Odds Against Ottawa Redblacks To Repeat As Grey Cup Champs

No team has repeated as the Grey Cup champion since the Montreal Alouettes in 2009-10. Sports Interaction oddsmakers aren’t overly confident that the Ottawa Redblacks will accomplish the feat in the 2017 CFL season as they are at +750 to repeat.

Ottawa Redblacks CFL Grey Cup Odds

The Redblacks won the East Division despite an 8-9-1 record, beat Edmonton in the Eastern Final and pulled off a stunning upset in the 104^th Grey Cup in beating Calgary, which was 15-2-1 in the regular season, 39-33 in overtime. Ottawa QB Henry Burris, the game’s MVP, found Ernest Jackson on an 18-yard TD pass on the first overtime possession. Calgary then went three-and-out.

Big Shoes To Fill At QB

The Redblacks’ biggest question mark is at quarterback with the retirement of Burris, one of the great quarterbacks in league history and sure-fire Hall of Famer. Burris, now 42, went out on top and was a three-time Grey Cup champion (two with Calgary, one as a starter) and two-time MVP in the game. In last year’s win, he completed 35 passes, tying Ricky Ray (2005) for the most ever in Cup game, and threw for 461 yards, fourth best all-time. Burris had been with the Redblacks for each of their three seasons in the league and retired with the third-most passing yards (63,227) and touchdowns (374) in CFL history.

Burris’ replacement is Trevor Harris. The 31-year-old has never begun a season as a team’s undisputed starter. He did play 17 games for the Argonauts in 2015 but only due an injury to Ricky Ray. Last season, Harris played 12 games as a fill-in for Burris.  Harris completed 242 of 330 passes for 3,301 yards, 16 touchdowns and four interceptions while rushing 30 times for 126 yards and two scores.

Harris’ receiving corps will look a bit different this season. The leading receiver, Greg Ellingson (76 catches, 1,260 yards, four TDs) re-signed, but Jackson (88 catches, 1,225 yards, 10 TDs), an East Division Most Outstanding Player nominee, and former All-Star Chris Williams (77 catches, 1,246 yards, 10 TDs) are both gone.

The past two seasons the Redblacks have boasted four 1,000 yard receivers in Williams, Jackson, Ellingson and Brad Sinopoli. For that to continue, new additions Kenny Shaw and Diontae Spencer will have to step up.  Shaw led Toronto with 1,004 yards and five scores on 77 catches last year, while Spencer had 71 grabs for 706 yards and three scores in 12 games.

“Diontae and Kenny bring a dimension of speed, it’s hard to replace Williams’ speed, but Kenny’s got some jets and (so does) Diontae,” said Ottawa offensive coordinator Jamie Olizondo, who coached both while working as the Argonauts’ receivers coach in 2015.

Defensively, Ottawa said goodbye to defensive backs Forrest Hightower, Mitchell White and Jeff Richards to allow the players to pursue opportunities in the NFL. Also gone is fellow DB Abdul Kanneh. The team added A.J. Jefferson, a two-year CFL veteran who has played 30 games over the span of two seasons with the Argonauts with 91 tackles, six interceptions and a touchdown. The Redblacks are used to makeover in the secondary as last offseason they didn’t re-sign starters Jovon Johnson and Brandyn Thompson.

Also signed was linebacker Khalil Bass, who spent the past two seasons with the Blue Bombers, recording 181 tackles, nine sacks, three interceptions, five forced fumbles and scoring two touchdowns. After Bass signed, the Redblacks released fellow LB Damaso Munoz. He was team’s leading tackler with 84 last year, adding an interception and forcing a fumble.

Ottawa Redblacks Season Predictions

There’s a reason teams rarely repeat in the CFL or NFL: roster turnover. The Redblacks have lost six starters on both sides of the ball from the club that took the field to open last season. Is Harris ready for full-time duty? How much will Jackson and Williams be missed?

Too many question marks here to win another Cup, but taking the weak East Division is doable. The Redblacks open the 2017 regular season June 23 when the Stampeders visit TD Place in a rematch of the Grey Cup. Calgary is the +260 Cup favourite.