Free Live Odds - Scores and Odds - Sports News - Sports Information - Live Scores - Sports Statistics - Sports Articles - Sports Standings - Live Scor

Riders looking for a mulligan of their own

Thu 1st, July 2010

Toronto, Canada (Sports Network) - One penalty. One point. One Grey Cup.

Those seven words were the difference between the Montreal Alouettes and Saskatchewan Roughriders in 2009, after a costly error and second-chance field goal propelled the Alouettes to an improbable victory for their fifth championship in franchise history.

And roughly seven months later, there still isn't much that separates the two as they meet Thursday to kick off the 2010 CFL season in a rematch of last year's thrilling final.

Despite the crushing loss - one that saw Montreal kicker Damon Duval make good on a second attempt from 10 yards closer after Saskatchewan was whistled for too many men on the field - the tightly-contested final between the Als and Riders offers some foreshadowing into how close the two project to be this season.

With teams such as Calgary and Edmonton looking to improve and build on their relative success of last year, the Riders will need an outstanding season from slotback Andy Fantuz - a popular pick for this season's top Canadian - and a strong follow-up campaign from quarterback Darian Durant to make it through the West.

Fantuz enters his fifth season in green as one of the top non-import players in the league, despite missing 16 games due to injury over the past two years.

The 6'4, 200-pound receiver finished the '09 season strong, hauling in 40 catches for 510 yards over the team's last six games, including playoffs.

A healthy Fantuz gives Saskatchewan a solid 1-2 punch, along with slotback Weston Dressler, who has 2,064 yards receiving in just his first two seasons, in the open field for Durant, who is coming off a breakout year that saw the quarterback throw for over 4,000 yards in his first full season as a starter.

It's been a long off-season for coach Ken Miller and his men, who were undoubtedly reminded daily of the penalty that cost the team its second title in three seasons.

But after winning the West Division for the first time in 33 years, expect a hungry Saskatchewan club with 39 returning players from '09 to navigate its way into Edmonton come November.

With that, a quick look at some other storylines for the 2010 CFL season:

HEAD OF THE CLASS

The 2010 non-import draft proved to be one of the strongest classes in recent memory, beginning with the Riders' No. 1 overall selection of linebacker Shomari Williams.

After swapping picks with the Toronto Argonauts on the eve of draft day, Saskatchewan got its guy in Williams - a well-rounded defensive leader that should give the Riders plenty of flexibility in their ability to match up with opposing offenses.

The Riders will likely employ the 6'1, 232-pound former member of the Queen Gaels, who, after playing three years at the University of Houston, led the Gaels to a Canadian university title in '09 - at either linebacker or defensive end in an effort to get the most out of the versatile athlete.

Expect the Brampton, Ontario native to challenge for top rookie honors while he looks to help minimize two key losses on the defensive end in stalwarts John Chick - the Most Outstanding Defensive Player in '09 - and Stevie Baggs, both of whom bolted south to sign with NFL teams in the off-season.

STAR POWER

You can't mention the word "star" in the CFL without starting with Anthony Calvillo. The four-time all-star led Montreal to a franchise-best 15-3 record, en route to being recognized as the top player in the league for a second straight season.

The 16-year veteran has thrown for over 10,000 yards and 69 touchdowns over the last two seasons, to go along with back-to-back career years in completion percentage. The 39-year-old quarterback from East Los Angeles connected on a mind-boggling 72 percent of his passes in '09 and is as big a name as there is in the league.

Consider him a serious threat to not only lead his team back to the final, but to challenge for the fourth Most Outstanding Player award of his career.

Calvillo, however, could find himself some healthy competition for top player honors with an unlikely candidate - B.C. Lions quarterback Casey Printers. Without question one of the most explosive talents in the league, the Florida A&M alum will look to regain the form that saw him take home top player honors in 2004, while leading the Lions to an appearance in the Grey Cup.

Printers hasn't been the same since he left for the NFL in '05, throwing for just nine touchdowns over three seasons of scattered playing time. But he's back to being a full-time starter and if his '04 performance is any indicator (5,088 passing yards, 469 rushing, and 35 touchdowns), Printers, still just 29 years of age, has the tools to take the CFL by storm again.

AGE-OLD QUESTION

For a team as dominating as the Alouettes have been - seven Grey Cup appearances in the last 10 seasons - it's hard to predict anyone but the Als being there in the end.

However, Hamilton has improved and has been a trendy sleeper pick to win the East over an aging Alouettes squad that lost long-time center Bryan Chiu to a sudden retirement in early June.

Despite Chiu's role within the CFL's best offense, expect not much else to change here. Veteran running back Avon Cobourne will keep opposing defenses honest after leading the league with 13 scores, opening space up for Calvillo to work his magic with an array of weapons, including Canadian slotback Ben Cahoon and his eight straight seasons of 1,000-yards receiving.

Coached by one of the league's best tacticians in Marc Trestman, the Als are poised to take another run - or kick - at the title.

Live Odds provided by :

Live Odds provided by :

Where the players come to play and STAY.

Sportsbook & Sports Betting at SBG Global

Sports Sites

Sports Contests – Think you know the game?

Sports Information you need to win BIG.

Contact Us | Help | Site Map| Sport Links

Sportsbook Directory | Casinos Directory | Poker Room Directory | Racebook Directory | Partners Directory