The Grey Cup

The 103rd Grey Cup is set to go tomorrow night in Winnipeg, Manitoba.  The Ottawa RedBlacks (12-6) take on the Edmonton Eskimos (14-4).

The game creates a rematch of the 69th Grey Cup as it is the first time since 1981 that teams from Ottawa and Edmonton are playing each other for the Grey Cup.

This Grey Cup also marks the first appearance of the current Ottawa team, the RedBlacks, in the title game – the RedBlacks joined the league in 2014.  It also marks the first time since 1981 that any team representing Ottawa made it to the Grey Cup game – the then Ottawa Rough Riders folded in 1996, and the Ottawa Renegades (2002-2006) never represented Ottawa in the Grey Cup.

Both teams finished first in their respective divisions.  In both division finals, the teams that met up in last year’s Grey cup were eliminated as Ottawa beat out the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, and Edmonton beat out their provincial rivals and defending Champions Calgary Stampeders.

This game also marks the first time since 2005 that Edmonton has made the finals – and the first time in the modern era that neither team had appeared in a Grey Cup game in the last 10 years.

In their head-to-head match-up this year, Edmonton won both games – 46-17 at Commonwealth Stadium in week three, and 23-12 at TD Place Stadium in week four.  Edmonton scored 466 points this season, Ottawa scored 464 points.  Look for a high scoring game when the two teams meet up.

My prediction is for Edmonton to win the Grey Cup in a close game.