Montreal’s dominant season meets Winnipeg’s unlikely playoff run in Saturday’s East final. The 14-4 Alouettes host the 9-9 Blue Bombers, who need one more win to become the first crossover team to reach the Grey Cup. Montreal’s high-powered offense and home-field advantage make it the favorite, while Winnipeg’s chances could hinge on whether injured quarterback Zach Collaros can play.

By the Numbers
  • Montreal averaged a league-best 34.7 points per game and went undefeated at home in the regular season.
  • The Alouettes are favored by 9.5 points.
  • Montreal won the teams’ second regular-season meeting 37-10; Davis Alexander threw for 440 yards and 4 touchdowns.
  • Winnipeg allowed a league-high 42 sacks during the regular season.
Yes, But

Montreal is the clear favorite, but Winnipeg has already shown it can beat the Alouettes, winning their first meeting 44-28. The Bombers also advanced with a 25-22 semifinal win over Toronto, though Collaros’ availability remains uncertain.

State of Play
  • The winner advances to the Grey Cup on Nov. 15 in Calgary to face the winner of the B.C.-Edmonton West final.
  • Montreal’s passing game has been potent against Winnipeg: Alexander threw for 697 yards and 5 touchdowns across their two regular-season matchups.
  • Winnipeg needs to protect its quarterback and establish Brady Oliveira’s running game to keep Montreal’s offense off the field.
What’s Next

The East final kicks off Saturday at 3 p.m. ET at Percival Molson Memorial Stadium. The forecast calls for mostly sunny, mild weather, with a high of 7 C and little chance of rain.

Bottom Line

Montreal has the home-field edge and the more explosive offense, but Winnipeg’s upset path depends on staying physical, limiting Alexander’s big plays and getting a steady performance from its quarterback—whether that’s Collaros or Dru Brown.