Make This Grey Cup Futures Bet and Bring Home the Canadian Bacon

It’s late in the 4^th quarter of an epic gridiron slug-fest. The score is tied 35-35. Your team has the football and has driven deep into opposing territory with :15 seconds left. But the kicker has been shaky, and the ball is spotted at a bad angle for a field-goal try.

Suspense! Will the head coach give the kicker another chance? Try to score a touchdown or run it between the goalposts? Can the enemy defense somehow force a turnover before falling in defeat? The play clock ticks away. It’s decision time…and…

Punt.

The punter balloons a high, lazy pigskin into the upper deck.

36-35. Game over.

Wait, what?

It’s called a “single,” a point awarded for a touchback. The rule only exists in the Canadian Football League, easily the most unique brand of American football this side of a souped-up video game.

Don’t even start to think that the “single” is the league’s only strange rule. Canadian fields are 110 yards from end zone to end zone, wider from sideline to sideline, and traversed by running backs and receivers who can move toward the line of scrimmage before the snap. (In the NFL, only the Seattle Seahawks get away with that.)

The game is also played 12-on-12, making it even tougher for defenses to keep track of  opposing WR corps, who look like jet-fighter squadrons taking off before every play.

If it sounds like CFL teams should be averaging 10 touchdowns per game, consider that there are only 3 downs instead of 4 for each offense to gain 10 yards.

The 3-down rule is not for everyone. Former SEC hero Johnny “Football” Manziel, a scrambler who loves to make plays on 3^rd down, appears lost in the Canadian league. His team is always punting when he’s used to converting.

But despite the myriad of differences, the CFL is still essentially the same sport. Teams who block, tackle, run, pass, and execute better than their rivals can hope to qualify for the playoffs and reach the Grey Cup Final – Canada’s “Super Bowl” – in December.

The postseason includes only 6 clubs total. But that’s okay, since there are only 9 franchises currently taking part in the CFL. Here’s a look at where each team stands headed into the 18-game 2019 season…and a recommended futures pick on further scroll.

All odds courtesy of Bovada Sportsbook.

Calgary Stampeders ((+400) Odds-to-Win 2019 Grey Cup)

The defending Grey Cup champs brought home the franchise’s 8th league title last season. Calgary has made the playoffs for almost 10 consecutive years and is becoming a perennial fixture in the final, sort of like a Maple Leaf version of the New England Patriots.

QB Bo Levi Mitchell destroyed defenses for a league-best 35 touchdowns and over 5,000 passing yards in 2018. Mitchell’s top target was 6’3” slotback Kamar Jorden, who remains with the team, though the Stampeders will be without CFL-leading tackler Alex Singleton  who was picked up by the Philadelphia Eagles in January.

Unfortunately, that’s not the only bad news on defense. Standout DL Micah Johnson left for the Saskatchewan (no, really, he left to play with Saskatchewan) and LB Jameer Thurman is also pursuing the NFL.

Ottawa Redblacks (+450)

Ottawa can feel fortunate to have played Calgary for the Grey Cup given a steady but less-than-stellar 11-7 mark in ’18. The Redblacks have only been around for 5 seasons but have played in the Grey Cup Final in 3 of the previous 4 campaigns. The young franchise overwhelmed the Stampeders for the league title in 2016.

There have been issues in the offseason, accentuated by the loss of starting QB Trevor Harris. Harris eclipsed 5,000 passing yards in 2018 but signed with Edmonton in the offseason. Ottawa lost 4 offensive starters during the free agency period.

Defensive back Jonathan Rose will return after tying for league-best with 5 interceptions.

Saskatchewan Roughriders (+450)

The Roughriders finished a game behind the Stampeders at 12-6 to post the 2^nd-best record in the league a season ago. An upset loss to Winnipeg in the division semi-final stopped Saskatchewan from having a chance to knock off Calgary in the playoffs.

Saskatchewan has won 4 Grey Cups, with the most recent coming in 2013.

Former Auburn Tiger and 3rd-round NFL Draft pick Tre Mason led the Roughriders with 809 rushing yards last year. Charleston Hughes, a seasoned edge rusher, led the league with 15 sacks.

Hughes, however, has lost his right-hand man in DE Willie Jefferson who takes his 10 sacks to Winnipeg. This is too bad since “Saskatchewan Sack Exchange” has a hell of a nice ring to it.

