CFL Grey Cup Picks: Bombers vs. Lions

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Last Updated on Saturday, 26 November 2011 03:55
Written by BetRepublic
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The 2011 Grey Cup kicks off Sunday in Vancouver, British Columbia with the home town Lions hosting the Winnipeg Blue Bombers

99th GREY CUP – CFL PICKS

WINNIPEG BLUE BOMBERS vs. BC LIONS
Sportsbetting.ag Odds: Lions -7, Over/Under 50.5
It’s been 21 long years since the Bombers last hoisted the Grey Cup and some interesting comparisons can be made between the current edition and the squad from 1990. Much like this year’s version of “Swaggerville”, the Bombers fierce defense was the cornerstone of the 1990 championship team and they were led by a blue collar workhorse QB named Tom Burgess, who draws comparisons to current signal caller Buck Pierce.

Ironically, the Blue & Gold’s last Cup victory came on BC soil on November 27 – exactly 21 years to the day ahead of this year’s match up. BC is the heavy favorite having won 11 of its past 12 games while Winnipeg’s fast start to the season was hampered by an inconsistent second-half.

The Lions led the league in scoring with 29.0 points per game and BC’s Travis Lulay, winner of the 2011 CFL Most Outstanding Player award, established himself as a premier CFL quarterback. Lulay (4,815) was second only to Als QB Anthony Calvillo (5,251) in passing yards and found the endzone for 32 touchdown passes, tied for most in the league.

Winnipeg took on the best all season and Bombers D-Co Tim Burke has given the league’s top QBs fits with his defensive schemes. Lulay himself was chased from a game earlier this season by the ball hawking secondary of the Bombers.

CFL ATS BETTING STATS
The Bombers were 12-6-1 ATS this season including a 5-3-1 ATS record away from Canad Inns Stadium. Winnipeg outscored opponents 23.3-22.6 on the road and are 10-2-2 ATS in their past 14 games against teams with a winning record.

BC went 12-7 ATS this season and 6-4 ATS as the host team where they outclassed opponents by an average score of 31.0 to 21.9.

These teams ranked second and third overall for highest under-percentage, with Winnipeg (63.2) producing 7 overs and 12 unders to BC’s (66.7) mark of 6 overs, 12 unders and 1 push.

Seven-straight games between these teams in Vancouver have stayed under the total and while this is Winnipeg’s first trip to the newly renovated BC Place Stadium, the changes should have little impact from a player’s perspective.

CFL PICKS
Winnipeg came away with wins in each of the earlier meetings this season thanks in large part to their prolific defense. The old adage in football is that defense wins championships and we like both the Bombers and Lions outstanding defenses to keep this game a tight, with points coming at a premium.
Pick: Take the Under

CFL Picks, last week: 1-0
Season record: 19-9 ATS (68-percent)

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