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Expert CFL Handicapping: 2022 Grey Cup Odds and Betting Predictions

by Devon Rymarchuk - 6/6/2022

Expert CFL handucapping and Grey Cup predictions Zach Collaros Winnipeg Blue Bombers

June 9 starts Week 1 for the Canadian Football League, and nine teams across Canada will be competing for the 110th Grey Cup. The CFL features 18 regular season games across 21 weeks, with each team receiving 3 bye weeks.

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers enter the 2022 season as back-to-back champions and are opening week favorites to complete the three-peat. Another Grey Cup victory in 2022 would put them in elite company of teams to three-peat in the CFL and the first to do so since Edmonton's dominant run in the late-70s and early-80s. Regina, home of the Saskatchewan Roughriders, will be host of the Grey Cup in 2022 and will look to be the Blue Bombers toughest competition in the West Division for an attempt dethrone the defending champions. Let’s take a deeper look at the Grey Cup odds throughout the league, an analysis of the top five teams in the CFL and what team might give you the best value heading into Week 1.

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Grey Cup Odds

Winnipeg Blue Bombers +250

Hamilton Tiger-Cats +500

Saskatchewan Roughriders +550

Toronto Argonauts +600

Calgary Stampeders +600

Winnipeg Blue Bombers +250

After cruising to a 13-1 record during the regular season in 2021, and not to mention their only loss came at the end of the year when resting starters, it begs bettors to ask the question of if anyone will challenge the Bombers this year. Their biggest loss was three-time rushing leader Andrew Harris. However, the good thing for Winnipeg is that they thrive on the defensive side of the football. In 2021, the Blue Bombers allowed 56 less points than the next closest team while also leading the league in points scored. Yes, the quarterback that has led Winnipeg to be 2019 and 2021 champions is back as Zach Collaros aims for another superb season. Throwing 20 touchdowns and 3,185 yards last year in the condensed season, Zach aims to throw for more than 25 touchdowns and 4,000 yards as the league returns to its 18-game season format. While players such as Nic Demski, Willie Jefferson, and Adam Bighill are back ready to go again, two key players are elsewhere for this season.

Hamilton Tiger-Cats +500

With much quarterback controversy in 2021, the Hamilton Tiger-Cats still managed to push the Winnipeg Blue Bombers to the brink as they lost a very exciting Grey Cup final, 33-25. No one expected the Tiger-Cats to take such a positive step forward in 2021, but with that comes great expectation this season. Dane Evans is now the face of the franchise in Hamilton as they decided to stick with Evans over Jeremiah Masoli, who went to the Ottawa Red Blacks. The foundation for the 2022 Tiger-Cats will be their experienced defense. Ten out of 12 starters return from the 2021 Grey Cup runner-up defense. This includes two out of four starting defensive linemen. A newcomer to the defensive line is Micah Johnson, who comes to the Tiger-Cats from the Saskatchewan Rough Riders. Another new starter on the defensive line is Malik Carney, but he was on the Tiger-Cats defensive line in 2021 as a back-up. The entire linebacker and defensive back units have all starters returning.

Saskatchewan Roughriders +550

As Grey Cup Host, the Roughriders will look to make a strong push to play in their own building. The Roughriders at +550 could be the best value of the nine teams after going 9-5 last season and retaining many of their key pieces this offseason. That’s if you want to stay away from the favorite.

Toronto Argonauts +600

The Argos have unfinished business in 2022. Toronto came ever so close to competing for the Grey Cup in 2021. Last season, The Argos beat the still reigning CFL Champion Blue Bombers in Toronto and the Grey Cup runner-up Hamilton Tiger-Cats on three separate occasions in 2021, Including a thrilling come from behind victory in Hamilton on Thanksgiving. The Argos were 7-1 in close games decided in the final three minutes. And they were 6-0 in games that were decided by four points or less. With many of the same pieces in place, and key acquisitions like former Arizona Cardinals receiver A.J Richardson, the Argos and Ti-Cats will be dueling it out until the final week of the East Division for first place.

Calgary Stampeders +600

My dark horse pick, the Calgary Stampeders are historically, and in the last five years, notorious for achieving success. An injured Bo Levi Mitchell in 2021 has the Stampeders looking from the outside in as they start 2022, which could be a big mistake made by bookies, With a healthy Mitchell, returning talented receivers, and a few new faces on the defense, there should be no reason why the Stampeders won’t get back to their dominance in 2022. Mitchell, who will be behind center once again this season, dealt with injuries in 2021, playing in 11 games and throwing for 2,594 yards, 10 touchdowns and 13 interceptions. The league’s second-leading rusher last season, Ka’Deem Carey, is set to carry the rock once again for the red and white.  Having the second-best offense in the CFL in 2021 with an injured Mitchell means the Stampeders are not far from contending for a West Division title, and Cow Town will heavily be in the mix with the Roughriders and Blue Bombers for coming out of the West.

I am taking the Hamilton Tiger-Cats as my 2022 Grey Cup Champions; I believe they have the easiest route to the Grey Cup as the West is stiff with competition. The Roughriders, Blue Bombers and Stampeders will all beat up on one another, and picking a winner out of that trio seems like a very tall task. Hamilton has played in back-to-back Grey Cups, so they know how to get there. With certainty at quarterback, it will firm up the team identity and ultimately lead them to a Grey Cup.

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