Setting the stage for the CFL’s 2021 East and West Division Finals

Photo courtesy: CFL

Following the Hamilton Tiger-Cats’ 23-12 victory over the Montreal Alouettes and the Saskatchewan Roughriders’ 33-30 overtime win against the Calgary Stampeders, the 108th Grey Cup Division Finals have been set.

Hamilton will now travel to BMO Field to take on the Argonauts on Sunday, December 5 at 12:30 p.m. ET, before the Roughriders face the Blue Bombers at IG Field in a 4 p.m. ET tilt. To the winners: Divisional crowns and a date in Hamilton.

All-time playoff records of the teams remaining in the 108th Grey Cup playoffs:

• Toronto – 1907-2019: 44-37-1 (.543)
• Hamilton – 1950-2021: 45-47-1 (.489)
• Winnipeg – 1936-2019: 64-52-2 (.551)
• Saskatchewan – 1936-2021: 44-52-2 (.459)

East Final

Hamilton Tiger-Cats at Toronto Argonauts, BMO Field, Sunday, December 5 at 12:30 p.m. ET.

At a glance:

• Toronto has not hosted the Eastern Final since 2017 when they went on to win the Grey Cup
• The last time Hamilton and Toronto met in the Eastern Final was in 2013 when the Tiger-Cats visited their provincial rivals and won 36-24.
• Hamilton and Toronto have met in the Eastern Final on eight occasions with each claiming four victories.
• The Argonauts own a 31-15-1 (.670) home record in the playoffs.
• Home teams in the Eastern Final are 33-13 (.717) since 1973.
• The Tiger-Cats will be appearing in the Eastern Final for the sixth time in eight seasons.
• Hamilton has a 15-31-1 (.337) road record in the playoffs.
• Toronto claimed the season series 3-1:
  • Week 5: HAM 32 – TOR 19 in the Labour Day Classic
  • Week 6: TOR 17 – HAM 16 in Toronto
  • Week 10: TOR 24 – HAM 23 in Hamilton
  • Week 15: TOR 31 – HAM 12 in Toronto
• Ryan Dinwiddie will be making his postseason head coaching debut.
• Orlondo Steinauer won his first two playoff games: in 2019 against Edmonton and in 2021 against Montreal
• This will be McLeod Bethel-Thompson’s first playoff start. He is 2-3 as a starter against Hamilton.
• Hamilton’s Jeremiah Masoli will be making his sixth career start in the playoffs and has a 3-2 record. Masoli has a record of 6-3 versus the Argonauts in his career.
• In four games this season against Hamilton, Kurleigh Gittens Jr. recorded 23 receptions for 283 yards and two touchdowns. On defence, Shawn Oakman had four sacks.
• Hamilton’s Tim White notched 318 receiving yards on 16 catches (19.9 yards per catch) and a touchdown against Toronto this season. Defensively, Simoni Lawrence accumulated 21 tackles, a sack and a pick-six.

West Final 

Saskatchewan Roughriders at Winnipeg Blue Bombers, IG Field, Sunday, December 5 at 4 p.m. ET.

At a glance:

• Winnipeg has not hosted a Division Final since 2011 as a member of the East. The team last hosted the Western Final in 1972.
• This game will be a rematch of the 2019 Western Final when Winnipeg earned a 20-13 road victory.
• Winnipeg is 40-19-2 (.672) at home in the playoffs.
• Home teams in the Western Final are 27-20 (.575) since 1973.
• Saskatchewan owns a 20-34-1 (.373) road record in the playoffs.
• Winnipeg swept the season series 2-0.
  • Week 5: WPG 23 – SSK 8 in the Labour Day Classic
  • Week 6: WPG 33 – SSK 9 in the Banjo Bowl
• The Roughriders and the Blue Bombers have met in the Western Final four times: 2019, 1972, 1966 and 1941. In 15 total playoff matchups, Winnipeg has won eight.
• This will be Craig Dickenson’s third playoff game as a head coach (1-1); Mike O’Shea will be helming his seventh playoff game (3-3).
• This will be Cody Fajardo’s third start in the playoffs (1-1); Zach Collaros will be starting in his fifth career playoff contest (3-1).
• As starters, Fajardo is 2-3 against Winnipeg, while Zach Collaros is 5-3 against Saskatchewan.
• William Powell rushed for 132 yards (5.2 yards per carry) in two games versus the Blue Bombers this season.
• Nic Demski recorded eight receptions for 175 yards and a touchdown against the Riders in 2021. Deatrick Nichols tallied 13 tackles, a sack and an interception.

The 108th Grey Cup at Tim Hortons Field will be played on Sunday, December 12 at 6 p.m. ET. The 2021 edition of Grey Cup Week will feature a number of free fan events, including the CFL Awards.