Winnipeg @ Calgary preview

Last Meeting ( Oct 26, 2018 ) Calgary 21, Winnipeg 29

The Calgary Stampeders look to advance to the Grey Cup for the third straight year when they host the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in the West Division Final on Sunday. The Stampeders finished the regular season with the CFL's best record at 13-5, but lost three of their last four games down the stretch and needed a Week 21 victory over the BC Lions to earn a bye into the division final, as they aim for their ninth win in 11 meetings with Winnipeg.

"The West was super competitive all year and it felt like anybody could beat anybody so getting the bye was huge," Calgary coach Dave Dickenson told reporters. "Winnipeg has a lot of skill and a lot of talent so we'll have to rise up to the challenge." The Blue Bombers are the hottest team in the league following a gritty 23-18 win against the Saskatchewan Roughriders in the West Division semifinal last Sunday. Winnipeg has won six of its last seven games overall, including a 29-21 victory over the Stampeders on Oct. 26, and hopes to ride the momentum to its first Grey Cup appearance since 2011. "We can enjoy this but we have to flush it and move on to Calgary," Winnipeg running back Andrew Harris told reporters. "We can't look too far ahead as we still have business to handle because Calgary's a great team and we need to go 1-0 again."

TV: 4:30 p.m. ET, TSN, ESPNews

ABOUT THE BLUE BOMBERS (11-8): Harris rushed for 153 yards and a touchdown to go over the century mark for the first time in the postseason as Winnipeg secured its first playoff win in Regina since 1955. Matt Nichols went 16-of-22 through the air for 169 yards and a touchdown to win his sixth consecutive start while Weston Dressler added 50 yards on four receptions against the Roughriders. Adam Bighill, who is a nominee for the CFL's Most Outstanding Player, suffered an undisclosed injury in the late stages of the Western Semifinal, but Winnipeg coach Mike O'Shea confirmed the all-star linebacker is expected to play Sunday.

ABOUT THE STAMPEDERS (13-5): Wide receiver DaVaris Daniels, who caught 50 passes for 747 yards and seven touchdowns in 12 games, is ready to return to the lineup after suffering a broken collarbone in the 43-28 win against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats on Sept. 15. Wideout Marken Michel returned to practice for the first time since suffering a broken scapula against the Montreal Alouettes on Oct. 8, and is questionable for Sunday while defensive back/kick returner Troy Stoudermire could be available after sitting out four games with a knee issue. Linebacker Alex Singleton recorded eight tackles in the 26-9 victory over BC in the regular-season finale to end the campaign with a CFL-best 123 tackles.

EXTRA POINTS

1. Calgary has hosted the West Division Final seven times since 2008.

2. Nichols is 1-8 as a starter against the Stampeders.

3. Calgary QB Bo Levi Mitchell threw a league-high 35 touchdown passes in the regular season.

PREDICTION: Blue Bombers 28, Stampeders 27