by Will Rogers
Monday, Nov 11, 2024On Sunday, the Toronto Argonauts and Winnipeg Blue Bombers will battle for the 2024 Grey Cup. It's a rematch of the 2022 final. The Argos upset the Bombers that year. First awarded in 1909, there have since been 100 Grey Cups. They didn't play from 1916 to 1919 or 2020. This year's big game will be played at Vancouver's BC Place. Let's take a closer look.
The Odds
The Bombers are favored by 10.5 points. The total is 50.
The Teams
The Argos defeated Montreal 30-28 to get here. Winners of five of their last six, they are 12-8 SU and 10-9-1 ATS. Fourteen of Toronto's 20 games went over the total.
The Bombers blasted Saskatchewan 38-22 to advance to this game. They have won nine of 10 and are 12-7 SU and 9-10 ATS on the season. Fourteen of Winnipeg's 19 games finished under the total.
The Injury
The Bombers wouldn't be such heavy favorites if not for an injury to Toronto's starting quarterback. Chad Kelly, the CFL’s outstanding player last season, suffered a broken ankle last week against Montreal. That means that Veteran Nick Arbuckle will make his first-ever Grey Cup start.
Head-To-Head
Toronto won both regular season meetings. Both games were very close and each was low-scoring. The first was back in July, before Winnipeg had really found its way. The Argos won 16-14, in OT. The second was last month, Toronto winning 14-11.
Five Straight Grey Cup Appearances
If it seems like the Bombers are always in the Grey Cup, it's because they are. This will mark their fifth consecutive appearance. They won the first two but lost each of the last two. The Bombers are the fourth team to make five consecutive Grey Cup appearances, the first since Edmonton competed in six straight, (1977-82) nearly 50 years ago. Winnipeg QB Zach Collaros, now 36 years old, will make his sixth Grey Cup start, going after his fourth ring. He earned his first with Toronto, back in 2012.
Going For 8 Straight
The Argos may not reach the final as regularly as Winnipeg. When they do, they have a knack for closing the deal. They've been involved in seven Grey Cups since 1991 and they've won all seven. With 18 Grey Cups in their history, the Argos have won the big game more than any other team. They're 18-6 in the Final. With 30 Grey Cup appearances, the Bombers have been to the big game more than any other team. They're just 12-18.
Coaching Ties
Both coaches have ties to the opposition. Winnipeg’s coach Mike O’Shea had some great years with the Argos as a linebacker. He won three Grey Cups with Toronto as a player (1996-97, ’04) and another as the Argos' special-teams coordinator (2012). This will be his fifth straight Grey Cup game as a head coach.
Toronto’s coach Ryan Dinwiddie used to play quarterback for Boise State. His first-career CFL start was with the Blue Bombers. That was in the 2007 Grey Cup versus Saskatchewan. He played three seasons for Winnipeg. This will be his second Grey Cup as a head coach. He was also the Stampeders' quarterback coach for their 2018 Grey Cup victory.
Another Close One?
Seven of the past nine Grey Cups were decided by eight points or less. Eight of those games were decided by 11 or less. The last three Grey Cups had scores of 28-24, 24-23 and 33-25. The last game at Vancouver was in 2014, a 20-16 win for Calgary over Hamilton.
My Opinion
I've been watching the Grey Cup for a long time. The games are often close (see above) and Winnipeg doesn't regularly fare too well. The injury to Kelly has created value with the Argos. They already beat the Bombers with Arbuckle at QB once and they have the defense to make things difficult for Collaros. At +10.5, let's go with Toronto!
The Odds
The Bombers are favored by 10.5 points. The total is 50.
The Teams
The Argos defeated Montreal 30-28 to get here. Winners of five of their last six, they are 12-8 SU and 10-9-1 ATS. Fourteen of Toronto's 20 games went over the total.
The Bombers blasted Saskatchewan 38-22 to advance to this game. They have won nine of 10 and are 12-7 SU and 9-10 ATS on the season. Fourteen of Winnipeg's 19 games finished under the total.
The Injury
The Bombers wouldn't be such heavy favorites if not for an injury to Toronto's starting quarterback. Chad Kelly, the CFL’s outstanding player last season, suffered a broken ankle last week against Montreal. That means that Veteran Nick Arbuckle will make his first-ever Grey Cup start.
Head-To-Head
Toronto won both regular season meetings. Both games were very close and each was low-scoring. The first was back in July, before Winnipeg had really found its way. The Argos won 16-14, in OT. The second was last month, Toronto winning 14-11.
Five Straight Grey Cup Appearances
If it seems like the Bombers are always in the Grey Cup, it's because they are. This will mark their fifth consecutive appearance. They won the first two but lost each of the last two. The Bombers are the fourth team to make five consecutive Grey Cup appearances, the first since Edmonton competed in six straight, (1977-82) nearly 50 years ago. Winnipeg QB Zach Collaros, now 36 years old, will make his sixth Grey Cup start, going after his fourth ring. He earned his first with Toronto, back in 2012.
Going For 8 Straight
The Argos may not reach the final as regularly as Winnipeg. When they do, they have a knack for closing the deal. They've been involved in seven Grey Cups since 1991 and they've won all seven. With 18 Grey Cups in their history, the Argos have won the big game more than any other team. They're 18-6 in the Final. With 30 Grey Cup appearances, the Bombers have been to the big game more than any other team. They're just 12-18.
Coaching Ties
Both coaches have ties to the opposition. Winnipeg’s coach Mike O’Shea had some great years with the Argos as a linebacker. He won three Grey Cups with Toronto as a player (1996-97, ’04) and another as the Argos' special-teams coordinator (2012). This will be his fifth straight Grey Cup game as a head coach.
Toronto’s coach Ryan Dinwiddie used to play quarterback for Boise State. His first-career CFL start was with the Blue Bombers. That was in the 2007 Grey Cup versus Saskatchewan. He played three seasons for Winnipeg. This will be his second Grey Cup as a head coach. He was also the Stampeders' quarterback coach for their 2018 Grey Cup victory.
Another Close One?
Seven of the past nine Grey Cups were decided by eight points or less. Eight of those games were decided by 11 or less. The last three Grey Cups had scores of 28-24, 24-23 and 33-25. The last game at Vancouver was in 2014, a 20-16 win for Calgary over Hamilton.
My Opinion
I've been watching the Grey Cup for a long time. The games are often close (see above) and Winnipeg doesn't regularly fare too well. The injury to Kelly has created value with the Argos. They already beat the Bombers with Arbuckle at QB once and they have the defense to make things difficult for Collaros. At +10.5, let's go with Toronto!
