Saturday is a big day for Canadian football
The race for two of the most prestigious trophies in Canadian sports is heating up this weekend, with the CFL’s final four teams vying for a spot in the 111th Grey Cup game and the top university squads competing for a chance to advance to the 59th Vanier Cup.
CFL Division Finals: Montreal and Winnipeg Eye Another Grey Cup
Last year, Montreal pulled off a major upset by defeating Toronto in the East final and then going on to win the Grey Cup as underdogs. This year, as the defending champions with a league-best 12-5-1 record, the Alouettes are favored to beat Toronto (10-8) in the East final on Saturday at 3 p.m. ET.
However, the visiting Argos are only two-point underdogs after a strong performance in their last seven games, including a high-scoring victory over Ottawa. Toronto quarterback Chad Kelly has been in top form, bouncing back from a shaky performance in last year’s East final. With the Argos on a roll, the Alouettes will have their work cut out for them.
In the West final at 6:30 p.m. ET, Winnipeg will be looking to advance to their fifth straight Grey Cup by taking on Saskatchewan. The Bombers, who ended a 29-year championship drought with back-to-back titles in 2019 and 2021, are favorites over the Roughriders. However, Saskatchewan’s turnover-hungry defense could pose a challenge for Winnipeg’s quarterback Zach Collaros, who threw 15 interceptions this season.
U Sports Conference Finals: Montreal Still the Team to Beat
In the Quebec conference final, defending Vanier Cup champion Montreal, ranked No. 1 in the country, will face off against No. 3 Laval for the Dunsmore Cup. Both teams have had strong seasons, with each winning their head-to-head matchups by a single point. Montreal’s quarterback Jonathan Sénécal, the reigning national player of the year, will be a player to watch in this highly anticipated game.
In other conference finals, No. 2 Laurier will take on No. 4 Western for the Yates Cup in Ontario, while No. 10 Saskatchewan will face unranked Regina for the Hardy Trophy in the West. In the Atlantic, No. 6 Bishop’s will go up against unranked St. Mary’s in the Loney Bowl.
The national semifinals are set for next week, with the Quebec champion squaring off against the West winner and the Ontario and Atlantic champions battling it out for a spot in the Vanier Cup on November 23 in Kingston, Ontario.
Stay tuned for more updates on these exciting matchups and the road to the Grey Cup and Vanier Cup by subscribing to The Buzzer, CBC Sports’ daily email newsletter.
