The Bombers head into the CFL finals as 7-point underdogs to the surging Lions, with the football betting Total sitting at 50.5 in the traditionally high scoring league.

Winnipeg started the campaign red hot, winning 7 of its first 8 games, while the Leos dropped its first five games while beginning 1-6. But since then, it’s been a reversal of fortunes as the Bombers backed into first place in the CFL’s Eastern Division with a 10-8 record. BC has been torrid, winning 10 or its last 11 games to win the west with an 11-7 mark before entering the Western Final last Sunday.

Last weekend, the Blue Bombers used a strong, blitzing defence to crush the visiting Hamilton Tiger Cats’ offence in winning the Eastern Division Final 19-3. In the Western Final, the favored Lions trounced the visiting Edmonton Eskimos 40-23 behind an overwhelming defensive display and strong offensive effort, spearheaded by All-Canadian quarterback Travis Lulay.

Both teams head into this Grey Cup final boasting very strong defences, the Bombers finishing in the top two of most defensive categories. The Lions D allowed the fewest points, and was second to the Bombers in most every other category. The biggest difference is on the other side of the ball. BC has the top quarterback in the country with Lulay, while the Bombers have Buck Pierce as its pivot. Pierce is a former Lion, who was let go because of injury issues before the start of the 2009 season. BC also has two of the best all-time receivers in Geroy Simon and Arland Bruce, while the top offensive line in the league, surrendering a league-low 29 sacks, helped anchor the offence.

Winnipeg won both meetings this year. However, the wins were both accomplished during the first seven weeks of the season, a time when the Lions were struggling and the Bombers were excelling. Things seem to be much different now, mostly with the Lions, hence the favored position.

But in the past six weeks, the team has done a complete 180 degree turn, having won all six games and have rocketed up to be now the top-rated team in the Canadian Football League. Led by second-year starting quarterback Travis Lulay, the Lions are not only winning, but winning huge. The Leos have outscored their opposition by an average of almost 13 points per game. And in the past four games, the offensive line has been dominant, as the team is rushing for almost 140 yards a contest, while giving up only one sack during that same four game spread.

The defence has been the real story though. In the six game winning streak, the Lions have allowed only three offensive touchdowns, and given up only 16 points per game, as they now lead the league in many defensive categories. And this after being at the bottom of the league in these same categories just a month and a half ago.

And kicker Paul McCallum has been perfect in kicking field goals, nailing his last 27 in a row to sit just one short of the CFL record set back in 1994 by Dave Ridgeway.

All things are pointing to the Lions playing at their newly renovated $550 million dollar open-roof stadium come November, when Vancouver hosts the 99th Grey Cup. The last time a CFL host team won the Grey Cup was in 1994. The winning team? The BC Lions.

Oddsmakers with most of the online sportsbook sites had both the Lions and Argos as favorites. Even though the Lions were 1-6 going against a 5-2 Eskimos squad, the Esks were missing all four of their starting receivers, had to start two new offensive tackles, and had a rookie cornerback on the defensive side of the ball. As expected, the Lions feasted on all the confusion on offense for the Eskimos, sacking the QBs eight times, intercepting the ball four more times, and holding back Edmonton from gaining access to the Red Zone until late in the third quarter.

In Toronto, the Argos jumped all over another 1-6 team, as they led 21-1 late in the 3rd quarter of play, before withstanding a late surge by the Roughriders. With the loss, the Riders’ management had seen enough and fired both Head Coach Greg Marshall, and his offensive coordinator Doug Berry, and reinstated team president Ken Miller, who had been the teams’ head coach the past three years and had led them to back to back Grey Cup berths.

Handicappers will have a field day trying to pick winners in both teams next games, which won’t be for another two weeks with the bye week coming this weekend.

First off has to be the play of the Edmonton Eskimos, who were absolutely putrid last year, finishing dead last in the league. so much so that they cleaned house and jettisoned their GM and coaching staff. New head coach Kavis Reed has brough a hightened sense of calm and execution. So much so that the Eskimos are the league’s lone undefeated team after their big win over provincial rivals Calgary last weekend.

The Montreal Aloutettes, the two-time defending champs, suffered their first defeat of the season at home to the then winless Saskatchewan Roughriders. But even more important, they lost starting quarterback Anthony Calvillo to injury. The extent of the injury has still not been fully disclosed, though it’s believed to be an eye injury.

The Calgary Stampeders have struggled slightly, dropping their first and fourth games. But they will be in the hunt when the snow begins to fly. Hamilton have come on with win in their last two games, including one over the moribund BC Lions, who have gone winless this season in four games and don’t look like they will be playing in the 2011 Grey Cup, even though their city is hosting it. Winnipeg Blue Bombers have played well, while the Toronto Argonauts have struggled as well and look to challenge the BC Lions as the worst team in the league to date.

Odds to Win the 2011 Grey Cup in Vancouver, BC.

Montreal Alouettes – 7/4
Edmonton Eskimos – 7/2
Calgary Stampeders – 4/1
Hamilton Tiger-Cats – 15/2
Winnipeg Blue Bombers – 8/1
BC Lions – 9/1
Saskatchewan Roughriders – 10/1
Toronto Argonauts – 20/1

The Tiger-Cats enter this game with a record of 9-8 and sole possession of second place in the East division. The BC Lions enter this game with a record of 7-10 and the possibility of ending their season with the second worst record in the CFL.

The Tiger-Cats are led by the quarterback Kevin Glenn who has 4,813 yards passing to go with his 30 touchdowns and 16 interceptions. Glenn has been the one steady leader on the Tiger-Cats that has led his team into the CFL Playoffs. Glenn is also a partial reason why Hamilton is entering this year’s playoffs as a huge underdog.

