No, no, Rouge White & Blue CFL Podcast Joe Pritchard wasn’t hiding out due to his Winnipeg Blue Bombers fandom in the aftermath of said Bombers’ loss to the Toronto Argonauts in the 11th Grey Cup championship game – we swear.

In fact, Joe is even up for recapping a disappointing (for him) Grey Cup and discussing an enlivening (for just about everyone, reportedly) Grey Cup week in Vancouver with RWB co-host Os Davis in a, let’s say, thorough fashion.

And just like the CFL itself, pretty much immediately after the Grey Cup talk does the RWB dive into the earliest of early moves in the 2025 season including the lightning-qucik acquisition of Vernon Admas Jr. by the Calgary Stampeders and the front-office and/or head coach hiring machinations of the Edmonton Elks, Hamilton Tiger-Cats and BC Lions.

So who wants to keep talking CFL football? We do!

The Rouge White & Blue CFL Podcast: It’s becoming a 12-month-per-year sport!

The time is upon us: The divisional finals games are in the books and this week plays the 110th Grey Cup between those dynastic Winnipeg Blue Bombers and the Toronto Argonauts, champs of two years back.

Rouge White & Blue CFL Podcast previews the championship game, of course, but only after co-host Joe Prtichard consoles Os Davis about his Montreal Alouettes’ elimination, while Joe gets to lord it over the Saskatchewan Roughriders one more time in 2024.

And before Joe heads north of the border for Grey Cup Week, the RWB breaks down the Bombers-Argos matchup with special regard to pointspread and over/under. (Note to listeners: As the podcast was recorded, the ‘spread was listed at Bombers -7; one day later, that line is already up to Bombers -10 at most sportsbooks…)

So this is it. How about one more episode (or two) of the RWB…?

The Rouge White & Blue CFL Podcast: A happy Grey Cup to all, and to all a good ‘Cup!

The 2024 CFL season experienced week to week has felt somewhat odd: Stuff like the crashes-and-burns of the BC Lions and Saskatchewan Roughriders, the defending West champion Winnipeg Blue Bombers digging themselves out of a hole to rise to first place, essentially every team except the Calgary Stampeders forced to give #2 and/or #3 QBs quality minutes…

This week, the , Rouge White & Blue CFL Podcast considers the standings from the perspective of the preseason and things aren’t that far off from what RWB co-hosts Joe Pritchard and Os Davis dreamed up at the beginning of the season.

And so overlays the theme of this week’s show, which again brings you a wrap of last week’s games, picks and predictions for the upcoming week (including Joe’s annual pilgrimage to the Banjo Bowl), plus the usual assortment of commentary and tangents.

The Rouge White and Blue CFL Podcast: As weird as they wanna be…

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(alternative title: Argos win on missed FG; Football fandom freaks out)

After week 12, Rouge White & Blue CFL Podcast co-hosts could talk about how all four games came down to a touchdown or less, about another fantastic showing by the East, about how the top three teams by win-loss record are now in the East, about how the Winnipeg Blue Bombers are suddenly in second place thanks to the freefalls of the Saskatchewan Rough Riders and BC Lions…

And RWB co-hosts Joe Pritchard and Os Davis do discuss such topics in breaking down and (slightly) hot-taking week 12 in CFL football – but it’s that rouge giving the Toronto Argonauts the literal last-second victory over the Riders that once again captured the collective imagination, indignation and, from south of the US-Canada border, confusion and derision. So RWB talks rouge (spoiler: Nooooooooooo! Never eliminate the rouge! Though some improvement could be made.)

The rouge, the games, the picks and predictions for Labour Day Weekend – all in this episode!

The Rouge White and Blue CFL Podcast: Rouge rouge rouge, yeah / It’s gonna get ya…

The Rouge, White and Blue is part of the Shotgun Sports Network. Watch this episode – and those of other Shotgun shows on YouTube – or listen from wherever you get your podcasts!

Once again, Rouge White & Blue CFL Podcast co-hosts talk an anomalous sweep in the Canadian Football League – Just three weeks after an exceptionally rare 4-0 showing by the four East division teams, week 11 saw the visitors sweep the homedogs. RWB co-hosts Joe Pritchard and Os Davis can’t decide which is more amazing: The visitors sweeping or Os going 4-0 in CFL Pick ‘Em.

Or maybe it’s the way the West has become the East, not to mention how suddenly the 3rd-place Winnipeg Blue Bombers and 5th-place Edmonton Elks look more like playoff contenders than the BC Lions and Saskatchewan Roughriders.

Adding intrigue to the league outside the lines were moves like the Hamilton Tiger-Cats hiring of Chris Jones (!) to the position of defensive coordinator; public appearances by brand new Edmonton *Elks* owner Larry Thompson and the concomitant will-he-won’t-he speculation surrounding the brand; and the imminent return of Chad Kelly for the Toronto Argonauts.

Otherwise, week 11 of the 2024 season was one of quarterback comebacks: Some quite good, some not so good, some quite amazing but not enough to overcome their own special teams…

Plus predictions for CFL Pick ‘Em (Did we mention Os went 4-0 last week? That means you’ll be fading this week, most likely…) and certainly something else.

The Rouge White & Blue CFL Podcast: Sweeping it up weekly.

The Rouge, White and Blue is part of the Shotgun Sports Network. Watch this episode – and those of other Shotgun shows on YouTube – or listen from wherever you get your podcasts!

 

OK, so the Rouge White & Blue CFL Podcast ins’t *quite* covering 1,001 news items, hot (or lukewarm) takes and predictions but hoo boy, is this league generating some serious fodder for chatter at the halfway point of the season.

