Gamers who placed early bets on the CFL Grey Cup contenders have likely lost much of their wagers. The 100th Grey Cup Final is all set to take place on Sunday November 25 in Toronto between two teams that the odds once said would be unlikely to be the last two teams standing. The Calgary Stampeders and the Toronto Argonauts were both considered upsets even in their respective conference final matches. But they will now be in a fight for the grandest trophy in Canadian football.
What makes the odds on these two finalists so interesting is that neither was considered a favourite back in June when the CFL season was just starting. The defending champion B.C. Lions were ranked as favourites to win the Grey Cup once again, while Toronto’s arch-rivals, the Hamilton Tiger Cats were considered the favourite East Division contender. Calgary had odds as being the next choice among the remaining six teams, while Toronto wasn’t a favourite for any gamer.
However, after 19 weeks of a season that had its share of up and down performances, gamers who chose to place early bets have nothing to be happy about. The Tiger Cats had a season that no one could have predicted because there was a different team on the field every week they played. Consequently, they didn’t even make the playoffs let alone become a Grey Cup contender. The B.C. Lions put up a strong fight for the Western Conference Final, but Calgary made very important plays to hang onto the lead, and go the distance to the final.
As the focus shifts to the Grey Cup match in Toronto, casinos and sportsbetting sites can’t help but give the odds to the hometown team. The Argos have lots of momentum to run with after knocking off the Montreal Alouettes. They also have the distinction of being the home team on their home field, in the fight for the 100th Grey Cup. However, Calgary has proven it is a very strong, young team with lots of depth to backup any injuries. Gamers would be wise to consider the strength of the Stampeders before betting on the home team strictly because of the 100th anniversary.
Regardless of the outcome, the Grey Cup will indeed be a battle between two proven competitors. Gamers will have a hard time choosing a favourite to put their money on.