The Toronto Argonauts are still the clear favourite to win this year’s Grey Cup even after last week’s loss to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.
The oddsmakers have a lot of confidence in the Boatmen to repeat as Grey Cup champions, setting their betting line at . Toronto has already clinched first place in the East Division and the team has already started resting players on a rotational basis to help them remain fresh for the postseason.
The Argos will host either the Montreal Alouettes or Hamilton Tiger-Cats in this year’s East Final, which also doesn’t seem to worry the oddsmakers. Toronto is the only CFL team with a perfect record at home this season and the club has gone a combined 7-0 against the Als and Ticats this year.
With an extra week to prepare for the postseason game at BMO Field on Saturday, Nov. 11, Toronto will be a tough team to beat. The club also remains undefeated when Chad Kelly starts and finishes a game under centre this year.
The Winnipeg Blue Bombers and B.C. Lions have the next longest odds, which seem to indicate the oddmakers’ confidence in the three-time reigning West Division champions.
Winnipeg and B.C. will play on Friday, Oct. 7 with the winner capturing the season series between the two teams. Though both teams will remain mathematically eligible to finish atop the West Division regardless of the outcome, the team that wins will have a much easier path to finishing first and hosting the West Final. The Blue Bombers have hosted the last two West Finals, while the Lions haven’t done so since 2012.
The Montreal Alouettes , Hamilton Tiger-Cats , and Saskatchewan Roughriders are in the middle of the pack. The Als and Ticats have already clinched berths in the postseason, while the Riders are still looking to do so.
The Calgary Stampeders , Edmonton Elks , and Ottawa Redblacks have by far the longest odds to win this year’s Grey Cup as all three are unlikely to make the postseason. At 4-11, the teams are all still mathematically eligible to do so, though they will need some help from Saskatchewan.
If the Riders win one more game during the regular season, Edmonton and Ottawa will be eliminated from postseason contention. The Stampeders could still leapfrog Saskatchewan to earn the third and final playoff spot in the West Division if the Riders go 1-2 down the stretch, but only if Calgary wins all three of their remaining games, including the head-to-head matchup at McMahon Stadium on Friday, Oct. 13.
