The upcoming East Division final on Saturday will showcase quarterbacks Bo Levi Mitchell and Davis Alexander, with running backs Stevie Scott III and Greg Bell playing crucial roles as well. Scott impressed with 133 rushing yards and two touchdowns in Montreal’s recent victory over Winnipeg, leading the Alouettes’ ground attack against a strong Blue Bombers defense. The game will take place at Hamilton Stadium, and the winner will secure a spot in the Grey Cup on November 16 in Winnipeg.
Greg Bell, 27, had a standout season with 1,038 rushing yards and five touchdowns at an average of 5.6 yards per carry. In a previous matchup against Montreal, Bell had a remarkable performance, rushing for 156 yards and a touchdown in a 26-9 road win for Hamilton. Meanwhile, Bo Levi Mitchell, 35, topped the CFL in passing yards and touchdowns, playing a pivotal role in Hamilton finishing first in the standings ahead of Montreal.
Davis Alexander, the unbeaten quarterback with a 12-0 record in his CFL starts, will lead Montreal against Hamilton. Despite Hamilton winning both regular-season games against Montreal, Alexander did not play in those matchups due to injuries. Montreal’s success has been closely tied to Alexander’s performance, with a 7-0 record when he starts compared to a 3-8 record in his absence.
Hamilton boasts a potent offense with three receivers surpassing 1,000 yards each, supported by Bell’s impressive rushing performances. On the defensive end, Montreal has been strong, leading the league in fewest offensive and passing yards allowed, tied for most sacks, and featuring standout players like Isaac Adeyemi-Berglund with 11 regular-season sacks.
Both teams may have key players returning from injuries for the final, potentially impacting their performance. Hamilton’s defense, despite ranking last against the run, excels in forcing turnovers and capitalizing on them. The game is expected to be a close contest with Hamilton presenting challenges for Alexander, who has shown great promise in his CFL career.
In the West Division final, the B.C. Lions will face the Saskatchewan Roughriders, with Saskatchewan having a strong defense against the run and B.C. showcasing a high-scoring offense led by quarterback Nathan Rourke. Saskatchewan’s offense, led by veteran quarterback Trevor Harris, is balanced in both passing and rushing, while B.C.’s kicking game with Sean Whyte provides an edge in field goals.
Predictions for the games lean towards Hamilton in the East Division final and Saskatchewan in the West Division final. Last week’s predictions were correct with a 2-0 record, bringing the overall season prediction to 55-28.