This Ain't About Tea

Ok, as promised, my thoughts on the Grey Cup.

First things first, I'm a superstitious person. Printers winning Most Outstanding Player should usually bode ill for the Lions. At any rate, here are my thoughts.

Special Teams:
Argos clearly have the advantage here. Prefontaine is a better punter and place kicker than O'Mahoney, who's been inconsistent all year. While Cutolo is a good returner, the combination of Levingston and Bruce for the Argos means a "pick your poison" situation for the Lions whenever they're punting. I also think that the Argos have a better coverage team.

Defence:
Both teams have solid linebacking corps and good defensive lines. I think the difference here lies in the secondary. While BC's secondary has improved from early in the year, they aren't at the same level of the Argos. Toronto has been vulnerable against the run all year, but for the most part have been able to get away with it.

Offence:
B.C.'s offence is more high-powered. Indeed, the superior Argo secondary may be counterbalanced by their less superior receiving corp. Geroy Simon is probably the best receiver in the league right now, and Clermont won Outstanding Canadian. At Quarterback, while neither Dickenson nor Printers has won a Grey Cup (Dickenson's ring came whilst sitting on the bench in 98) they're both big-game players. That being said, Damon Allen is still a Grey Cup machine.

If we look at the Thanksgiving game between these two teams, Toronto was able to keep the Lions out of the endzone. If it comes down to special teams, Toronto wins. While I'm getting tired of listening to commentators say "if it's low scoring it favours Toronto, high scoring favours B.C.", there is some truth to the statement. Anyways, while on paper this is one B.C. should win, they don't play the game on paper.

Toronto will win.