Stamps, Redblacks appear to be best

EAST FINAL

Hamilton at Ottawa, 1 p.m. TSN: By winning the NBA title in only their third season, the Milwaukee Bucks became the fastest expansion team in league history to do so. The Arizona Diamondbacks won the World Series in only their fourth year. Four years after they moved over from the WHA, the Edmonton Oilers hoisted their first of five Stanley Cups. The Redblacks now are only one game away from playing for the 103rd Grey Cup in Year Two of the baby franchise. Is that fair? Shouldn’t fans endure more hardship to get to the promised land? Given the history of CFL football in Ottawa — the city’s last Grey Cup came in 1976; the last appearance was in 1981 — they’ve suffered like a lost tribe. J.C. Watts, now 58, was the last quarterback to take Ottawa to a Grey Cup berth. Not that far removed from Watts’s generation, Henry Burris, 40, is playing better than any quadragenarian in the game. Hamilton starter Jeremiah Masoli, who would be the team’s third-stringer in a perfect Ticat world, doesn’t match up. And yet, the resourceful Masoli, the running of C.J. Gable, a patchwork defence (after defensive end Eric Norwood went down) and the leg of Justin Medlock got the Ticats past the Argos, 25-22, in a wild East semifinal. Still, it’s no time for a campaign flop in Ottawa. It’s the Redblacks’ game to lose. Pick: Redblacks

WEST FINAL

Calgary at Edmonton, 4:30 p.m.,

TSN: The Stampeders’ offensive line has been staggered by injuries all season — and last Sunday’s 35-9 victory over B.C. in the West semifinal provided no letup. Left guard Shane Bergman, the team’s most consistent performer up front all season, and West Division all-star centre Pierre Lavertu went down against the Lions. Quinn Smith, a converted defensive lineman, and Junior Turner, another Dlineman by trade, filled in. How will this affect Calgary this week? Not disastrously. The Stamps have been playing most of the season without their two starting tackles, Edwin Harrison and Dan Federkeil, and they can weather a storm better than any team in the CFL. Plus, they have Bo Levi Mitchell at quarterback. “Bo has always been a guy who manages the pocket,” says coach John Hufnagel. “He can get rid of the football. He sees the field very well.” Mike Reilly, the Eskimos’ starter, may not always look pretty doing it, but all he does is win. His return from injury is the prime reason the Eskimos took their first division title since 2003. Edmonton’s last meaningful game occurred on Nov. 1 (Eskimos had a bye in the final week of the regular season). That’s given the Esks time to rest and heal from a long season, but also time to stagnate. In the playoffs, you favour the team with momentum. The Stamps have it. Pick: Stampeders

Last Week: 2-0 Season: 55-28