First and foremost is the round of quarterback roulette in which most CFL teams are currently embroiled; more intrigue was added with the news that Nathan Rourke was released by the Atlanta Falcons and immediately re-signed by the BC Lions. Can Rourke’s reentry stop BC’s skid and reaffirm the Lions’ top-dog status in the West?

Also on the horizon is the expected return of Chard Kelly to the Toronto Argonauts, a morally dubious situation for team and league. Even more morally questionable is the rumour that new Edmonton Elks ownership will be reverting the team name utterly against the grain of the wider culture.

Some football actually happened up there in the Great White North, too, begging lots of questions going into the season’s second half, including:

• Trevor Harris or no, how far can the Saskatchewan Roughriders go with little-to-no running game?
• Similarly: Nathan Rourke or no, how far can BC go letting passing offenses move the ball at will?
• How long with the Calgary Stampeders, 4-0 at home and 0-5 on the road, maintain such an insane split?
• Are the Stamps and Toronto Argonauts better or worse than their win-loss records?
• What will become of Bo Levi Mitchell?
• Finally, could the 3-6 Winnipeg Blue Bombers actually crawl back into West contention?

All this plus picks and predictions for CFL Pick ‘Em, talk of this week’s (very scintillating) point spreads, and a few words on the importance of Kate Bierness.

The Rouge White & Bllue CFL Podcast: Ready for those second-half adjustments.

The Rouge, White and Blue is now part of the Shotgun Sports Network. Watch this episode – and those of other Shotgun shows on YouTube – or listen from wherever you get your podcasts!

You read that right: the Rouge, White & Blue Podcast affirms that the CFL right now is absolutely nuts, bananas and any more idiomatic expressions with food you want to use.

Seriously, RWB co-hosts Joe Pritchard and Os Davis can only gawk in confusion at some of these teams, barely sputtering a “WTF” when asking stuff like: How did this BC Lions offense get shut out? How highly should we esteem the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, low-watt and banged-up offense notwithstanding? Do the Edmonton Elks still have time to compete? What can Ryan Dinwiddie do with his Toronto Argonauts and one desperate QB situation? And finally, ,what is up with the insane home/away split the Calgary Stampeders are sporting?

These questions (attempted to be) answered, plus picks and predictions for week 10 games.

The Rouge White & Blue CFL Podcast: Almost as crazy and baffling as the league itself…

The Rouge, White and Blue is now part of the Shotgun Sports Network. Watch this episode – and those of other Shotgun shows on YouTube – or listen from wherever you get your podcasts!

As the dust settles on a historic East division sweep in week 8, the Rouge White & Blue CFL Podcast remarks on this year’s crop of backup quarterbacks; marvels at the Montreal Alouettes’ defense and the Ottawa Redblacks in general; and remains baffled by the unbettable Calgary Stampeders.

RWB co-hosts Joe Pritchard and Os Davis answer questions like: Are the Toronto Argonauts really a third-place team? Are the Saskatchewan Roughriders essentially a .500 team? Why do these Winnipeg Blue Bombers continually succumb to mistakes this season? How seriously should we take these Hamilton Tiger-Cats?

And, most scintillatingly, could we finally get an East team crossing over…? Hamilton at Saskatchewan in the West semi-finals, anyone…?

All this musing plus picks and predictions for week 9’s games.

The Rouge White & Blue Podcast: Covering the ever-fascinating CFL.

The Rouge, White and Blue is part of the Shotgun Sports Network. Watch this episode – and those of other Shotgun shows on YouTube – or listen from wherever you get your podcasts!

 

At the top of this week’s Rouge White & Blue CFL Podcast, the discussion naturally begins with a wrap of week 7 games – while meandering through some grousing about what was seemingly a poor fantasy week for everyone. (Jake Maier the top QB? A touchdown from rookie FB Clint Ratkovich? Dude.)

Light on fantasy football points the slate of games may have been, but some fascinating points of discussion emerged for co-hosts Joe Pritchard and Os Davis to kick around. Questions like: Are the Calgary Stampeders (and Maier) this good? Are the Saskatchewan Roughriders this bad? Why are the Edmonton Elks like this? (Joe swears it’s not McLeod Bethel-Thompson…)

The RWB goes on to offer CFL Pick ‘Em picks and predictions on another interesting quartet of games next week: Saskatchewan at the likely Cody Fajardo-less Montreal Alouettes; the underdog (?) Stamps at the Ottawa RedBlacks; those frustrating Winnipeg Blue Bombers at the Toronto Argonauts; and (hoo boy) the one-win Hamilton Tiger-Cats coming to Edmonton.

The RWB CFL Podcast: Always decided by a touchdown or less…

The Rouge, White and Blue is now part of the Shotgun Sports Network. Watch this episode – and those of other Shotgun shows on YouTube – or listen from wherever you get your podcasts!

RWB CFL podcast #263: Chris Jones out, end of an era

The Rouge White & Blue CFL Podcast began when head coach Chris Jones was on the way to winning his first (and, as it turns out, likely his only) Grey Cup. Thiw week, the key CFL-centric story is the firing from the Edmonton Elks of Coach Jones.

Yet, RWB co-hosts Joe Pritchard and Os Davis somehow manage to discuss other topics involving week 6 of the 2024 CFL season with all its interesting developments – just don’t talk to Os the Alouette fan about Cody Fajardo.

