Grey Cup Predictions

Greetings from Toronto!

So now that those pesky Grey Cup parties are all out of the way it’s time for the grand finale.  Grey Cup 100 is hours away and it’s time for the final Corbett Report prediction of the year.  So here’s what’s gonna happen.

Two key matchups are Chad Owens vs. Jon Cornish and Ricky Ray vs. Kevin Glenn.  The first one’s a saw off. 

The matchup of the  two finalists for the CFL’s most outstanding player is a pretty even one.  Both players have the potential for game breaking plays and either could be a difference maker.  It’s the quarterback match up that brings the most intrigue to this game.  Ricky Ray’s resume is well known.  He’s going to be unfazed by the big stage and approach the game in a workman like fasion.  Short, accruate passing.  Sound decision making.  Consistent results.  That’s what Ray’s all about.  It’s Kevin Glenn that’s the wild card in this mix.

Glenn is the Rodney Dangerfield of the CFL.  No one ever gives him respect.  It’s always about, “yeah, he had a good game, but he can’t deliver in the when it matters”.  Not good enough for Winnipeg, not good enough for Hamilton (hmmmmmmmmm aren’t those the two teams that missed the playoffs this year), he was good enough to be the second stringer in Calgary.  So what did he do there? Well, with Drew Tate out for the season all the second stringer could do is lead the Stamps to a 12-6 record, second in the league.  But that wasn’t enough to earn him the starting role in the West Semi-Final as Drew Tate got the call.  Then, with Tate once again injured, it was back to Glenn for the final.  So what did the back up do? How about 3 TD passes including a 68 yarder on the second play of the game.  Mr. Dangerfield indeed!

Now Kevin Glenn is finally getting his chance to perform in the Grey Cup.  Denied the opportunity in 2007 due to a broken arm he’s finally getting a chance to prove all of his detractors wrong.  Turn in a mediocre performance and all of the naysayers will simply say “told ya so”, but play like he’s played all season and upstage Ricky Ray and Kevin’s stock will sky rocket.  For him though, the challenge will be to keep his emotions in check.  Some early game success, perhaps some big runs by Cornish, would go a long way to do that.  If however, the Argos get up early and the crowd get’s behind them, Kevin may just start to let the doubts creep in and it could turn into a long evening.  That in a nutshell is how I see this game unfolding.  Kevin Glenn the good or the bad.  2 TD’s or 2 INT’s. 

So what’s the outcome to be?  Well, after all of that QB discussion it might be worth noting that Calgary’s got a solid team beyond the QB and even with the Argo’s band wagon overflowing with new riders, in the end the depth of talent that has served the Stamps so well all year will ultimately enable them to overcome the raucous fans of the Argos (there’s a line I’ve never thought I’d be typing).  So at the end of the day, expect it to be:

Calgary 38 Toronto 28

Cheers!