Zach Collaros and the Winnipeg Blue Bombers head into their regular-season finale with the ability to determine where the CFL’s West Division championship final will be played.
Winnipeg (10-7) can clinch first in the West — and home field for the division final Nov. 9 — with a road win or tie on Saturday versus the Montreal Alouettes (12-4-1).
But a Bombers loss would give the Saskatchewan Roughriders (9-7-1) an opportunity to finish first with a home victory later that night versus the Calgary Stampeders (4-12-1).
Should Winnipeg lose and Saskatchewan earn a tie or loss against Calgary, the Bombers would take first for a fourth straight season. Idle B.C. (9-9) will travel to either Princess Auto Stadium in Winnipeg or Mosaic Stadium in Regina for the division semifinal on Nov. 2.
Montreal has already clinched first in the East and will host either Toronto (10-7) or Ottawa (8-8-1) in the division final. The Argonauts and Redblacks meet Nov. 2 in the semifinal at BMO Field in Toronto.
Winnipeg comes off a bye week following a 14-11 home loss to Toronto on Oct. 11 that snapped an eight-game win streak. The Argos defence, which leads the CFL with 47 sacks, got to Collaros seven times in that contest.
Although CFL rushing leader Brady Oliveira averaged a solid 5.3 yards per carry, he only had 12 carries that game for 64 yards. Receiver Kenny Lawler also had six catches for 108 yards but Winnipeg’s lone offensive TD came on Terry Wilson’s one-yard run.
Saturday’s game has no impact on Montreal’s standing, but a loss would be the defending Grey Cup champion’s second straight heading into the playoffs. The Alouettes are coming off a 27-3 road defeat to B.C.
There will certainly be questions regarding just how long head coach Jason Maas will play such veterans as quarterback Cody Fajardo and linebackers Tyrice Beverette and Darnell Sankey. The Alouettes do have a bye to the East final but Maas faces a delicate balancing act of trying to keep his team sharp while not risking injury to key starters.
Montreal has fared well against West Division teams with a solid 6-2-1 record and is 6-2 at home.
Winnipeg is 4-4 on the road and 3-4 versus East Division teams.
The two teams clashed in the CFL’s season opener in a rematch of last year’s Grey Cup, which Montreal won 28-24. The Alouettes also emerged victorious on June 6 by a 27-12 score.
The Bombers defence ranks first in the CFL for fewest points allowed per game (19.5). Montreal ranks second (20.6).
Oliveira is the CFL rushing leader with 1,318 yards while Montreal’s defence ranks eighth in the league against the run, allowing 119.4 yards per game.