Following the recap, how about some takes on week 7’s games? Some of the point spreads are wacky (Toronto Argonauts just 3-point favorites at the Hamilton Tiger-Cats? Calgary Stampeders 4½-point underdogs at home against BC Lions?) and essentially disagree on everything except the Winnipeg Blue Bombers...

Rouge White & Blue: We’re on to next week.

We’re about one-quarter of the way through the 2024 CFL season and even though two teams remain undefeated and one is still winless, some annual signs of the season progressing are staring to show. This week, the Rouge White and Blue CFL Podcast co-hosts Os Davis and Joe Pritchard take stock of week 5 to weight in on topics such as:

• What to make of the backstepping Toronto Argonauts losing to the Saskatchewan Roughriders?
• How competitive can the Calgary Stampeders get before season’s end?
• Is any team in the league besides the Montreal Alouettes really complete?
• Can anyone give the BC Lions a game right now?

And more, including a look at the week 6 pointspreads and CFL Pick ‘Em possibilities. A few intriguing lines for the bettors this week – like Toronto +7 at Montreal and Calgary +4½ at Winnipage – require some analysis.

The Rouge White & Blue CFL Podcast: First string, second string – we love ’em all!

The Rouge, White and Blue is now part of the Shotgun Sports Network. Watch this episode – and those of other Shotgun shows on YouTube – or listen from wherever you get your podcasts!

 

For Rouge White and Blue CFL Podcast co-host Os Davis it was just one of those weeks – namely, a total washout in CFL fantasy football and a clean 0-4 showing in the league’s Pick ‘Em contest. Yeesh.

Nevertheless, Os, together with RWB co-host Joe Pritchard, attempt to make sense of last week’s results – though truth be told, Joe doesn’t really need to after his own 4-0 Pick ‘Em run. What can be said about a slte of four games with three going down to the game’s final pay. And just how many bounces separate, say the 3-0 Saskatchewan Roughriders from the 0-4 Winnipeg Blue Bombers…?

We’ll also take a look at next week’s matches and some interesting-looking pointspreads, including the Toronto Argonauts giving just 3½ (at recording time; two hours later, up to 4½) points at the aforementioned Roughriders with little used QB Sean Patterson starting at QB for the injured Trevor Harris, not to mention BC Lions giving just 5 to the hapless Hamilton Tiger-Cats….

The Rouge White & Blue CFL Podcast: Safe lead or no, we’re here for the football!

The Rouge, White and Blue is now part of the Shotgun Sports Network. Watch this episode – and those of other Shotgun shows on YouTube – or listen from wherever you get your podcasts!

All right, CFL fans – You know what time of year it is, you know the drill. Rouge White & Blue CFL podcast co-hosts Joe Pritchard and Os Davis talk the two semifinalslayoff games and next weekend’s two divisional finals games. (Spoilers: When reviewing and previewing, the same feeling pervades, i.e. damn, both the Toronto Argonauts and Saskatchewan Roughriders are straight-up scary.)

Also, some hot and not-so-hot takes on recent front office moves involving three first three eliminated in Calgary, Edmonton and Hamilton. Plus, a brief addressing of the literal elephant in the American room from Os.

Now who’s ready for the championship round?

The Rouge White & Blue CFL Podcast: We love this game (PS #USFLforever)

The Rouge, White and Blue is part of the Shotgun Sports Network. Watch this episode – and those of other Shotgun shows on YouTube – or listen from wherever you get your podcasts!

RWB CFL podcast #260: What’s up with all the scoring? So maybe three weeks of a single CFL season is too small a sample size for relevant discussion, by the Rouge White & Blue Podcast is a bit taken aback with the 1990s-style scoring exhibited by most teams early on. And so in this episode, RWB co-hosts Joe Pritchard and Os Davis marvel at some barnburners to wonder why offenses are so far ahead of defenses early on in the 2024 season. Meanwhile, the RWB goggles at the continued domination of the league by the Montreal Alouettes, wonders about the 0-3 Winnipeg Blue Bombers, rubbernecks another disaster from the Edmonton Elks, and celebrates Joe’s 4-0 week in the CFL Pick ‘Em game. And then it’s onto week 4 in the CFL and the RWB co-hosts set a new precedent in finidn no common ground in picking the next slate of four games. Ready for some more scoreboard spinning…? The Rouge White & Blue CFL Podcast: It’s OK, we dig the 90s… The Rouge, White and Blue is now part of the Shotgun Sports Network. Watch this episode – and those of other Shotgun shows on YouTube – or listen from wherever you get your podcasts!

We’re totally jinxing the Rouge White & Blue CFL Podcast here but whoa, do co-hosts Joe Pritchard and Os Davis have some bragging rights after week 2…To wit, Joe maxed out in fantasy football while Os went 4-0 in the CFL Pick ‘Em contest and gave out at least one profitable bet last week (after missing Calgary Stampeders +9 by a single point).

But hey, the RWB isn’t here to talk about the past – not much anyway, because there are week 3 games to prognosticate! After admiring a nice performance by Bo Levi Mitchell and the Montreal Alouettes offense while lamenting the good luck blessing the Saskatchewan Roughriders and the dumb luck befalling the Edmonton Elks’, the RWB take a confident shot at predicting the week ahead.

The Rouge White & Blue CFL Podcast: Come for the tangents, stary for the awesome predictions.

The Rouge, White and Blue is now part of the Shotgun Sports Network. Watch this episode – and those of other Shotgun shows on YouTube – or listen from wherever you get your podcasts!

