The Edmonton Eskimos will celebrate a Grey Cup win on home soil in November according to the CFL‘s inaugural media poll.
A total of 74 media members participated in the poll. The CFL revealed the results Thursday.
The Calgary Stampeders received 23 votes as the first-place finisher in the West Division, one vote ahead of Edmonton. But the Eskimos earned 17 votes as the team that will win the Grey Cup, one more than Calgary and the Saskatchewan Roughriders.
The Toronto Argonauts were the top East Division pick, earning 11 votes. The Argos were an overwhelming selection to capture the Eastern Conference with 55 votes, 42 more than the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.
Edmonton quarterback Mike Reilly was a solid pick to repeat as the CFL’s outstanding player. He received 26 votes, 12 more than Calgary quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell and Toronto running back James Wilder Jr.
Voters believe Saskatchewan quarterback Zach Collaros, obtained this off-season from Hamilton, is the player acquisition that will make the biggest impact this season. He received 43 votes, 36 more than Winnipeg receiver Adarius Bowman and Toronto quarterback James Franklin.
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Other poll results include:
- Saskatchewan made the best overall moves this offseason (28 votes).
- Edmonton’s Derel Walker will be the CFL’s leading receiver (33 votes).
- Wilder will lead the CFL in rushing (37 votes).
- Reilly would be the first player signed if starting a new CFL franchise today (41 votes).
- Winnipeg’s Andrew Harris was picked to repeat as top Canadian (29 votes).
- Calgary linebacker Alex Singleton will be the top defensive player (33 votes).
- Collaros will be the CFL’s comeback player of the year (34 votes).
- Calgary defensive back Tunde Adeleke was picked as the ’17 draft pick that will have the most impact this season with 19 votes, one more than Edmonton defensive lineman Kwaku Boateng.
- Hamilton will be the non-playoff team from 2017 that will have the most wins in 2018 (51 votes).
- Toronto defensive lineman Cleyon Laing, Hamilton quarterback Jeremiah Masoli and Montreal running back Tyrell Sutton tied as the most underrated players (three votes each).
- Saskatchewan has the biggest home-field advantage (48 votes).
- Toronto’s Marc Trestman was the top pick for most desired coach (48 votes), while Hamilton’s Orlando Steinhauer was deemed the assistant most likely to be hired as a first-time head coach (32 votes).
- A majority of 49 voters said there will be a crossover in the playoffs this season.
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