It’s officially the most exciting time to be a CFL football fan and what better way to join in the fun than to stamp our names to five predictions that may or may not haunt us in the weeks to come. We rounded up our talented group of writers who have been helping us put out great content all season long and put our credibility on the line with a few predictions.
Without further ado, Last Word on Canadian Football’s predictions for the 2019 CFL Playoffs.
Semi-Finals
Edmonton Eskimos @ Montreal Alouettes
Nik Kowalski
I called this exact game in June, and I’m sticking with it with home-field being the difference. Alouettes squeak out the win.
Stephen Bolen
Trevor Harris will need to put on a clinic if Edmonton has any hope of advancing in the CFL Playoffs, I don’t trust this team beyond his efforts.
Edmonton 17 Montreal 23
Joshua McSwain
Jeff Burns
Close game but in the end, the Eskimos won’t survive bad penalties and questionable coaching decisions.
Edmonton 20 Montreal 23
JR Reynolds
A healthy Trevor Harris and C.J. Gable should be enough for an Edmonton road win. Montreal’s defence will be their downfall.
Edmonton 28 Montreal 24
Winnipeg Blue Bombers @ Calgary Stampeders
Nik Kowalksi
Sloppy conditions favour the Bombers run game and hurts Bo Levi Mitchell’s aerial attack. Winnipeg steals one.
Winnipeg 23 Calgary 22
Stephen Bolen
Calgary hasn’t lost a home playoff game since 2013. It’s tough to bet against Bo Levi Mitchell and the Stampeders at home during the playoffs, so I’m not going to do it. Stamps win a close one and head to Saskatchewan.
Winnipeg 27 Calgary 30
Josh McSwain
I had the Bombers finally winning the Cup at the beginning of the season, but alas I cannot maintain the same confidence. Whether it’s Zach Collaros or Chris Streveler under center, I don’t see them getting it done against the reigning champions.
Winnipeg 20 Calgary 30
Jeff Burns
The Bombers have only won three games on the road this season and none against a team with a winning record. That trend continues here.
Winnipeg 27 Calgary 32
JR Reynolds
Bo Levi Mitchell ripped up Winnipeg just two weeks ago. On the road no less. I see no reason the Stampeders don’t take care of business at home in the CFL Playoffs.
Winnipeg 14 Calgary 24
Division Finals
East Division Final
Nik Kowalski
The Ti-Cats have too many weapons on offence and a defence loaded with stars. Make it 10-0 at home for Hamilton in a statement win.
Montreal 13 Hamilton 41
Stephen Bolen
I’m probably pushing my luck in calling all of these close games in the CFL Playoffs but I foresee an instant classic with this one. Montreal will give it everything they have but just fall short.
Montreal 29 Hamilton 30
Josh McSwain
This is going to be a nail biter. Montreal has given Hamilton fits this year, but it won’t be enough as Dane Evans leads a touchdown drive in the last five minutes to propel the Ti-Cats to their first Grey Cup appearance since 2014.
Montreal 16 Hamilton 20
Jeff Burns
The Tiger-Cats end the cinderella season for the Montreal Alouettes in a tightly contested affair.
Montreal 24 Hamilton 30
JR Reynolds
I don’t see Edmonton’s playoff magic lasting, as a well-rested trio of Dane Evans, Brandon Banks and Bralon Addison will prove to be too much. Hamilton clinches a Grey Cup berth.
Edmonton 17 Hamilton 28
West Division Final
Nik Kowalski
Zach Collaros vs. Cody Fajardo to go to the Grey Cup. Who would’ve thought? Not me! Fajardo’s cinderella season continues at Mosaic.
Winnipeg 18 Saskatchewan 26
Stephen Bolen
The matchup Saskatchewan likely didn’t want with their 0-2 record against the Stampeders this season. However, the Riders avoid crucial mistakes that cost them a victory on October 11th to punch their ticket to the Grey Cup.
Calgary 25 Saskatchewan 27
Josh McSwain
A road team has to win a game sometime right? Who better to trust than the team that has won the west three straight years? While I was very skeptical of the Riders all season, they finally found their QB and put together a great season. But in the big moment, Bo Levi Mitchell gets it done.
Calgary 27 Saskatchewan 21
Jeff Burns
The defending champions won’t go down without a fight. But too many injuries catch up to the cowtown crew.
Calgary 19 Saskatchewan 21
JR Reynolds
The Stampeders’ playoff prowess will be their advantage on the road in Saskatchewan. Bo Levi Mitchell stays hot, leading the Stampeders to their fourth straight Grey Cup.
Calgary 24 Saskatchewan 21
Grey Cup
Nik Kowalski
It’s Hamilton’s Grey Cup to lose, and Dane Evans orchestrates a late drive leading to another Lirim Hajrullahu clutch kick. Ti-Cats in a back-and-forth battle.
Saskatchewan 29 Hamilton 32
Stephen Bolen
These two teams are very different from when they met back in the summertime for both of their matchups. I stick with my trend of ridiculously close playoff games as Brett Lauther overcomes his late-season struggles to boot the Riders to Grey Cup glory.
Saskatchewan 31 Hamilton 28
Josh McSwain
Party like it’s 1999 everyone! Hamilton finally gets it done as their defence frustrates the champs and Brandon Banks catches and has a punt return touchdown to propel the Tabbies to glory.
Calgary 17 Hamilton 24
Jeff Burns
The Hamilton Tiger-Cats had the best record in the CFL regular season. They prove it wasn’t a fluke by winning their first Grey Cup in 20 years.
Saskatchewan 24 Hamilton 28
JR Reynolds
In a season that looked lost after Jeremiah Masoli’s injury, the Tiger-Cats are crowned Grey Cup champions. They take out the defending champs in the process.
Calgary 24 Hamilton 34
Stay Tuned
There you have it, our staff’s picks for the entire 2019 CFL Playoffs. We all can’t wait to see how each game unfolds. Have some predictions of your own? We want to hear them! Tweet at us @LastWordonCFL. We’ll have our 2019 CFL Award Predictions coming soon as well. Until then, enjoy the best time of the year to be a CFL fan!
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