 

RWB CFL podcast #258: After week 1, (almost) everything is awesome

It happens every time to The Rouge, White & Blue CFL podcast as well as to fans, bettors and pundits: The realization that, during the propounding of preseason predictions, we all knew next to nothing about many teams – or at least far less than we’d let on… So how are RWB co-hosts Joe Pritchard and Os Davis feeling about one week’s worth of priceless information and CFL viewing? Listen in for their not-quite-so-hot takes from the rustiness of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers to the audacity of the small-balling Calgary Stampeders, from the Saskatchewan Roughriders’ recurring battles with awful penalties to the Edmonton Elks’ struggles against the fourth quarter…

Naturally, the RWB talks CFL Pick ‘Em in week 2 (hey, Joe might’ve gone 4-0 were it not for loyalty) and fantasy football (and hey, Os pulled off quite the showing, ranking #31 overall on a monster week).

The Rouge White & Blue CFL Podcast: So glad proper football is back!

The Rouge, White and Blue is now part of the Shotgun Sports Network. Watch this episode – and those of other Shotgun shows on YouTube – or listen from wherever you get your podcasts!

Happy Opening Week to Canadian Football League enthusiasts! The Rouge, White & Blue gets our game on in the episode to (admittedly futilely) forecast the upcoming season.

First off, RWB co-hosts Os Davis and Joe Pritchard go long(-term) in picking division standing as well as win-loss records for each of the teams. Unlike previous seasons, there is much dissension between the two, who can really only agree  on a vision for two of the CFL’s nine teams.

Not only that, everyone’s favourite Sisyphean task during the regular season, i.e. making weekly selections in the league’s official “CFL Pick ‘Em” contest, has returned. Joe and Os get in their picks for week 1 and again mostly disagree on winners and losers. RWB’s got a passing look at the point spreads for opening week, particularly that insulting touchdown-plus’s worth of points the (*defending champion*) Montreal Alouettes are getting in Winnipeg, and the inexplicable positioning of the Saskatchewan Roughriders as an underdog at Edmonton.

CFL kickoff: It’s the most wonderful time of the year…

The Rouge, White and Blue is now part of the Shotgun Sports Network! Watch this episode -- and those of other Shotgun shows on YouTube -- or listen from wherever you get your podcasts!

The 2024 Canadian Football League season has begun! Well, sort of … as of this recording of the Rouge White & Blue CFL Podcast, one preseason game has been held – but that’s more than enough for RWB co-hosts Joe Pritchard and Os Davis to speculate about the upcoming season, specifically within the framework of the league’s “Futures” competition.

Joe and Os take their shots at guessing the outcomes of ten futures – really player propositions and team props – including:

• Which team will win the East?
• Which team will win the West?
• Who will lead the reg. season in interceptions?
• Will a quarterback throw for 5,000 or more passing yards during the regular season?
• Who will lead the league ein receiving TDs during the regular season?
• Which team will have the most QB sacks during the regular season?
• Over/under: Will Brady Oliveira rush for 1,299.5 yards during the regular season?
• Which team will finish with the best regular season record?
• How many kick/punt return TDs will be scored in total during the regular season?
• And, of course, which team will win the Grey Cup?

Yes, the RWB does realize the futility, but it’s all in good fun until the games begin for real…

The Rouge, White and Blue is now part of the Shotgun Sports Network! Watch this episode -- and those of other Shotgun shows on YouTube -- or listen from wherever you get your podcasts!

 

Happy New Year -- or rather, Happy New CFL Season! With preseason games about to start in the Canadian Football League, the Rouge White & Blue returns for another year of podcasting our favorite gridiron game.

Co-hosts Joe Pritchard and Os Davis talk a whole lot of offseason football, from Chad Kelly's suspension to the reshuffling of the coaching deck in Saskatchewan to the un(?)-retirement of Shawn Lemon, and all points in0between.

The RWB's kicking off the 2024 season, so join us!

The Rouge, White and Blue is now part of the Shotgun Sports Network! Watch this episode -- and those of other Shotgun shows on YouTube -- or listen from wherever you get your podcasts!

After the110th Grey Cup, after co-host Joe Pritchard’s return from Cup-hosting Hamilton, after US Thanksgiving Weekend, the Rouge White & Blue CFL Podcast has finally reassembled the team of two to wrap the 2023 CFL season, take a tiny peek ahead to 2024, and, oh yes, discuss the actual Grey Cup game itself.

Said Grey Cup of course resulted in a stunning victory by RWB co-host Os Davis’s favored Montreal Alouettes over Joe’s Winnipeg Blue Bombers – but Os manages to keep the trashtalk to an absolute minimum as the RWB just generally marvelous over the solid football action that was the 110th Grey Cup championship.

And what CFL fan this time of year could resist idly speculating about next year? (After all, it’s what we’ll be doing for a good six months, anyway.) Joe cautions Os about fretting over the semi-offiical “potential CFL free agents list,” and explains with a single word the motivation behind the investigation into the Edmonton Elks’ club management structure.

Join the RWB as we take one final look back at the 2023 season – at least as far as Joe and the Bomber backers are concerned…

The Rouge White & Blue CFL Podcast: Touchdown, Tyson Philpot!

 

Usual Rouge White & Blue CFL Podcast co-host Joe Pritchard is up in Hamilton this week to enjoy the Grey Cup week festivities, our man across the Pacific, Greg St. James of Gridiron Japan subs in as co-host.

