Alouettes @ Lions, Nov 5, Vegas Odds and Comments

[WestCoastJoe]

Gunslinger Anthony Calvillo comes to town.

Waiting is new the gun, Travis Lulay.

IMO last game against the Eskimos showed the Lions' true character. So I expect us to be ready for this "playoff" type game.

And I expect the Als to be ready.

Injuries are a continuing problem for the Lions. But there should be enough depth on the roster to allow us to field a fully competitive team.

I would really like to see Wally manipulate the roster to get 6 D Linemen suited up. I know it is not easy to do, but I think it would make our D even more ferocious. Having no backups behind our 2 tackles is playing with fire IMO.

Lions favoured by 3. Sounds about right.

[ziggy]

Two teams could be fielded by Motreal. The one needed to clinch first if Winnipeg loses or the one fielded to protect the veterans if Winnipeg wins. Could be a suckers bet depending on the outcome of the early game.

[joe kapp22]

Sort of surprised we are favored in this one.

"If" we win, first place is ours?

If we lose, and the Stamps and Esks lose, do we still take first place?

[Lion Guy]

Two teams could be fielded by Motreal. The one needed to clinch first if Winnipeg loses or the one fielded to protect the veterans if Winnipeg wins. Could be a suckers bet depending on the outcome of the early game.

Same could be said for the Lions if the Esks and Stamps both lose.

[TheLionKing]

Sort of surprised we are favored in this one.

"If" we win, first place is ours?

If we lose, and the Stamps and Esks lose, do we still take first place?

Let's just focus on option 1: win and get 1st place regardless how the Stamps and Esks do

[B.C.FAN]

Sort of surprised we are favored in this one.

"If" we win, first place is ours?

If we lose, and the Stamps and Esks lose, do we still take first place?

The Lions win any two-way or three-way ties with the Stamps and Esks. If the other teams win, the Lions have to win. If they lose, the Lions can lose and still finish ahead of them.

[ziggy]

Two teams could be fielded by Motreal. The one needed to clinch first if Winnipeg loses or the one fielded to protect the veterans if Winnipeg wins. Could be a suckers bet depending on the outcome of the early game.

Same could be said for the Lions if the Esks and Stamps both lose.

Yep, a hard game to bet on, a lot depends on the early games. I'd sure be hanging on for the early results if I was a gambler before putting my money down. I think the best scenario for us is a Winnipeg win, Montreal is then under no pressure to win and Calgary is out of the equation for first as it relates to us. I'm assuming the Riders will pretty much rollover, they aren't playing at home and pulled off an upset last week .

[SammyGreene]

Lions not the only ones hurting. Als lose starting receiver and o-lineman for the season to injuries.

TSNDaveNaylor: Kerry Watkins and Josh Bourke both done for the season with Montreal. Two significant losses

[274always]

As an Als fan I'm simply looking forward to Jamel Richardson breaking the als completed passes season record held by Ben Cahoon in 2003. He is just 3 short of breaking that 112 mark. For the rest I expect a great game if it matters to the als,not so much if it don't. Since Calgary won, their game matters against winnipeg now and that makes it a good bet that the final cfl game of the season will decide first place for both divisions. Not sure that's Ever happened before.

The 2011 season is a first. No team will win more than 11 games. It's never happened in the last 25 years since the 18 game schedule was installed. Talk about a juggling act.

Watching the BC Lions Traditions DVD in anticipation. Great viewing. Happy that Wally turned this 0-5 team around.

[TheLionKing]

Two teams could be fielded by Motreal. The one needed to clinch first if Winnipeg loses or the one fielded to protect the veterans if Winnipeg wins. Could be a suckers bet depending on the outcome of the early game.

Same could be said for the Lions if the Esks and Stamps both lose.

Yep, a hard game to bet on, a lot depends on the early games. I'd sure be hanging on for the early results if I was a gambler before putting my money down. I think the best scenario for us is a Winnipeg win, Montreal is then under no pressure to win and Calgary is out of the equation for first as it relates to us. I'm assuming the Riders will pretty much rollover, they aren't playing at home and pulled off an upset last week .

Ken Miller is stepping down as Head Coach and VP of Football Operations after this season. The Riders will be motivated to go out on a winning note and win one for Grandpa.

[sj-roc]

Two teams could be fielded by Motreal. The one needed to clinch first if Winnipeg loses or the one fielded to protect the veterans if Winnipeg wins. Could be a suckers bet depending on the outcome of the early game.

Same could be said for the Lions if the Esks and Stamps both lose.

This reminds me of some outspoken comments from WB in 2004. I recall he criticised Pinball that year for resting several starters after Tor got locked into their playoff seed with a game or two left to play. Notwithstanding the fact that Pinball ended up getting the last laugh, WB argued that the fans who fork over the bucks to attend these late season games deserve to see teams fielding their best possible lineups.

I considered this at the time to be a valid point, and still do. Had we already clinched first place by now, it would have done our ticket sales no favours, for instance, if Wally were to name Mike Reilly as the starter for this Saturday.

[ziggy]

I don't think it will affect ticket sales given most tickets will have been purchased prior to all of the early game results being known, but I know what you mean about coasting's normal impact on the gate (Rider fans stayed away the last couple of games, fortunately the seats were empty but already sold). It would be a nice luxury to be able to rest some of our banged up players.

[sj-roc]

I don't think it will affect ticket sales given most tickets will have been purchased prior to all of the early game results being known. It would be a nice luxury to be able to rest some of our banged up players.

That's true, which is why I prefaced that comment with a "Had we already clinched first place by now" qualifier. My point was simply that assuming WB stays true to those seven year old remarks, I don't believe the standings will have as much impact on the starting lineup — which need not be decided until an hour (?) before kickoff — as might otherwise be suspected. As you imply (I think?), players' health will be the larger determinant.

Edit: I wanted to acknowledge that you modified your above quoted reply before I had the chance to offer this now-redundant reply. Oh well

[ziggy]

I don't think it will affect ticket sales given most tickets will have been purchased prior to all of the early game results being known. It would be a nice luxury to be able to rest some of our banged up players.

That's true, which is why I prefaced that comment with a "Had we already clinched first place by now" qualifier. My point was simply that assuming WB stays true to those seven year old remarks, I don't believe the standings will have as much impact on the starting lineup — which need not be decided until an hour (?) before kickoff — as might otherwise be suspected. As you imply (I think?), players' health will be the larger determinant.

You're correct regarding player health no point wasting anyone if the game is meaningless. I wasn't really commenting on your Argos scenario but rather on our current one.

[sj-roc]

I don't think it will affect ticket sales given most tickets will have been purchased prior to all of the early game results being known. It would be a nice luxury to be able to rest some of our banged up players.

That's true, which is why I prefaced that comment with a "Had we already clinched first place by now" qualifier. My point was simply that assuming WB stays true to those seven year old remarks, I don't believe the standings will have as much impact on the starting lineup — which need not be decided until an hour (?) before kickoff — as might otherwise be suspected. As you imply (I think?), players' health will be the larger determinant.

You're correct regarding player health no point wasting anyone if the game is meaningless. I wasn't really commenting on your Argos scenario but rather on our current one.

I think we're in agreement, then... I even edited my last post to reflect that.