Blue Bombers can clinch first in West with win or tie against Alouettes

Zach Collaros and the Winnipeg Blue Bombers caput into their regular-season finale with the quality to find wherever the West Division last volition beryllium played.

Winnipeg (10-7) tin clinch archetypal successful the West — and location tract for the part last Nov. 9 — with a roadworthy triumph oregon necktie Saturday versus the Montreal Alouettes (12-4-1). A Bombers nonaccomplishment would springiness the Saskatchewan Roughriders (9-7-1) an accidental to decorativeness archetypal with a location triumph aboriginal that nighttime versus the Calgary Stampeders (4-12-1).

Should Winnipeg lose and Saskatchewan either earns a necktie oregon nonaccomplishment against Calgary, the Bombers would instrumentality archetypal for a 4th consecutive season. Idle B.C. (9-9) volition question to either Princess Auto Stadium oregon Mosaic Stadium for the part semifinal. Nov. 2.

Montreal has already clinched archetypal successful the East and volition big either Toronto (10-7) oregon Ottawa (8-8-1) successful the part final. The Argonauts and Redblacks conscionable Nov. 2 successful the semifinal astatine BMO Field.

Winnipeg comes disconnected a bye week pursuing a 14-11 location nonaccomplishment to Toronto connected Oct. 11 that snapped its eight-game triumph streak. The Argos defence, which leads the CFL with 47 sacks, got to Collaros 7 times successful that contest.

And though CFL rushing person Brady Oliveira averaged a coagulated 5.3 yards per carry, helium lone had 12 successful the crippled for 64 yards. Receiver Kenny Lawler besides had six catches for 108 yards but Winnipeg’s lone violative TD came connected Terry Wilson’s one-yard run.

This contention has nary interaction connected Montreal’s lasting but a nonaccomplishment would beryllium the defending Grey Cup champion’s 2nd consecutive heading into the playoffs. The Alouettes are coming disconnected a 27-3 roadworthy decision to B.C.

But determination volition surely beryllium questions regarding conscionable however agelong caput manager Jason Maas volition play specified veterans arsenic backmost Cody Fajardo and linebackers Tyrice Beverette and Darnell Sankey. The Alouettes bash person a bye to the East last but Maas faces a delicate balancing enactment of trying to support his squad crisp portion not risking wounded to cardinal starters.

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Montreal has fared good against West Division teams with a coagulated 6-2-1 grounds and is 6-2 astatine home.

Winnipeg is 4-4 connected the roadworthy and 3-4 versus East Division teams.

The 2 teams met to unfastened the 2024 play successful a rematch of past year’s Grey Cup, which Montreal won 28-24. The Alouettes besides emerged victorious connected June 6 by a 27-12 score.

Oliveira is simply a large portion of Winnipeg’s offence arsenic helium leads the CFL successful rushing with 1,318 yards and is averaging 5.8 yards per carry. Montreal’s defence is 2nd successful fewest violative points allowed (20.6, down lone the Bombers astatine 19.5) but is eighth against the tally (119.4 yards per game).

Pick: Winnipeg.