Greg joins Os Davis to discuss once again what else but the 110th Grey Cup in which the surprising Montreal Alouettes look to keep the Winnipeg Blue Bombers from winning a third ’Cup in four seasons. Really, though, Greg is aboard to convince Os that (a) his Als have a fighting chance in this game, and (b) that his betting on the game (Monteal now +8, over/under 47 points) isn’t completely bananas.

And with two sports history junkies podcasting, the RWB puts the 2023 season in perspective and some time is spent on spring football and all that stuff about a CFL/XFL merger. (Ancient times now, it seems…)

Enjoy this last bit of speculation from the RWB and have a great Grey Cup!

The Rouge White & Blue CFL Podcast: It’s time.

For the Rouge White & Blue CFL Podcast, this Grey Cup feels like the culmination of years’ worth of our tit-for-tat chatting. This edition of what we’re calling the RWB Cup pits co-host Joe Pritchard’s dominating Winnipeg Blue Bombers in their fourth consecutive championship game against Os Davis’s plucky Montreal Alouettes for all the marbles.

Like most of CFL fandom, Os is still a bit gobsmacked by the Alouettes’ upset victory over the mighty Toronto Argonauts and he’s trying to find a way to financially justify backing the awesome defense of the Alouettes as 7½-point underdogs in the big game.  Meanwhile, Joe’s feeling some shoe-on-other-foot sentiment, as he harkened back to 2019 back when the Bombers were the unheralded team in the ‘Cup looking for the big upset.

Between the two, the RWB recaps the divisional finals, sum up the seasons of the vanquished Argos and BC Lions, and make picks ‘n’ predictions for the 2023 Grey Cup.

The Rouge White & Blue CFL Podcast: Looking to the brilliant finish for a fascinating 2023 season…

This has got to be some sort of record: On this episode of the Rouge White & Blue CFL Podcast co-hosts Joe Pritchard and Os Davis are joined by Greg St. James, co-host of the Gridiron Japan podcast. Could this be the first-ever podcast recorded from three countries – none of which are Canada, and all three on different continents, no less – across 15 time zones.

This epic collaboration spans a global breadth of topics: At front and center are epitaphs to the Hamilton Tiger-Cats and Calgary Stampeders and kudos to the victorious Montral Alouettes and BC Lions led by Superman Vernon Davis. The RWB chases this with a preview of the conference final games in Winnipeg and Toronto, while Os considers the betting options. (The Als are really 11-point underdogs? Really?!?!?)

Finally, Greg expounds upon other topics such as the mania of Japanese baseball, the XFL and the X-League, Japan’s own professional league (since 1971 – no joke). It’s epic stuff!

The Rouge White & Blue CFL Podcast: Spanning the wide world of, uh, Canadian football…

That’s right: The 2024 CFL playoffs are upon us, and the Rouge White & Blue is forecasting the round 1 games, and wrapping the CFL regular season. Who do RWB co-hosts Os Davis and Joe Pritchard like to meet their favored Montreal Alouettes and Winnipeg Blue Bombers (respectively)? Tune in to this episode to find out…

The Rouge White & Blue CFL Podcast: Postseason blues and ecstasy all in one…

The Rouge, White and Blue is part of the Shotgun Sports Network. Watch this episode – and those of other Shotgun shows on YouTube – or listen from wherever you get your podcasts!

Welcome to the 2023 CFL playoffs! Rouge White & Blue CFL Podcast co-hosts Joe Pritchard and Os Davis again experience the paradoxical simultaneous feeling that this Canadian football season started eons again, yet is ending far too quickly.

The beginning of the end of said 2023 CFL season kicks off on Saturday with the semifinal round of the playoffs, with the no.2-seeded home teams each favourites: the Montreal Alouettes are giving 3 points versus the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, while the Calgary Stampeders get (a possibly too meager) 6½ points at BC Lions.

RWB makes the case for each of the four teams, what will be required for an upset in either game and, for what it’s worth, suggestions on betting the two games. Chalk or ‘dogs? The RWB’s got answers. OK, educated guesses, anyway.

The Rouge White & Blue CFL Podcast: Playoffs?!?!??!

With one more week to play in the 2023 CFL season, the week 20 results in and shakeups already gone down in Roughriders land, the Rouge White & Blue Podcast assesses some final trends going into the playoffs.

For example, the suddenly much clearer path for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers to come out of the West, the reasons why BC Lions are ripe for an upset at the hands of the Calgary Stampeders in round one, the Toronto Argonauts on the verge of football history and whether there’s hope for the future of the Ottawa Redblacks.

And as piqued as RWB co-hosts Joe Pritchard and Os Davis are for the playoffs, damned if they’re not gonna miss this Canadian football thing in a few weeks…

The Rouge White & Blue CFL Podcast: On Canadian football past, present and future

The Rouge White & Blue CFL Podcast certainly hopes those football fans who love high-scoring wild rides were tuned into the Canadian game in week 19 because the points mostly came in bunches and no lead was safe.

With the 2023 CFL playoffs just about concretized into shape, RWB co-hosts Joe Pritchard and Os Davis consider if maybe the season isn’t a tad too long (heresy, we know) but nevertheless find some intrigue remaining in the season. As we all await some potentially dandy matchups in those playoffs, the RWB wonders about what’s happening with those Saskatchewan Roughriders and their baffling 6-game losing streak, in what historical context we should be viewing the Toronto Argonauts and whether the Montreal Alouettes can give the Argos a game in the postseason.

