The 2023 Grey Cup is almost upon us as the latest CFL season continues to roll ever closer to its climax. The league has provided fans with some interesting action throughout the season, but with the 110th edition of its premier game closing in, is it already easy to try and predict who will win?
Of course, the league still needs to go through its postseason process, with the Divisional Semi-Finals scheduled to take place. The winners of these games will then go on to the Divisional Finals, where two teams already await their next opponents: the Toronto Argonauts in the East and the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in the West.
These two franchises were the best teams in the league this season by some distance and as a result, remain the betting favorite with a sportsbook offering CFL odds that can be used to enhance any viewing experience. According to those odds, the Argonauts are the favorites with a price of +105. The Blue Bombers are priced at +150, with everyone else priced at +700 before the beginning of the postseason.
Will the Argonauts retain their Grey Cup?
With the 110th edition of the Grey Cup set to be held at Tim Horton’s Field in Hamilton on November 19, there are many who are expecting the Toronto Argonauts to retain the title that they won last year.
They defeated the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in a tightly fought contest, with the final score being 24-23. However, if the odds pre-match and the form were anything to go by, the Blue Bombers should have come out victorious. They were 15-3 on the year, whereas the eventual victors were 11-7.
A year removed, and the Argonauts look better than they did 12 months ago. The team managed to put together a 16-2 record during the regular season, which included going unbeaten at home in the nine games that were played.
The Argos will want to make sure Chad Kelly is able to remain as productive as possible if they are to retain their title. The quarterback managed to throw for 4,100 yards in the regular season, recording 23 touchdowns. The run game might be the way forward, as it proved to be effective throughout the campaign.
Are the Blue Bombers out for revenge?
Given that they fell just short last year when they perhaps should have come out victorious, the Winnipeg Blue Bombers might just be out for revenge this year. They were Grey Cup champions in 2019 and 2021, with the 2020 season having been cancelled. As highlighted, they were a whisker away from being successful last season but fell just a point short when they were heavily favored.
The team is once again among the favorites to win, and with the same group of players as last year, there is every chance that they could upset the bookie’s choice. The team may not have had a record as good as the Argo’s (14-4), but it was evident that they were on a mission throughout the year.
The Blue Bombers put up the most points in the regular season, as they scored 594 (just three more than the Argonauts), while they conceded the least (377), too, giving them a point differential of +217.
If they are to overcome the challenge of the Argonauts, Zach Collaros is going to have to play a key role if they are to win the Grey Cup. The quarterback has been in phenomenal form throughout the season, as he put up 4,252 passing yards and 33 touchdowns. Not his best year by any means in terms of total TDs, but it was his most productive in the air.
Who will win the 2023 Grey Cup?
Admittedly, it may seem that we have already discredited the chances of any other Canadian Football League team still left in the race, but going based on form and paper, it is justified. Only the Argos and the Blue Bombers should be considered Grey Cup contenders.
Who wins the premier sporting game remains to be seen and will undoubtedly depend on how each team turns up on the day. If both play to their best and provide the entertainment that is expected, then we should be able to have an exceptional contest on our hands.
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