Winnipeg Blue Bombers (+450)

The Blue Bombers overcame a rough start and finished with a 10-8 record and in 3rd place in the West Division. The squad was able to pull off a surprise postseason victory over the Roughriders before collapsing vs the Stampeders.

Winnipeg has 10 Grey Cup championships in franchise history, but has not nabbed the league title since 1990.

The pieces may fall into place for a Grey Cup run in ‘19. QB Matt Nichols is an Eastern Washington product who knows how to put the pedal down in a wide-open contest. RB Andrew Harris is becoming a league-wide superstar in the CFL. WR Darvin Adams is terrific on the outside.

Adam Bighill leads the defense. During the offseason, the versatile LB signed a 3-year contract extension to become the highest-paid defensive player in CFL history.

British Columbia Lions (+800)

The Lions improved to a 9-9 finish in 2018 which was good for 4th place in the West Division. By and large, that would mean being absent from the playoffs, however the Lions snuck in thanks to a qualification rule and were able to play in the East Division’s side of the bracket.

Hamilton defeated BC to advance to the division title scrum.

There has been too much inconsistency in the passing game on an otherwise promising club, and QB Mike Reilly (formerly of Edmonton) could be a boon of a free-agent acquisition. Talent at the skill positions is not in short supply.

I’m not usually a fan of throwing money at a problem, but given the circumstances, it might work this time. Reilly is a “no brainer” upgrade at the most important spot.

British Columbia has a real lion on the line of scrimmage in DE Odell Willis.

Hamilton Tiger-Cats (+900)

Despite finishing the regular season below .500, the Tiger-Cats finished in 2nd place in the East Division and were only a game away from playing for the Grey Cup. A 46-27 loss to the Redblacks ended the Tiger-Cats season. Hamilton hasn’t brought home a Grey Cup in 20 years as of this autumn.

Former Oregon and Ole Miss quarterback Jeremiah Masoli had a vibrant year, finishing 2nd in the league in passing yards and 3rd in touchdowns.

Top targets Brandon Banks and Luke Tasker provide the most hazardous outside duo in the league. Both receivers finished the year with 1,000 receiving yards and tied for tops in the CFL with 11 touchdown catches.

Edmonton Eskimos (+1000)

The Eskimos have won 14 Grey Cup titles in their history, with the most recent coming in 2015, but failed to make the playoffs in 2018.

QB Trevor Harris arrives from Ottawa to hopefully fill the void left by Reilly, who was exceptional for Edmonton. But CFL-leading WR D’haquille Williams has made the jump to the NFL, signing with the Buffalo Bills after totaling 1,579 receiving yards catching passes from Reilly.

Defensive lineman Kwaku Boateng led the team with 9 sacks last season.

Montreal Alouettes (+1100)

The Alouettes clawed their way to a 5-13 finish and landed in 3rd place in the East Division in ’18. It’s a far cry from the team’s consecutive titles in 2009 and 2010.

Manziel and Antonio Pipkin have split time at quarterback. Neither has shined, though Pipkin surprisingly looks like the more dynamic runner of the pair.

LB Henoc Muamba is a bright spot for the Alouette defense.

Toronto Argonauts (+1200)

The Argonauts are coming off a dreadful season, finishing as the CFL’s worst with a record of 4-14. The proud franchise stumbled off a high pedestal after earning a whopping 17 total Grey Cup championships, the most recent coming in 2017.

Toronto had to play musical QBs last year, and found little production in the passing game. Former Florida State running back James Wilder Jr. led the team in rushing yards and looks to surpass 1000 over the next 18 games.

The defense suffered a badly-timed blow in the offseason, lamenting the exit of leading sacker Shawn Lemon, who sounds like a CNN host but actually signed with British Columbia.

Grey Cup 2019: Best Futures Pick to Win the Trophy

I’m looking at the 8-to-1 and longer lines. Calgary is only 4/1 thanks to reputation, and Winnipeg (+450) must overcome the psychology of being a seemingly-hexed club in the postseason. The door is open for an underdog.

Look at the British Columbia Lions and their brand new gunslinger at (+800). He’ll miss his favorite targets in Edmonton, but I like big WR Bryan Burnham to flourish with Reilly taking snaps. Veteran RB Jeremiah Johnson was decent in the NFL and should more than complement a passing game that will get better in a hurry.

And if all else fails, there’s always that 1^st-down punt in the Red Zone.