VANCOUVER — This week in Vancouver, a player from a non-participating team talked about how long a Gray Cup week is for players who do participate.

Teams arrive Monday and can begin practicing Tuesday, with their work week officially beginning Wednesday. Their regular habits of practice, training, team meetings and perhaps some media exploded during those few days. Time slows down, they said. The five days it takes to get to Sunday may seem like 15 days.

The wait is almost over for the players ready to play, for the thousands of fans who will descend on BC Place on Sunday and for millions of people across the country and beyond. The 111th Gray Cup will take place in just two days. CFL.ca editors have thought about many of the same things you have. How are you Nick Arbuckle carry out, intervene for the injured Chad Kelly? Will the Bombers be able to end their two-year Gray Cup drought (we know: they’ve endured worse)? Can the Argos do this? Who brings back the individual equipment on Sunday evening? We attempt to answer these questions in this edition of the 111th Gray Cup of the Weekly Say.

111th GRAY CUP
» Costabile: 5 scenarios to watch during the 111th Gray Cup
» Prediction time: CFL.ca authors’ picks for the 111th Gray Cup
» 5 things to know about the Bombers before the 111th Gray Cup
» 5 things to know about the Argos before the 111th Gray Cup

WHAT DO YOU EXPECT FROM NICK ARBUCKLE ON SUNDAY?

Matt Cauz: I expect a better game than many people think. Nick has already faced the Winnipeg defense once this year, made three game-winning passes against Montreal and has so much support around him. I don’t expect him to light it up for us, but I think he’ll be a good match for us.

Kristina Costabile: Nick is going to play a lot better than a lot of people think. As long as he doesn’t try to do too much, which the Argos have been talking about all week, and he limits mistakes against Winnipeg’s strong defense, I think he’ll do well.

Marshall Ferguson: Smart, smooth, risk-free and high efficiency.

Arbuckle was propelled into the national spotlight after Chad KellySeason-ending injury in Eastern Final (Thomas Skrlj/CFL.ca)

José Ferraz: Solid execution of the game plan. The Argos have been preaching all week that Arbuckle doesn’t need to be a hero and I expect the veteran quarterback to adhere to those words on Sunday.

Vicki Room: I don’t know if Nick Arbuckle can write the fairy tale here, but I expect him to play a disciplined and intelligent game. He’ll put the ball in the hands of his offensive weapons — and, if everything goes according to Toronto’s game plan, the defense and special teams will take over from there.

Chris O’Leary: Many of us instinctively jump to the fact that Ryan Dinwiddie was thrown into the 2007 Gray Cup game and what that was like for him. It’s not the same situation for Arbuckle. I think if he takes Dinwiddie’s advice and doesn’t try to do too much, something Chad Kelly was guilty early in last week’s Eastern final – the Argos have a chance.

Patrick Steinberg: We’re talking about a guy going into the biggest game of his career with more perspective than he’s ever had after all the adversity he’s faced over the last five years. I honestly think we’re going to have a solid night with limited mistakes from Arbuckle, allowing his strong running game and defense to play a big role in Sunday’s game plan as well.

WHO WILL BE THE BEST RECEIVER IN THE GAME?

Cauz: Nicolas Demski, Zach Collaros‘ security blanket. Kenny Lawler was the big star of the West Final, but I’ll pick the receiver who scored 10 goals against the Roughriders. Toronto’s pass defense will mean plenty of receptions for Demski.

Costabile: How can it not be Kenny Lawler? Lawler was the best pass catcher last week (which I predicted correctly, by the way!). They’ll need a veteran who’s been there, done that to be the guy in the biggest moment of the year. He can answer the bell.

Ferguson: Nicolas Demski. The guy is so sweet and always seems to respond to the moment. He’s hungry and knows opportunities like this won’t come around forever.

Ferraz: Kenny Lawler. Despite the talent of Toronto’s receiving corps, it’s hard to bet against Lawler (and Zach Collaros).

Room: Gotta go with the hot hand(s) of Kenny Lawler.

O’Leary: Kenny Lawler That seems like a safe guess here, considering what we saw last week in the West Finals. These are games where your veterans step up and I think that’s what Lawler will do on Sunday.

Steinberg: I will go with Ontario Wilsonknowing just how much attention Kenny Lawler is about to receive after its last torrid weeks. Lawler will happily play the decoy if it means winning the Gray Cup.

WILL THE ARGOS SCORE A NON-OFFENSIVE TD?

Cauz: The odds say no, but the staff says yes. Between this rush of the Argonauts, the instincts of Wynton McManis and all things Janarion Scholarship I’ll go with a resounding yes.

Costabile: Yes. I think it will be a defensive score though. The Bombers coverage team has just been too good, they haven’t allowed a punt or kick return touchdown this season, and I don’t know if Janarion Scholarshipeven with his talent, will know how to free himself.

Ferguson: They have to do it if they want to win the match, it’s a must.

Ferraz: I’m going to go with no. The Bombers haven’t allowed a single punt or kick return touchdown in 2024, so it’s tough for Janarion Scholarship – despite his quality – to break one, and defensive touchdowns are too unpredictable.

Room: Yes. Absolutely. My choices are Wynton McManis and/or Janarion Grant, for obvious reasons.

O’Leary: If you asked me this at the start of the playoffs, I’d probably say no, but this defense has been particularly involved over its last two games and Janarion Scholarshipas we saw last week, loves big stages. TLDR? Yes. The answer is yes.

Steinberg: As strong as Toronto’s defense has been all season, I’m going to say no.

WHO WILL BE THE MVP OF THE GAME? THE MOST VALUABLE CANADIAN?

Cauz: Let’s go with Ka’Deem Carey behind an elite offensive line on an all-hands-on-deck night for all of Toronto’s skill position players. As for the most useful Canadian, let’s go with Lirim Hajrullahu of St. Catharines, Ontario. I expect a close game between the two best teams in the league. The margin of victory could easily come down to a field goal.

Costabile: Brady Oliveira. Double dip at the CFL awards night and during the game.

Ferguson: Zach Collaros finally overcomes the three-year hurdle and adds another diamond-worthy performance to his already great and brilliant career while Nicolas Demski plays the role of leader on the receiving side and barley gets the MVC vote over his teammate Brady Oliveira.

Ferraz: Brady Oliveiraboth.

Room: Zach Collaros MVP. Brady Oliveira will add another trophy to his collection with MVC.

O’Leary: I might have recency bias, having seen him pose with two distinguished awards less than 12 hours ago, but Brady Oliveira seems like a safe bet here. Maybe for both, Henoc Muamba style?

Steinberg: Zach CollarosKevins Clercius.

WHO WILL WIN THE GAME?

Cauz: Toronto with the surprise, 24-22 against Winnipeg.

Costabile: For the W. I’m going with Winnipeg.

Ferguson: The Bombers started quickly, the Argos took them back and Winnipeg stepped on the gas in the third quarter to take the lead.

Ferraz: Winnipeg. It will be a close and hard-fought game, but the Bombers’ experience will give them the final advantage.

Room: Winnipeg. Adversity gives way to victory, pain leads to joy – the Blue Bombers have learned from the last two Gray Cup losses. It’s their time.

O’Leary: Have you seen my choice record This year? I spare both teams the kiss of death and abstain.

Steinberg: Winnipeg.