The Winnipeg Blue Bombers and BC Lions, two teams with aspirations of challenging the mighty Calgary Stampeders for West Division supremacy in the Canadian Football League, will square off Saturday night in the season opener for both teams.
Winnipeg has improved under head coach Mike O’Shea, even reaching the West Division final last season. Now, the Blue Bombers hope to take the next step and reach their first Grey Cup game since 2011. They have a solid offense led by quarterback Matt Nichols, running back Andrew Harris, a good receiving corps and one of the top offensive lines in the league.
The Lions made big splash was the signing of former Edmonton quarterback and 2015 Grey Cup champion Mike Reilly. Reilly is 34 years old and coming off a dismal second half of the season with Edmonton, in which he wound up with a career-high 18 interceptions. But for BC, he certainly is an upgrade over Jonathon Jennings.
The plays: Winnipeg, +1, and Over 52 points.