2011 Grey Cup - The Winner is

At Click on Other we feel obliged to call this Sunday’s Annual Classic.  Unlike those toffee-nosed so-called experts who look at matchups, individual performances, team chemistry and other variables we do it differently by taking an historical approach to prognosticating and find:.

The Home Field Advantage Doesn’t Really Exist. 

In the modern era of the CFL – the home team has won seven times; the visitors six.

Historical Advantage

Winnipeg has won this season ending contest ten times; nine times as the Blue Bombers; once (1935), in an historic first for the West, as the Pegs.  Les Colombie-Britanniques have triumphed a mere five times although it must be said that they didn’t join the league until 1954 shortly after the transcontinental railway was pushed through to the left coast. On the other hand Winnipeg teams (including the 1925 Tammany Tigers one point effort) dropped ten Grey Cups before B.C joined the league and have gone down to defeat six times since then.

But Winnipeg is Undefeated in B.C. Stadiums in the Classic

The Blue Bombers toppled the Ti-Cats at Empire Stadium in 1958 and the Eskimos in 1990 at B.C. Place.  (Note: They averaged 42.5 points in these wins.)  Significantly, the Lions have never beaten a real (i.e.,) CFL opponent at home.  We don’t count the defeat of ‘94 Baltimore Stallions (or were they the CFLers?)  at B.C.  Place.  Against real competition they fell to Hamilton (63) at Empire Stadium and Toronto (90) at B.C Place.  Every other current CFL franchise has won le Coupe Grey in the Rainy City.

Head to Head

Winnipeg 1 -  B.C.  zero.  That one happened in 1988 at Ottawa’s Lansdowne Park.

NHL Connection

When the Edmonton Oilers came into the league in 79 the Edmonton Eskimos won the Grey Cup.  In 1927 when the Toronto Make Believes commenced their NHL journey a Toronto team (Balmy Beach Beachers) won the Grey Cup over the Tigers of Hamilton.  The Oilers and the Eskimos both prevailed in 1987, the Canadiens and the Alouettes in 1977 – call it the Canadian Double.  The Argos 1950 Cup victory was followed a few months later with the Leafs capturing Stanley’s silverware.  In a similar way, Ottawa’s footballing Senators Grey/ Stanley double went down in 26-27 when their hockey namesakes won in 1927.

Lotusland’s last hockey win was in 1915!!

Winnipeg joined the NHL this year.   Need I say more?

History leans to Portage and Main.  It will be Winnipeg 22 and B.C.  21 - the same score as 1988.