Ok, it is only Week 2 and in reality top spot is not really on the line as BC is also undefeated and plays against the beleaguered Edmonton Elks. However, whenever you have a Winnipeg and Saskatchewan matchup it feels like top spot is on the line – or at very least bragging rights.
In 2022 Winnipeg had Saskatchewan’s number. Saskatchewan did beat Winnipeg in the 2023 pre-season yet Winnipeg was resting a bunch of its starters.
Right now the Bombers are favored in CFL Pick’Em by 83%.
Bombers Depth Chart
Earlier this week Oliveira and Schoen were both on the Bomber’s injury report so it is great to see that they will be back in action.
Saskatchewan’s Depth Chart
What should be noted is that Saskatchewan is coming in with some key injuries. The Riders come into the game without wide receivers Walker, Schaffer-Baker, Lenius, and back up quarterback Dolegala.
What To Watch For
Pigrome
After last week’s game where Pigrome tried twice to punch it in for a touchdown from short yardage, and came up short both times, it will be interesting to see who gets the short yardage duty. The Bombers are still high on Pigrome, but will Brown take the short yardage snaps as he did later in the season opener?
Collaros
Zach Collaros keeps moving up the rungs in an impressive and almost quiet way. After last week’s game Zach climbed up and caught Russ Jackson and took the 22nd spot on the CFL’s all-time, passing yardage list. Needing only 492 more yards to catch Conredge Holloway on the all-time passing list, Collaros also only needs 299 yards to hit the 25,000 yard mark – something attainable in this game. When Collaros attains another 228 yards passing he will also pass Blue Bomber quarterback the great Tom Burgess and move into 10th place on the Bombers all-time passing list. Hard to believe for a guy who’s career seemed over just years ago.
But with Winnipeg all Calloros does is win! Zach is 62-36 in his career and 34-5 in games where he started with Winnipeg. That means before joining the Bombers Collaros was 28-21. The move to Winnipeg sure paid off in spades for both Collaros and the Bombers!
Prediction
I think the Bombers significantly clean up their play, you know their Head Coach is calling for it!
“It’s a win. We made enough mistakes to make things interesting but listen (Hamilton) is going to be a very good football team, they’ve got a lot of very good players, so it’s good just to come out with a win…“We’ll fix all the mistakes tomorrow.”
Mike O’Shea article by Ed Tait.
With Rod Pederson reporting today that Saskatchewan’s quarterback Harris (who is listed as GTD; game time decision) will not be starting the game I do not think Saskatchewan will win this game. I see the Bombers playing a cleaner game with less turnovers, a disciplined game with few penalties and a balanced offensive attack, while getting after Saskatchewan’s quarterback with their defensive rushers.
I see Winnipeg going 1-0 this week, to begin the season 2-0. I still see a closer game than Bomber fans hope for, and I see Saskatchewan being undisciplined. I believe the Riders could struggle this year and have multiple changes at coaching positions and this week might be the beginning of the dominos falling.
Catch all my articles here.