The BC Lions have fallen on hard times this season and they will try to end their season on a high note even though they will still finish with a losing record. The BC Lions have won two of their last three games and have an outside chance to make the CFL Playoffs with a win and a Saskatchewan Rough Riders win over the Edmonton Eskimos. Travis Lulay continued his improved play and he could be the factor that puts the BC Lions over the top and potentially in the CFL Playoffs.

Ricky Ray continues to hold his job as starting quarterback for the struggling Edmonton Eskimos despite only getting the ball in the end zone nine times as opposed to his 14 interceptions for the 2010 CFL season. Ray is not known for his legs but he does have 130 yards rushing to go with his 3,100 plus yards of passing.

The only record worse than the BC Lions 2-5 home record is the Edmonton Eskimos 1-6 road record. Someone has to win this game so it may as well be the home team BC Lions. The unsettled quarterback situation for the BC Lions has calmed down for now with Travis Lulay taking up the responsibilities under center over Casey Printers. Lulay has thrown for 1,433 yards to this point of the season which includes a 98 yard score.

The Edmonton Eskimos and BC Lions have met three times in the 2010 CFL season with the Edmonton Eskimos scoring two of their four wins over the BC Lions. Edmonton is 1-0 on the BC Lions field and they are 1-1 on their own home field. This game on Saturday is more about which team will have the better draft position in the CFL Draft.

In the CFL, the BC Lions win came against one of the best teams, the Montreal Alouettes. The major reason for Montreal coming out flat is because the Alouettes were without their star player, Anthony Calvillo. Casey Printers did leave with a leg injury late in the fourth quarter, although he played outstandingly.

Cleo Lemon will lead the team Toronto’s offense. Lemon has his coach Jim Barker’s full support, although he has never had the full support of the media. In Week Four, Lemon was not impressive in his game against the BC Lions and he is inconsistent. Lemon had trouble finishing drives and last week, in Toronto’s loss, they struggled inside the red zone.

A potential deep threat lacked in both Toronto and BC. Emmanuel Arceneaux has been the best deep threat of either team. In a few games, Arceneaux has been a break out threat but for the BC Lions, he has not been consistent. Between Brandon Rideau and Chad Owens, Toronto’s best receiver is a toss-up. For the entire 2010 CFL season, neither one of these receivers has more than 500 yards receiving. From the Week Four tilt, expect much of the same with the BC Lions holding a slight edge on their home field.

Between these two, the second game will come down to a matchup of quarterbacks. Football betting star, Ricky Ray is an eight-year veteran of the CFL and in eight years, he has thrown for over 5,000 yards three times, while for the BC Lions, and Travis Gulay is the up and coming quarterback.

Even though Travis Gulay has provided some spark for the BC Lions, it is not much of threat to run. Despite Gulay’s inability to bolt from the pocket, in the CFL, he is expected to develop into a premier quarterback. The BC Lions coaching staff is behind Gulay, although this year, he has had his difficulties finding the end zone.

Ricky Ray of the Edmonton Eskimos has racked up 1,090 yards in his first four games, although his season had a rough start. The 0-4 start has fallen squarely on Ray’s shoulders and in finding the end zone this season; he had a tough time.

In the first half of the season, this may be Edmonton’s best chance to win a game. To pull off a home victory, Ricky Ray and his Edmonton teammates should have the motivation, after the 25-10 loss to the BC Lions in the first game.

The BC Lions practice facility in Kamloops has been a bee hive of activity with players getting their pink slips and some new arrivals into camp. The BC Lions were victorious in their first pre-season game against Saskatchewan and will break camp Saturday before playing their final pre-season game against Edmonton at BC Place Stadium in Vancouver.

The seven players release were: offensive linemen Darren Heerspink and Carlton Medder, wide receivers Sean Walker and Kerry Reed, defensive back Dominique Williams, defensive lineman Stanley Wakwe and linebacker Dennis Haley.

The cuts made room for a possible key addition in Victor Degrate. Degrate has appeared in NFL games for Houston and Detroit but has never stuck in the NFL. Degrate’s last year in college playing for Oklahoma State was promising but his NFL career has fallen flat.

Travis Lulay was impressive in the BC Lions 19-17 victory over the Saskatchewan Rough Riders, throwing for 142 yards but setting up the game winning field goal with a solid drive to end the game. Lulay also rushed for 25 yards in the victory showing he can be a threat to run if need be. Casey Printers passed for 82 yards and had the only passing touchdown by the BC Lions.

First off, the team acquired LB Dennis Haley from Hamilton, in exchange for DB Jerome Dennis. Haley, a product out of the University of Virginia, brings leadership to the team and should start come June, when the Lions start up their season.

The Lions also re-signed a core group of players, including starting quarterback Casey Printers. They also picked up WR Derick Armstrong, OL Damane Duckett, DB Davis Sanchez, DL Keron Williams, RB Yonus Davis, and RB Brad Lester.

These moves will be key in countering the many losses the Lions faced, as LB JoJuan Armour and S Barron Miles both retired after the season. That, along with the release of LB Javier Glatt, OT Jason Jimenez, and LB Courtney Smith will prove to be a challenge for the Lions, who lose a great deal of leadership and experience with their losses. Without a doubt, the Lions have a lot to prove this coming season and hopefully their additions will counter their great deal of losses.

The biggest move thus far, however, has been the signing of Jamal Robertson, a running back who used to play for the Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers, and San Francisco 49ers in the NFL. The MVP of NFL Europe in 2002, Robertson adds another option for BC to turn to at both RB and KR.