RWB then goes on to pick ‘n’ predict the week 20 games and try to provide the waning of attention a few reasons to tune into a lighter slate of games – aside from rubbernecking the Regina trainwreck, that is…

The Rouge White & Blue CFL Podcast: Drawing a historical season to a close…

 

Despite the season winding to a close with most playoff spots settled, the Rouge White & Blue Podcast remains fascinated. RWB co-hosts were knocked out this week by the dominance of the historically (in both sense of the word) mind-blowing Toronto Argonauts, the edge-of-seat thrills in week 18’s Winnipeg Blue Bombers vs. BC Lions game and the surprisingly slick play of both the Montreal Alouettes and Hamilton Tiger-Cats.

Week 18 may have solidified the CFL playoff picture even further, but the RWB still has lots of enthusiasm and lots of reasons to watch the 2023 season’s three remaining weeks of play – which is not to say we’re not looking forward to what should be some dandy playoff games. The RWB analyzes week 18, looks to the future of a hapless Canadian franchise or two, and picks the week 19 games with an eye on the still-evolving playoff picture.

The Rouge White & Blue CFL Podcast: Talking playoffs?!?!?!

 

 

 

The Rouge White & Blue Podcast finds itself, along with the rest of CFL fandom, in a very strange bit of the season indeed.

In general, co-hosts Os Davis and Joe Pritchard look back on a week 17 in which the Montreal Alouettes and Hamilton Tiger-Cats clinched playoff spots while the Ottawa Redblacks and Calgary Stampeders juuuuuuuust about got eliminated after losses – thereby leaving us all with five of six spots taken (and the Saskatchewan Roughriders barely able to avoid snagging the last available slot.

So where does this leave the league and its fans for four more weeks of football? The RWB takes a look forward at what to look forward to in those remaining games while wondering what we should take from week 17, particularly a somewhat lackluster win for Joe’s Winnipeg Blue Bombers over essentially the Toronto Argonauts second string.

What’s left to the 2023 season? The RWB’ll tell ya!

The Rouge White & Blue CFL Podcast: Wishing everyone a happy (Canadian) Thanksgiving!

 

The Rouge White & Blue CFL Podcast retains both co-hosts, i.e. Joe Pritchard and Os Davis, yet still manage to host a guest as well – and not just any guest but already-legendary CFL-themed video maestro Coach Phil.

Phil joins the RWB for a few biographical notes, but mostly to talk the 2023 CFL season, speculate on the 2023 CFL postseason, plus break down the games of week past and attempt to pick ‘em for the next in the RWB style.

 But hey, have we mentioned Coach Phil is our guest? He brings plenty of what’s made him a name in CFL-centric social media: Optimism for Tre Ford and his Elks, contagious enthusiasm for this year’s final weeks of games, his concern for the fate of his Saskatchewan Roughriders and one most excellent rant about the Hamilton Tiger-Cats and their … uh … you’ll just have to hear it for yourselves.

The Rouge White & Blue CFL Podcast: Wondering how good this 2023 Grey Cup’ll be…

 

To no one’s great surprise, the Rouge White & Blue Podcast loves CFL football – but after a particularly intriguing week which saw the unquestionable return of “No Lead Is Safe” gameplay (hopefully permanently), even co-host Joe Pritchard after a stunning loss by his Winnipeg Blue Bombers has to dig on the Canadian league.

Along with the raves come the rants – well, one rant at least. Specifically, co-host Os Davis venting about his Montreal Alouettes’ pitiable play on the offensive line which cost the Als another win and handed the East division’s top seed to the mighty Toronto Argonauts.

The RWB also runs down all the week 15 games and attempts to forecast week 16 in this seemingly increasingly unpredictable league (we thought this was supposed to get *easier* as the season grinds down), but mercifully no betting angles from the ever-colder Os – but hey, it’s not about the money; it’s about the fun, right? Right?!?!!?

The Rouge White & Blue CFL Podcast: We love *this* game.

 

 

As that professional football league south of the border kicks off this week, the Canadian Football League heads into the homestretch, with 70% of the 2023 season in the books – just in time for the return of co-host Os Davis back into the Rouge White & Blue CFL Podcast booth.

Meanwhile, co-host Joe Pritchard comes to us live from Winnipeg, where his beloved Blue Bombers scorched the Saskatchewan Roughriders for the fourth consecutive year in the Banjo Bowl game. Joe’s ventures to Winnipeg are already a set tradition for the game; could a Bombers blowout become the new tradition?

Joe and Os take stock of the 2023 season to the seven-tenths point, wonder how hot the Edmonton Els (no, really) can get with Tre Ford at the helm, consider the sparse playoff scenarios, and probably futilely attempt to pick and predict next week’s games.

The Rouge White & Blue Podcast: Always attempting to avoid the trap game…

 

Once again, you're stuck with Joe Pritchard running the show (don't worry, with Sunday games being off the schedule going forward, it'll be easier to get Os Davis back in the game), and Josh Smith joined him to discuss the Labour Day weekend games, this week's rematch games, and Joe's travel plans for this weekend and beyond. 

Andrew Bucholtz from Awful Announcing and The Comeback is Os Davis's fill in this week, and beyond the usual reviews and previews, the conversation drifted towards quarterback development at all levels of football, of course, with an emphasis on how it affects the Canadian game. 

…we are the champions /

We are the champions /

No time for losers /

Cuz we are the champions…

OK, so the Grey Cup trophy is still a few weeks away from being awarded – but Rouge White & Blue CFL Podcast co-host Os Davis was in fact crowned the champion of the 2024 Canadian Football Podcast Network Fantasy League and so the song.

And in all seriousness do Os and RWB co-host Joe Pritchard look back at the week 20 games in the CFL, look ahead to the final week of the regular season – or at least the games that matter in the bigger picture.

