CFL – Winnipeg Blue Bombers tipped for third consecutive Grey Cup title

| News | 03/16/2022

Although the 2022 Canadian Football League (CFL) regular season doesn’t begin until June, which is fully two months earlier than the previous 2021 campaign, betting odds and expert journalist predictions are already beginning to emerge. Everyone seems to fancy the Winnipeg Blue Bombers again, having already won back-to-back Grey Cup championships, but can they be beaten to the title this year?

Interestingly, no team has won the Grey Cup three or more seasons running in the modern era, with the legendary Edmonton Eskimos teams of the 1970’s and 1980’s the last to achieve that feat. Now known the Elks, they achieved five titles in a row between 1978 and 1982, which is a run that may never be equalled.

Nevertheless, winning a third consecutive CFL championship will undoubtedly be the objective for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, who have consistently produced their best form in the Playoffs during each of the last two active seasons. They have also shown the most resistance against adversity, having overcome a fierce challenge from the Hamilton Tiger Cats last year.

Whether that was a one-time deal for the Hamilton Tiger Cats, this is the question many of the experts are pondering, amidst doubts they can reproduce another strong run to contest the Grey Cup. Many are predicting the Saskatchewan Roughriders will mount a serious bid this year, along with a powerful push from the Toronto Argonauts.

CFL Campaign Schedule

In the opening game of the 2022 CFL season, the Calgary Stampeders will host the Montreal Alouettes on 9 June, which is bound to make for a lively atmosphere at the McMahon Stadium. For the first time since the 2018 season, the Grey Cup rematch encounter won’t feature Week 1 of the campaign schedule.

Instead, the official 2022 CFL schedule has pushed that matchup back to Week 3, when the Hamilton Tiger-Cats will host the Winnipeg Blue Bombers at Tim Hortons Field, undoubtedly hoping to dish out some revenge. That encounter could also provide an early indication of ambitions for both teams, given this duo will inevitably be targeting Grey Cup success.

Following the same path as the cancelled 2020 CFL season, then introduced for the 2021 season, the 2022 campaign will once again feature additional intra-divisional games. BC Lions, Calgary Stampeders and Edmonton Elks will each play 12 intra-divisional games, Saskatchewan Roughriders and Winnipeg Blue Bombers will play 11, while the East Division teams will play 10 divisional games.

This year all roads lead to Saskatchewan and the Mosaic Stadium, which has been scheduled to host the 2022 Grey Cup championship game. The 109th edition of the title decider will take place on Sunday, 20 November, with the kick-off time already published as 6pm Eastern Time in Canada. Internationally, the Grey Cup game will be broadcast on the ESPN network in the United States, and via streaming options elsewhere around the world.

Early CFL Grey Cup Predictions

As back-to-back Grey Cup champions, having won both the 107th and 108th editions of the CFL title decider, the Winnipeg Blue Bombers are inevitably considered favourites for the 109th edition, heading into the 2022 football season. However, finding where to back CFL teams can be quite tricky sometimes, beyond the betting sites located in Canada itself.

Interestingly, there are plenty of Asian sports fans who follow both the NFL and the CFL, being avid supporters of both North American competitions. For the most suitable wagering options available across the region, Asiabet has compiled a comprehensive list of the best sports betting sites. This is accompanied by a complete guide to online sports betting, aimed at educating readers about every aspect of wagering, along with highlighting top bonuses.

Insofar as the 2022 CFL season is concerned, beyond what is predicted to be another dominant season for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, the bookies are also tipping a strong push by the Saskatchewan Roughriders. They last won the Grey Cup in 2013, while they were also the strongest West Division team during the 2019 CFL season. Amongst the East Division quartet of teams, Toronto Argonauts are expected to make a strong push for glory this year.

Amongst the other potential contenders, having contested the 2021 Grey Cup decider, Hamilton Tiger-Cats are fully expected to be there or thereabouts again, while this could also be a good season for the Calgary Stampeders. Meanwhile, those expected to struggle include the Montreal Alouettes, Edmonton Elks, British Columbia Lions, with the Ottawa Redblacks regarded as the least fancied team to achieve any success.

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