CFL East Division Final: Preview and Prediction

Your no. 1 reason to blow off a fairly dreary Sunday slate of games south of the border in the NFL? (Rams-Vikings notwithstanding): The CFL divisional finals are on! And if you haven’t caught this week’s Grueling Truth CFL Pick ‘em Show Featuring Robert Drummond, TGT fearless leader Mike Goodpaster’s take on the CFL East final pitting the Saskatchewan Roughriders against Toronto Argonauts, runs below.

For prediction and preview on the CFL East division, Edmonton Eskimos-Calgary Stampeders, click here. Pointspreads are courtesy and reflect those posted as of Friday, November 17, 11am EST.

Saskatchewan Roughriders +3 at Toronto Argonauts

The Roughriders have won both meetings between these two teams this year, but that will not be a big part of who I lean towards in this game. Let’s take a look at the key matchups that will decide this game.

Quarterback

Kevin Glenn has played very well at times this season for the Riders as has Brandon Bridge when he has played. Truly no comparison can even be made at this position as Ricky Ray has had an MOP season this year and is one of the best quarterbacks in the CFL. Ray is the knid of guy that could put the Argonauts on his back and carry them all the way to the Grey Cup.

Can the Riders contain James Wilder Jr.?

This could very well be where the game could be won. Wilder was the best running back in the league during the second half of the season and the Riders defensive line will have to be stellar in this game as will the Linebacking corps. If Wilder goes off then Ricky Ray will be impossible to stop.

Can the Riders run on the Argos?

Since head coach Chris Jones went to a running back rotation the Riders have been very good at running the ball – but can that continue? The Argos will counter with one of the best defensive lines in the CFL and this looks like another reason to lean toward Toronto in this game.

What does all this mean?

When you match this game up on paper, it looks like the Argonauts have most of the advantages. But as they say, the game is not played on paper and the Riders have been consistently good for the entire second half of the season. Home-field advantage has not been something the Argonauts have been able to rely on as the crowd sizes have not been intimidating to say the least. So against most everything above, I’m going with the Riders to win this game. The Riders are a tough, well-coached, hard-nosed team and in the end, they’ll win the game on that toughness.

Prediction: Saskatchewan Roughriders 31, Toronto Argonauts 24

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Prediction:Edmonton 26 Calgary 24