Week 22 Picks

6:30 PM Sunday, November 29, 2009

Montreal

Saskatchewan

Schultz Picks: Montreal

World Picks:
69.4% - Saskatchewan

MTL 28 SSK 27.
Montreal Wins.

After 72 regular season games and four playoff games, this is it, the 97th Grey Cup. I do think it is going to be a very competitive game. Both teams have excellent speed at all positions and, although Montreal is the better team with a 16-3 record, the Riders have definitely closed the gap since they last played in August.

Can the Riders beat the Als? Absolutely, because it's not the best team that wins, it is the best team on that day, November 29th. Both quarterbacks have excellent support systems around them and whereas the Als are as good on offence as they were last year, Saskatchewan has definitely improved at quarterback.

Can Darian Durant outplay Anthony Calvillo? The truth is, it is not so much about them as it is about the other 11 Riders playing their best game against the 12 Alouettes on defence. And that is where Montreal is better; on defence, specifically at the defensive back position from last year to this year.

Joel Bell and Gene Makowsky have to have good games against John Bowman and Anwar Stewart, just like Josh Bourke and Jeff Perrett must play well against John Chick and Stevie Baggs.

But outside of all the physical 1-on-1 matchups, I think the attitude could be a true determining factor. The Alouettes are a well-respected team, from players to coaches to management, people around the league look at Montreal as a team to emulate. They are a very efficient team with 600 points scores on offence and 324 points allowed on defence. They scored 55 points in the East Final and 77 points combined in the two games against the Roughriders.

But the attitude the Riders must take, especially on defence, is confidence bordering on arrogance, bordering on disrespect. For the Riders to win, they must be very aggressive but fundamentally sound. They have to outhit Montreal and it is possible because they have excellent team speed.

When you're fast at every position on defence, you're more violent when it comes to hitting. When you're more violent, you create turnovers. And when you create turnovers, you win. The Riders have to be bullies in this Grey Cup but without penalties.

There is nothing more important in football than your state of mind when you arrive in the locker-room for the game. You need to be confident, determined and accept the fact that you're involved in a sport where, as much as it is about ball security, it's even more about hitting. You must have the emotional desire to hit, the mental toughness to accept the hit and the physical ability to hit.

You can scheme and design and plan as much as you want but if your opponent outhits you, all that planning is ineffective. It's like boxing as in it's easy to step in the ring and punch somebody, but what happens when you get punched. Everything changes. It's the same in football where nothing seems to work out when you're consistently being physically punished.

Enough said. It is time to play the game. With the right attitude, Saskatchewan has a good chance but in the end... Montreal 31, Saskatchewan 25