CFL Game Day: Montreal at Calgary (August 27, 2011)

Two teams anxious to showcase that they are still the real deal when it comes to favourites for this falls Grey Cup take to the field in Calagry this afternoon, as the Alouettes travel to Alberta to take on the Stampeders.

With two of the CFL's top coaches on the sidelines and a pair of marquee quarterbacks in charge on the field an offensive display is anticipated for what promises to be a large McMahon Stadium crowd.

The wrap up game to the second bye week of the CFL, offers up a showcase opportunity for the CFL heading into the midway part of the CFL season with Labour Day due up next week on the CFL schedule.

CFL fans frequently look forward to Labour Day as the portion of the CFL season where the real football gets underway, each and every game from the start of September a key ingredient to what will come when playoff time arrives in November.

This year, we have an early start to all that Labour Day anticipation, with Friday nights thriller in Winnipeg serving as the opening act to what CFL fans hope will be a terrific conclusion to week nine.

Game Time 2 PM MT (4 ET, 1 PT)

Pre Game

Calgary Sun-- Stamps coach won't overlook champs
Calgary Herald-- Quarterbacks have great respect for one another
Canada.com-- New look Stampeders' defence getting the job done 
Canada.com-- "I'm back on track" says Watkins

Quick Snaps Calgary Stampeders
Quick Snaps Montreal Alouettes

Post Game

Montreal 31 at Calgary 38
Attendance-- 30, 386

Calgary Herald-- Stamps' offence proves it can crank up horsepower
Calgary Sun-- Stamps QB gives himself a passing grade
Globe and Mail-- Surging Stamps really past Alouettes
National Post-- Alouettes suffer rare second-half letdown
Canada.com-- Alouettes turnovers, missed passes contribute to defeat in Calgary

CFL Game Day: Hamilton at Winnipeg (August 26)

The popularity of the Bombers has boomed so much that they're adding seats to Canad Inn Stadium this weekend, which while flattering to the Hamilton Tiger Cats who roll into town tonight for a pivotal CFL eastern match up, probably has more to do with the Bombers resounding success both on and off the field this year.

The Cats who are coming off the bye week, won't be able to use the momentum of their exciting victory over the Argos of two weeks ago as a launching pad, rather this would have been a week of returning to routine, refreshing pass routes and defensive schemes and shaking off the post vacation rust.

Fortunately for the Cats both teams are on the same page as far a restart to routine, the Bombers were off as well, though when your at the top of your game we imagine it's probably a little easier to pick up your game where you left off, the one week vacation helpful in resting nagging injuries and fine tuning what so far has been the CFL's most impressive team.

The Bombers have captured the imagination of CFL fans from east to west with their success in the first half of the season, impressive wins led by the CFL's best defence and the return to prominence of Buck Pierce as a marquee CFL quarterback has proven to be the right combination both in the standings and at the box office.

The game while a much anticipated match up between Eastern Division teams battling for playoff aspirations, also brings former Bomber QB Kevin Glenn back to Winnipeg, which combined with all the pre game chatter and noise should offer up an exciting sub plot to an already high profile game.

The Bombers add to their attendance rolls tonight as they put more fans in every nook and cranny they can find, it will be up to the Tiger Cats to send the fans home unhappy and slow down the Blue Bomber express.

Game Time 7 PM CT (8 ET, 5 PT)

Pre Game

Winnipeg Free Press-- Swaggerville, Steeltown trade shots
Winnipeg Sun-- East Division clash should be a beauty
Hamilton Spectator-- Glenn's in a zone, making smart decisions
Globe and Mail-- Winnipeggers on emotional roller coaster ride
National Post-- Ticats look to cut Winnipeg's lead in the East

Quick Snaps Winnipeg Blue Bombers
Quick Snaps Hamilton Tiger Cats


Post Gane


Hamilton 27 at Winnipeg 30
Attendance-- 30,338


Winnipeg Free Press-- Swagger 30, Hammer 27
Winnipeg Sun-- Blue blood, sweat, cheers
Hamilton Spectator-- Ticats fall in Swaggerville with 30-27 loss
National Post-- Bombers edge visiting Ticats

CFL Regular Season Week 9

The CFL heads into the back half of its two week bye schedule, the preamble to the traditional Labour Day Weekend and all that the Labour Day classics and such portend (well except for the Hamilton/Toronto annual Labour Day wars, inexplicably deferred for this year).

Week nine provides some tempting fare for CFL fans for the final weekend of August, two big tests for four teams, with the Stampeders set to face the defending Grey Cup champions, while the Tiger Cats will attempt to knock the Winnipeg Blue Bombers off their perch.

If last week provided the battles of the bottom feeders, this is the week where those that soar near the top of the CFL standings will sort things out, setting the stage for the final half of the CFL season.

CFL fans will know by the end of this weekend whether the Blue Bombers will continue on with their CFL domination this year, if the Alouettes have indeed reloaded for another Cup drive.  For Hamilton's fans the weekend will offer up a peek as to what plans the Tiger Cats have cooked up over the bye week while Calgary, with the chance to put the stamp on the CFL West (pardon the pun), can put more distance between their position and the fading Eskimos.

It should be two nights of football to thrill and entertain, unfolding as thus:

Friday, August 26-- Hamilton 27 at Winnipeg 30 ( A- 30,338) 
Saturday, August 27-- Montreal 31 at Calgary 38   (A-30,386) 

Twelve Men Prognostications: Predicted Winners

Winnipeg
Calgary


Weekly Record- 2 - 2
Overall Record -- 17  - 32