Just one more week and we’re into the playoffs, folks. (Already??!?!)

The Rouge White & Blue CFL Podcast: We are the champions … of the Canadian Podcast Fantasy Leeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeague…

The Rouge, White and Blue is part of the Shotgun Sports Network. Watch this episode – and those of other Shotgun shows on YouTube – or listen from wherever you get your podcasts!

Joe Pritchard is still without Os Davis, but the Turf District offered up Superfan Mike and 3 Down Nation's Andrew Hoskins, and the timing couldn't have been better after Edmonton's first win. We cover that plus our normal reviews and previews, with a lot of laughs in between. 

Traditional Rouge White & Blue CFL Podcast co-host Os Davis has been traveling the ‘States and jumping the pond, but he’s not completely out of touch. To prove it, he pops in for an extra episode of the RWB joining co-host Joe Pritchard to catch up on August in the Canadian Football League.

So the RWB talks stuff like how virtually every team aside from the Toronto Argonauts has had a chance of QB in the past month; what in Buono’s name is up with the massive separation between the dominance of the big three and the questionable competence of the bottom five plus the mysterious Montreal Alouettes; and just how much of the Saskatchewn Roughriders are a juggernaut waiting to jugger – or naut.

And even in Europe can a CFL fan suffer the torments of CFL football and enjoy the benefits of properly betting games – so Os weighs in on his week 11 picks in response to Joe ‘n’ Dalts’s of episode 238. And yes, for the record: this episode was indeed recorded before the Edmonton-Hamilton game.

The RWB Podcast: The best Canadian football podcast from two countries that are not Canada.

Trey Colbeck from Canadian Football Countdown joined Joe Pritchard this week, and the two Bombers fans recapped last week, previewed the upcoming week, and discussed various other CFL topics, including how passion is a double-edged sword in the Prairies. 

Os Davis continues to be on the injured list, so Joe Pritchard brought in Robert Dalton from the Rouge Radio show on the Canadian Football Podcast Network to do the usual weekly roundup. We get to Ottawa's questionable decision making a little later than expected, but we do get there. Meanwhile, two of the league's titans have an off week, and is Saskatchewan's receiving corps underrated? 

Once again, Joe Pritchard reached into the bag of Canadian Football Podcast Network hosts, and this week brought Travis Currah of the 2 and Out Podcast. Travis and Joe recap week 8 and set up week 9. 

Os Davis is on assignment, but Josh Smith from 3 Down Nation stepped in to assist Joe Pritchard in breaking down Week 7, preview Week 8, and along the way, enjoyed the usual podcast diversions, deep dives, and failed once again to provide the answers to all of life's burning questions, except where the CFL is concerned, of course. 

Lots of scoring, lots of QBs, one big upset: That sums up week 6 of the Canadian Football League’s 2023 season in a nutshell. The Rouge White & Blue CFL Podcast co-hosts Joe Pritchard and Os Davis expound upon all the intrigue and developments of the week gone by, digging deep by way of a few rabbitholes into questions like:

• Aside from the Toronto Argonauts, were BC Lions the big winner of week 6?
• How amazing was that Ottawa Redblacks win and does it mean that No Lead Is Safe has finally recovered from Covid?
• Might the Winnipeg Blue Bombers have been better off if the Saskatchewan Roughriders had pulled off the win in Calgary?
• And speaking of those Calgary Stampeders, where has the passing game been?

We’ve also got picks and predictions for next week’s games for CFL Pick ‘Em contest and betting alike, including that insane 15½-point spread on Edmonton Elks at Winnipeg Blue Bombers.

The Rouge White & Blue Podcast: Keep this brand of football coming, CFL!

 

Well, all right then – that was bizarre. The Rouge White & Blue CFL Podcast takes on the wild, weird and wacky week 5 of the 2023 season, and we’re going long to do so.

RWB co-hosts Os Davis and Joe Pritchard are amazed and illuminated by the happenings, commenting on the Rouge Bowl contested between the Edmonton Elks and Saskatchewan Roughriders (and just accountable should Chris Jones and T.J. Sims be vis-à-vis that final minute mental lapse?), the problem with the Calgary Stampeders (dude, it’s your quarterback), those snakebitten Ottawa Redblacks and the problem with the Montreal Alouettes – other than the special teams, that is.

Os also has a simple stat that all football leagues should track, and Joe’s got a superlative for his beloved Winnipeg Blue Bombers.

And this plus previews, picks and betting tips for the games of week 6 which, though likely to be interesting, have a challenge in topping this past one.

The RWB CFL Podcast: The “W” is for “weird”…

 

Rouge White & Blue CFL Podcast co-host Joe Pritchard returns from Montreal feeling energized by his time in that great city – not to mention having enjoyed an emphatic victory by his Winnipeg Blue bombers over the Alouettes.

But hey, this is the CFL in 2023 and certainly no fan can fail to be amazed at the dominating Toronto Argonauts, whom RWB co-host Os Davis is penciling in as Grey Cup favourites already – and not even completely irrationally speaking, either.

As is the standard, the RWB talks last week’s games and looks ahead to the four games of week 5; not the easiest to wager on or pick in CFL Pick ‘Em, but there may be some good choices available for the winning.

The Rouge White & Blue CFL Podcast: Argonauts assemble! (or something like that)

By the time you listen to this episode of the Rouge, White & Blue CFL Podcast, show co-host Joe Pritchard may already be in Montreal in advance of his Winnipeg Blue Bombers taking on the Alouettes in that great Canadian city.

