They'll be the undisputed fan favourites all week.
Just don't expect to see any of the oddsmakers wearing green.
But the Saskatchewan Roughriders, who were greeted by a marching band and a smattering of fans as they arrived at Calgary International Airport yesterday afternoon, don't mind being labelled Grey Cup underdogs.
"We're definitely comfortable with the underdog tag. We understand," said Riders defensive end Stevie Baggs.
"They're a 15-3 team. We're a 10-6-1 team. So it's only fair.
"We should be underdogs to a 15-3 team, to a team that's been to the Grey Cup seven times within the last however many years. They deserve that."
On paper, it's easy to see why bookies have installed the Montreal Alouettes as nine-point favourites for Sunday's showdown with the Roughriders at McMahon Stadium.
The Alouettes are coming off a franchise-record 15-3 campaign, boast the CFL's highest-scoring offence and most stingy defensive unit and made a statement they're ready to roll with a 56-18 thrashing of the B.C. Lions in Sunday's East final at Olympic Stadium.
But the Riders, fresh off a 27-17 win over the defending champion Calgary Stampeders in the West final, certainly aren't lacking confidence.
"Everyone looks at us as the underdogs, but, of course, we don't feel that way," said Riders QB Darian Durant. "We feel like we deserve to be here. If they want to overlook us, fine. That's pretty much the way it's been all year."
And odds are you'll hear plenty of banter this week about the Als' record-setting campaign and the fact they've made a habit of advancing to the annual finale.
Anthony Calvillo & Co. have shown they can win games, but with just one championship banner to show for six Grey Cup appearances since 2000, there's plenty of criticism they can't win the big one.
If yesterday's airport arrival is any indication, the Riders, who lost both head-to-head meetings with the Alouettes this year, won't be serving up any bulletin board material.
