Here are 12 fun facts to know ahead of Sunday night’s Gray Cup final between the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and the Montreal Alouettes in Hamilton.
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- According to bookmakers, the Blue Bombers are the heavy favorites to win this game against the Alouettes. For example, on the Mise-o-jeu website, the odds for Winnipeg are 1.25 and for Montreal are 3.25.
- The defensive unit is the key to success for the Alouettes: from the line of scrimmage to the secondary, including the linebackers, including American Darnell Sankey.
- Among the Blue Bombers players to watch, running back Brady Oliveira was named West Division MVP. He wears the number 20.
Photo USA TODAY Sports
- To reach the Gray Cup Final, the Alouettes (11-7) pulled off an upset last Saturday by defeating the Toronto Argonauts, who finished the regular season with a 16-16 record, by a score of 38- 17.2 in the regular season.
- The Blue Bombers (14-4 in the regular season) defeated the British Columbia Lions 24-13 last Saturday in Winnipeg.
- Quebecer Marc-Antoine Dequoy led the Alouettes with five interceptions during the regular season. He also made a crucial play in the Eastern final against the Argos, intercepting the ball before returning it 101 yards for a touchdown early in the game.
Kevin Sousa/CFL
- If the Alouettes win, it would be the Montreal club’s first Gray Cup victory in 13 years. Her most recent title comes from 2010.
- Led by head coach Mike O’Shea, the Blue Bombers are in the final for the fourth consecutive year. They won in 2019 and 2021 before losing their final game to the Argonauts last year. Remember that the 2020 season was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
- The popular band Green Day will provide the halftime show.
- Defensive end Willie Jefferson, the Bombers’ No. 5 pick, could significantly hinder the work of Alouettes quarterback Cody Fajardo.
- Offensive player Pier-Olivier Lestage, who has a leg injury, will logically be missing from this Gray Cup final.
- The Blue Bombers will make decisions about the deployment of pass catcher Dalton Schoen and linebacker Adam Bighill shortly before the game.
KNOW EVERYTHING…
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