(About the best Joe’s RWB co-host Os Davis can do is keep on winning at CFL betting – luckily he doesn’t believe in jinxes…)

But before the literal bon voyage, Os and Joe have thoughts on week 3 of the 2023 CFL season, a week in which Os’s scenario resulting in three winless and three undefeated teams came to fruition as the BC Lions exploded and the Hamilton Tiger-Cats imploded.

The RWB also has suggestions for avoiding the pitfalls of a three-game schedule in CFL fantasy football and Os has a real opportunity for those interested in taking a flier on that Monday night game this week.

All this plus Joe’s Three Easy Steps to Ending Your Career, and lots of rabbitholes coming up Simpsons!

The Rouge White & Blue CFL Podcast: Comment dit-on en français…?

As the man south of the border once said, “Playoffs?!?!?!” For CFL postseason, the postseason hasn’t yet arrived, but with few highly relevant games remaining and the matchups just about set for those playoffs, what else can be discussed on the Rouge, White & Blue CFL Podcast?

Co-hosts Os Davis and Joe Pritchard briefly touch on the week 19 games which included a lackluster performance from the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and Montreal Alouettes offenses plus an abysmal all-around showing by BC Lions. And Os even avoids bragging too much about his upset victory over Joe in the CFL Podcast Network fantasy football league.

And of course, despite the mostly irrelevant short slate of week 20 games, Joe and Os have a go at picking and predicting the highly unpredictable.

The Rouge White & Blue CFL Podcast: We’re trying to win a game here!

The Rouge, White and Blue is part of the Shotgun Sports Network. Watch this episode – and those of other Shotgun shows on YouTube – or listen from wherever you get your podcasts!

 

“Ladies, ladies, I don’t mean to brag, but … I am the greatest.” –Sydney Deane, White Men Can’t Jump

That’s right: For once both hosts of the Rouge, White & Blue CFL Podcast have reason to brag about their prognosticating skills. Joe Pritchard and Os Davis rank #1 and #3, respectively, in the Canadian Football Podcast Network fantasy football league (very tough league) after week 2 point-a-paloozas for both.

But the RWB promises the bragging is kept to a minimum with week 2 games to analyze – and it must be said the feelings of déjà vu are rife, what with last year’s slumping quartet – the Ottawa Redblacks, Saskatchewan Roughriders, Edmonton Elks and Hamilton Tiger-Cats – all taking emphatic Ls.

Then there’s week 3 to consider, a four-game slate which could leave the league in the bizarre situation of simultaneously fielding three undefeated teams and three winless teams. Os and Joe are a combined 7-1 in CFL Pick ‘Em and so quite possibly worth listening to for the nonce…

The Rouge White & Blue CFL Podcast: Is early fantasy football dominance sustainable…?

Week 1 of the 2023 CFL season is in the proverbial books and so Rouge, White & Blue CFL Podcast co-hosts Os Davis and Joe Pritchard partake in that classic exercise of football fandoms everywhere, namely overreacting to the opening week results.

And damned if they don’t actually have reason to gushily overreact: Not only did Os and Joe’s favoured Montreal Alouettes and Winnipeg Blue Bombers each notch a W, not only did they go a combined 7-1 in the CFL Pick ‘Em Contest, but both cruised to victory in week 1 of the new-look, new-play official CFL fantasy football game. But the RWB promises the glory-daysing is kept to a minimum.

Instead, the RWB’s got those overreactions to week 1, some lessons learned for the fantasy players and naturally pick ‘em picks and fantasy football tips, which for a week at least may be taken seriously.

Finally, as the CFL takes part in various observances of Pride Month, Os wonders about one aspect of this sort of outreach, i.e. What’s up with the dissonance between North American sports leagues’ outward message and its internal unwritten-rules mentality a good half-century behind greater society…? But the RWB promises no partisan politics or rhetoric included.

The Rouge White & Blue CFL Podcast: For every action, a passionate overreaction…

The Rouge, White & Blue CFL Podcast is proverbially ready for some football – CFL football, that is! Show co-hosts Joe Pritchard and Os Davis are back to regular business like making (quite possibly futile) predictions to play in the CFL Pick ‘Em contest. And as a respectable CFL fantasy football player, Joe gives a few hints for playing this year’s edition of the game and its new tweaks. rea

The RWB also considers the breaking news of The League’s partnership with Pro Football Focus and delve into the first of PFF’s publicly posted analyses of CFL starting quarterbacks and its top players.

The Rouge White & Blue CFL Podcast: Kickoff can’t come soon enough…

New CFL season, new TV/streaming arrangement – and in the short term, this deal may not exactly be ideal for the US and international audiences.

On this episode of the Rouge White & Blue CFL Podcast, co-hosts Joe Pritchard and Os Davis welcome back Andrew Bucholtz of Awful Announcing and The Comeback for insight into accessing the CFL in 2023. In short, Americans and Canadian expats are looking at a no-frills reality of live streams only.

Beyond the business, the RWB chats up Andrew about CFL 2023 and his interest in this year’s edition of the Toronto Argonauts, the expectations for Bo Levi Mitchell with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats and like topics along with a couple of not-so Early Outrageous Predictions™.

And what worthy podcast doesn’t fall prey to a conversational wormhole or two? Andrew talks some about his hobby of board gaming, his hosting of the San Diego Historic Gaming Con, and gives some good recommendations on tabletop sports and sports-themed board games.

The Rouge White & Blue CFL Podcast: Life is but a stream…