Perry Lefko

Perry Lefko keeps you connected to all the news in the CFL on Sportsnet.ca.

The Alouettes have speed, the Roughriders have brawn. Lefko says the Grey Cup winner is...

CALGARY - So there I am, the day before the Grey Cup, walking through this village taking pictures of the people passing wearing all kinds of outfits identifying them as fans of the Saskatchewan Roughriders.

"Hey, Peerless," says a guy who knows me, but I clearly don't know him.

"I'm the guy that likes to bust your (rhymes with halls) about not picking against the spread," he says.

Is this TheNewBoss? BombersProud?

"Are you stevieb751," I wonder. After a full season of taking some interesting - and at times nasty - written responses to my weekly edition of Perry's Peerless Predictions, it is stevieb751 who has been relentless. I know him only by his login name.

"No," he says, he is not stevieb751. He said his name is Rod and he's an Edmonton Eskimos' fan. He is wearing an Eskimo jersey with the number 1 and the name Super Fan on the back.

He claims computer problems have made it difficult for him to provide written comments to my weekly picks. He said he is in agreement with my other critics who claim it is easy to pick winners in the Canadian Football League, but more challenging to pick against the spread.

So I listened to the people and changed my handicapping. It hasn't produced the same results. My record is not as bad as the Argos, closer to the Blue Bombers. I consider myself a cross between Bart Andrus and Mike Kelly.

"Well, I've taken your advice, Rod, I've been picking against the spread instead of just straight up."

"Good."

I told him I'm picking Montreal to beat Saskatchewan and cover the spread, which is about 9 or 9½ depending on your bookie. I don't have one.

With all apologies to the Roughriders fans who have clearly brought the spirit to this year's Cup with their Rider Pride, the Als are one of the most dominant teams in the history of the CFL. They had a regular-season record of 15-3, but had one loss added to their record by a bonehead decision by the CFL officials. They played another game without starting quarterback Anthony Calvillo, who had a calf injury.

Calvillo simply outshone any quarterback this year and posted the highest-completion percentage in CFL history - a stunning 72%. He threw 26 touchdown passes and only six interceptions. He appears to be a different player this year, mentally and physically. Maybe it's the new diet. Talking to him, you feel like he is at peace with himself.

While the Als are 1-5 in their six previous appearances in the Cup this decade and lost badly last year at home, no one on the Als is thinking of the past. Marc Trestman, the steely-eyed and serious head coach of the Als, has made that perfectly clear. Whatever happened in the past has no bearing on what is happening now. It's almost like a mantra for him.

This team reminds me so much of the Toronto Argonauts' edition that won the 1997 Grey Cup. They fired on all cylinders. They played a Cinderella team from Saskatchewan that year in the championship game, but soundly beat them.

This Roughriders' team is infinitely better. They finished first in their division and beat the Calgary Stampeders in the West Final last Sunday after trailing 10-0.

The Roughriders are a blue-collar, lunchbucket kind of team with few stars.

The Als are loaded with them.

It will be like a sleek sports car racing against a pickup truck. One has speed, the other has brawn. I'll take the speed.

I expect the Als to shed this image that they can dominate the regular season, but can't finish.

Their veteran leadership in just about every position will be too much for the Roughriders, who have heart and will need every ounce of it to stop the Als.

The Als will be facing a hostile crowd full of Rider Priders, so they'll have to battle through that.

Calvillo is adept at reading defences and he will find ways to counteract the Roughriders' multiple looks and schemes.

The Als have struck early and quickly for most of their games and have refused to let up on the opposition. Their intensity level showed down the stretch when they refused to settle into a comfort zone.

This is their time to shine. Als 32, Roughriders 18. They will win and cover the spread.

Let my critics say what they will.