CFL Semi-Final Super Saturday Showdowns Are Set
By Chris Lawton
I know what you are thinking. Did he just want to write something with a truly alliterative headline? After all, we have a long and cherished tradition of such things on these shores when it comes to sports headlines. Well, maybe, just a little bit. But also, this is about more than just a shiny alliterative headline. Because it is time for the CFL playoffs!
This coming Saturday the CFL semi-final games will be played. The East Semi-Final will see the Montreal Alouettes (11-7) host the Hamilton Tiger-Cats (8-10), whilst the West Semi Final will see the BC Lions (12-6) host the Calgary Stampeders (6-12).
You might think from those numbers that the game results are already clear-cut. But, like the NFL, in the CFL any team might pull off a win over a team with a better record. And recent form should be noted too. Especially in the latter case where the Stamps beat BC 41-16, on the Lions turf in what was BC’s last game of the season. We shall see whether form and playing matters, or a rested Lions squad is ready to take revenge. Meanwhile in the East Montreal scored a close fought 22-20 win over Hamilton in the last game of the regular season for both. Nothing is guaranteed in these games.
The Eastern Semi-Final: Tiger-Cats @ Alouettes
Montreal hosts the Tiger-Cats at this stage of the playoffs for the second straight year. Last year they won 28-17 before falling to the Toronto Argonauts in the East Final. The year prior the Tiger-Cats hosted Montreal at this stage winning 23-21, before winning in Toronto and losing to Winnipeg in the Grey Cup on home soil.
Montreal has beaten Hamilton three times this season, by scores of 38-12, 27-14 and 22-20. They will want to perform the sweep to get one game closer to winning the Grey Cup for the first time since 2010. Hamilton will want revenge for their recent run of defeats to the Als and to get back to another home Grey Cup and another shot at winning it for the first time since 1999.
The Western Semi-Final: Stampeders @ Lions
"We've played these guys 3 times, we have a ton of film on them, they have a ton of film on us. It's going to come down to who plays better football"
— BC LIONS (@BCLions) October 31, 2023
Coach Campbell looks ahead to the final meeting against the Stampeders in the Western Semi-Final on Saturday. #BCLions pic.twitter.com/RocFagLYIs
This is a repeat of last year’s Western Semi-Final, which BC won, downing the Stampeders 30-16 at BC Place before falling to the Blue Bombers in Winnipeg.
BC have beaten Calgary twice this season, by scores of 25-15 and 37-9. The latter coming in week ten of the season. As we have seen though, the most recent decision went Calgary’s way in the last game of the regular season.
Whatever happens in these games, the 16-2 Argonauts (East) and 14-4 Blue Bombers (West) await the winners. As ever, it will be fun watching it all play out. And you can do that for free in the UK by following the link for CFL+ on the Saturday. The East Semi-Final will be at 7pm UK time, and the West Semi-Final at 10:30pm UK time. Enjoy the action!
CHRIS LAWTON
CFL ANALYST
Chris originally started following the NFL with the ‘first wave’ of fans when it was shown on Channel 4 in the 1980’s. He has been a keen supporter of the Miami Dolphins since 1983. Chris first encountered the CFL in 2016 and instantly fell in love with the Canadian game. He has been writing about the CFL 2017. Chris has a degree in history, postgraduate degree in librarianship and can be found on twitter as @CFLfanUK