Out indefinitely | Undisclosed - 11 / 07 / 24 | 6-7 | 7-6 | + - |
No detailed notes found. |
|||||
Tyler Snead (WR) | Out Fri | Foot - 07 / 06 / 24 | 9-8 | 8-9 | + - |
No detailed notes found. |
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Line History
Sports Interaction customers are placing their bets on:
time fav line total Opening 23 Oct 5:23am - - O +48.5 -110 Closing 26 Oct 3:23am - - O +45.5 -110 -
- Regular Season
- Playoffs
Blue Bombers Team Leaders
Touchdowns 6
Rushing 1353
Passing 4336
Receiving 76
Sacks 6
Interceptions 7
Touchdowns 7
Rushing 764
Passing 3105
Receiving 71
Sacks 7
Interceptions 5
Touchdowns 3
Rushing 203
Passing 503
Receiving 10
Sacks 2
Interceptions 1
Touchdowns 1
Rushing 69
Passing 330
Receiving 7
Sacks 1
Interceptions 1
-
- Regular Season
- Playoffs
Alouettes Team Leaders
Touchdowns 6
Rushing 1353
Passing 4336
Receiving 76
Sacks 6
Interceptions 7
Touchdowns 7
Rushing 764
Passing 3105
Receiving 71
Sacks 7
Interceptions 5
Touchdowns 3
Rushing 203
Passing 503
Receiving 10
Sacks 2
Interceptions 1
Touchdowns 1
Rushing 69
Passing 330
Receiving 7
Sacks 1
Interceptions 1
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Weather
No weather to report.
-
Injuries
Lucky Whitehead (WR)
Ques Sat Ankle - 22 / 10 / 24Nic Demski (WR)
Ques Fri Knee - 10 / 10 / 24Ontaria Wilson (WR)
Ques Fri Head - 10 / 10 / 24Lucky Whitehead (WR)
Ques Fri Ankle - 10 / 10 / 24Nic Demski (WR)
Ques Fri Knee - 03 / 10 / 24Drew Wolitarsky (WR)
Ques Nov. 9 Ribs - 19 / 09 / 24Chris Streveler (QB)
out for season Knee - 11 / 09 / 24Bailey Feltmate (LB)
Ques Sat Ankle - 06 / 09 / 24Lucky Whitehead (WR)
Que Fri Ankle - 04 / 09 / 24Zach Collaros (QB)
Ques Sat Neck - 02 / 09 / 24Walter Fletcher (RB)
Ques Oct. 26 Undisclosed - 19 / 10 / 24Nate Behar (WR)
Que Sat Hamstring - 05 / 09 / 24Austin Mack (WR)
Ques Oct. 26 Undisclosed - 05 / 09 / 24David Cote (K)
Ques Nov. 9 Quadricep - 22 / 08 / 24Tyson Philpot (WR)
out for season Foot - 15 / 08 / 24Regis Cibasu (WR)
Ques Nov. 9 Hand - 08 / 08 / 24Caleb Evans (QB)
out of season Knee - 06 / 08 / 24Cody Fajardo (QB)
Out Mon Personal - 11 / 07 / 24Kaion Julien-Grant (WR)
Out indefinitely Undisclosed - 11 / 07 / 24Tyler Snead (WR)
Out Fri Foot - 07 / 06 / 24Injuries
player (position) status ats*current o/u* notes Lucky Whitehead (WR) Ques Sat Ankle - 22 / 10 / 24 1-2 2-1 + - No detailed notes found.
Nic Demski (WR) Ques Fri Knee - 10 / 10 / 24 2-2 2-2 + - No detailed notes found.
Ontaria Wilson (WR) Ques Fri Head - 10 / 10 / 24 2-2 2-2 + - No detailed notes found.
Lucky Whitehead (WR) Ques Fri Ankle - 10 / 10 / 24 2-2 2-2 + - No detailed notes found.
Nic Demski (WR) Ques Fri Knee - 03 / 10 / 24 3-2 3-2 + - No detailed notes found.
Drew Wolitarsky (WR) Ques Nov. 9 Ribs - 19 / 09 / 24 5-2 3-4 + - No detailed notes found.
Chris Streveler (QB) out for season Knee - 11 / 09 / 24 5-2 3-4 + - No detailed notes found.
Bailey Feltmate (LB) Ques Sat Ankle - 06 / 09 / 24 6-2 4-4 + - No detailed notes found.
Lucky Whitehead (WR) Que Fri Ankle - 04 / 09 / 24 6-2 4-4 + - No detailed notes found.
Zach Collaros (QB) Ques Sat Neck - 02 / 09 / 24 6-2 4-4 + - No detailed notes found.
player (position) status ats*current o/u* notes Walter Fletcher (RB) Ques Oct. 26 Undisclosed - 19 / 10 / 24 1-1 1-1 + - No detailed notes found.
Nate Behar (WR) Que Sat Hamstring - 05 / 09 / 24 2-5 3-4 + - No detailed notes found.
Austin Mack (WR) Ques Oct. 26 Undisclosed - 05 / 09 / 24 2-5 3-4 + - No detailed notes found.
David Cote (K) Ques Nov. 9 Quadricep - 22 / 08 / 24 3-5 4-4 + - No detailed notes found.
Tyson Philpot (WR) out for season Foot - 15 / 08 / 24 4-5 5-4 + - No detailed notes found.
Regis Cibasu (WR) Ques Nov. 9 Hand - 08 / 08 / 24 5-5 5-5 + - No detailed notes found.
Caleb Evans (QB) out of season Knee - 06 / 08 / 24 5-5 5-5 + - No detailed notes found.
Cody Fajardo (QB) Out Mon Personal - 11 / 07 / 24 6-7 7-6 + - No detailed notes found.
Kaion Julien-Grant (WR) Out indefinitely Undisclosed - 11 / 07 / 24 6-7 7-6 + - No detailed notes found.
Tyler Snead (WR) Out Fri Foot - 07 / 06 / 24 9-8 8-9 + - No detailed notes found.