I do not care what team you cheer for; this is the biggest game of the year, bar none!
With Toronto already locking up first place in the East, this game on Friday between Winnipeg and BC is the biggest game of the year. In all likelihood the winner of this game will go on to take first place in the West, and the easier path to the Grey Cup!
While this game will not determine who finishes first in the West it will go a long way in doing so. This is the third time that Winnipeg and BC will face off this year and they have each won one game. This season series game is essentially worth two wins; because the loser of this game will have to end the regular season with two more wins than the other to take first place in the West.
Should Winnipeg and BC end up with the same amount of wins at the conclusion of the regular season, first place will go to the team that wins on Friday night (the team that gets two wins in the season series).
After this game, Winnipeg has a bye; plays Edmonton in Winnipeg; plays Calgary in Calgary; and that is it! As for BC, after this game they go to Hamilton; play Calgary at BC; end the season with a bye; and that is it for them. As a result, if Winnipeg wins on Friday, BC would have to win the remainder of their games while Winnipeg loses the remainder of their games for BC to clinch first – the same is true for Winnipeg. Said another way, the winner of this game on Friday night only needs to win one of their last two remaining games to clinch first place…so essentially this game is for first place!
Winnipeg Depth Chart
A quick examination of the Bombers’ depth chart shows that Grant is back in retuning kicks! That is surely welcome news to Bomber fans. A second glance will show that Neufeld is a GDT (Game Time Decision). The Bombers need to protect Zach Collaros if they are going to win.
What is not on the depth chart, but was reported this week is that Carlton Agudosi was released from the practice roster. Guaranteed, he was a casualty of the Bombers being deep at receiver.
BC Depth Chart
For the Bombers to win this game against BC they are going to need to shut down Whitehead and Hatcher. Those were the only two players that were consistent for BC in their last meeting. Winnipeg will also have to get after Adams Jr and make him uncomfortable in the pocket.
What Happened Earlier This Year
These teams have played each other twice and both games were very different!
In Week 3 BC came to Winnipeg and shocked the fans beating Winnipeg 30-6.
In Week 9 the Bombers would have their revenge at home putting up a 50 burger on BC!
Well, now it is Week 18 and Winnipeg travels to BC. What will happen this game? Your guess really is as good as mine, but I doubt we see a blow out either way. I think we will see a very toughly contested game with the team making the least amount of errors; taking the least penalties; and having the least turnovers wins. Yes, that sounds super cliché! But in the CFL anything can happen. Teams can take more penalties; have more turnovers; and have more errors and still win – love it or hate it, that is the CFL.
Yet somehow this game feels different. It seems like both teams will come in amped up, focused, and ready to play their best football of the year! There are play makers on both sides of the field. Both teams are coming in 11-4 and both have shown that they know how to win…but also that they can both be beaten. Winnipeg has to feel good that they put up 50 points last time. Is that motivation for BC? Does momentum or revenge carry forward 9 weeks?
We will find out! Kickoff is at 9:00pm CDT and should be a dandy!
Watch my friend Steve Smith and I Friday October 6 at 8:00pm CDT as we tee up the game live on his page Late Night With Smitty!
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