GM #292 Edmonton Eskimos -7 -103 (pinnacle) risking $103 to win $100

Game played at Investors Group Field Winnipeg, Manitoba

The Ottawa RedBlacks have been the “Cinderella” team in the CFL this season and made it here on a miracle throw for a TD in the final minutes last week against Hamilton to win and cover the 6.5 points.  At the season’s beginning the Ottawa team had a season win total at 4 after a 2-16 season a year ago and have gone on to a 13 win team after last weeks victory.  It has been quite the year for the Redblacks franchise and their players, QB Henry Buris won the league’s most outstanding player and WR Brad Sinopoli won the CFL’s top Canadian player at a gala prior to the Grey Cup this week.  Just like my theory of fading the Heisman Trophy winner of the team in the CFB bowl game, the same applies here to fade the MVP in the Grey Cup.  The Public loves a “Cinderella” team and will look to “play on” a team in the big game especially now with the MVP being on that Redblacks “Cinderella” team. Yes it would be the perfect end to a great story should the RedBlacks pull this one out but I’m not counting on it.  Ottawa benefited this season playing easy competition especially their last 10 weeks of the season and caught most of these teams when the opposing teams had the injury bug (Toronto twice, Hamilton 3 times (T-Cats QB Zach Collaros was out), Winnipeg twice, Al’s, Rough Riders and B.C.).  Ottawa in turn put up some big numbers against these teams that were hurting.

Edmonton has gone 8-0 since the return of QB Mike Reilly, but the huge mismatch in this match-up is on defense where Ottawa has faced back-up QB’s the last 10 weeks while Edmonton has held opponents to 24 points or less the last 9 out of 10 weeks (5 times 18 points or less!!) against a tougher schedule.  Ottawa has come a long way from a 2-16 season a year ago and I give them tons of credit for it, but this is a huge mis-match game and Ottawa will be in for a rude awakening tonight.  Laying the points with the Eskimos as they win 34-23