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CFL Previews - Grey Cup Championship (November 23rd)

Sat 22nd, November 2008

Montreal, QC (Sports Network) - It's only fitting that the best team in the East Division takes on the first-place team in the West Division to decide the '08 Grey Cup champion.

Montreal finished first in the East, then defeated the Edmonton Eskimos 36-26 in the conference final to advance to its sixth Grey Cup championship since 2000. However, the Alouettes head into this contest having won just one CFL title, that coming in 2002.

Special-teams player Larry Taylor led Montreal past Edmonton, returning two punts for a record touchdowns in the game. Taylor scored on returns of 64 and 97 yards and finished with a CFL-record 203 yards on six returns.

Anthony Calvillo, named the CFL's outstanding player this week, was 20-of-32 passing for 295 yards and a touchdown. Calvillo finished the season with 43 TD passes and was second in passing with 5,633 yards.

Montreal will definitely have the home-field advantage for the Grey Cup, with the game being played at Olympic Stadium. And with upwards of 65,000 spectators expected to be on hand, the Alouettes will also have the benefit of having a raucous crowd firmly behind them.

Calgary qualified for its first Grey Cup game since 2001 - when it beat Winnipeg at Olympic Stadium _ by downing the B.C. Lions 22-18 in the West Division final.

Quarterback Henry Burris, the West Division candidate for the outstanding player award, had 236 yards passing and a touchdown and also scored one himself.

Burris has had a brilliant season to date. The 10-year veteran established career highs with 5,094 yards passing and 39 touchdowns for Calgary. He was also the CFL's leading rusher among quarterbacks with 595 yards.

However, it was defensive end Mike Labinjo who was Calgary's top performer against the Lions. The former Philadelphia Eagles linebacker had three sacks and eight tackles - two huge ones for losses coming on a crucial goal-line stand - as the Stampeders managed to keep B.C. from scoring a touchdown in the West final.

The numbers: Montreal was 7-2 at home during the regular season but 3-5 against West Division teams and 0-2 versus Calgary. The Stampeders were 6-3 on the road and 7-1 against Eastern clubs.

Keys to the game: There was no more potent offense in the CFL this year than Montreal, which led the league in scoring (32.4 points per game), total yards (429 per game), pass attempts (712) and completions (495). The Alouettes' offensive line contributed to that success, allowing just 22 sacks, which was lowest in the league.

Montreal guard Scott Flory was also honoured this week, being named the league's outstanding lineman.

Calvillo will also have three pretty good receivers to throw to. Jamel Richardson (98 catches, 1,287 yards, league-high 16 TDs), Ben Cahoon (league- best 107 catches, 1,231 yards, seven TDs) and Kerry Watkins (84 catches, 1,178 yards, 10 TDs).

Calgary's strength will also be its offense, which also includes the CFL's leading receiver (Ken-Yon Rambo, 100 catches, 1,473 yards, eight TDs) and top running back (Joffrey Reynolds, 1,310 yards).

Both teams have good defenses. Calgary gave up an average of just 21.5 points per game to lead the CFL but Montreal surrendered just 23.5 points per game as well.

Special-teams are also solid on both sides. Calgary kicker Sandro DeAngelis was the CFL scoring leader with 217 points while Montreal's Damon Duval was second with 206 points.

So while the Alouettes will have the home crowd behind it, the Stampeders will have a team that established itself during the regular season as the league's best. The fact this game is being played in Montreal is the only reason why it should be close.

Sports Network Predicted Outcome: Calgary 35, Montreal 30.

Last week's record: 1-1; Season record: 43-33.