by GABRIEL MORENCY

When the Alouettes and Argonauts kick it off Sunday afternoon in the world's most expensive stadium, there will be an unfamiliar sight: people will actually be occupying those hideously ugly yellow seats that are as hard as the concrete playing surface that passes for a playing field in Roger Taillibert's $1.2-billion-and-still-climbing monstrosity.

While the Alouettes clearly have been at the forefront of football's rise of popularity in the province, you have to ask yourself where all these bugle-blowing, pot-smoking, beer-swilling, face painters are for Montreal Expos games that don't involve $5 tickets and dollar freaking hot dogs.

The fact is, more people at the game will know halftime performers La Chicane than who plays for the Alouettes. Yet they will gladly shell out upwards of $80 a ticket to watch players whose salaries are less than many of the fans and media.

While the Alouette franchise has seemingly done all the right things - from moving to Molson Stadium (f*ck it would be nice to do one column without a corporate name!) to having lots of local talent on the roster - none of this would have happened if a U2 concert in 1997 didn't force the Als to leave the Olympic Stadium.

I know you've heard the story more times than Anthony Calvillo has hooked up Ben Cahoon and Jermaine Copeland, but only in Quebec can a team's fate be saved because they had to move to a smaller stadium. Only to return, due to an overwhelming demand for tickets, to the place that nearly killed the franchise to begin with.

Imagine the Expos finally getting out of the Stadium after all these years of people blaming the world's largest inclined structure for the attendance woes, only to have to go back to play their playoff games there. Sounds about as likely as Raymond Villeneuve replacing Canadian Idol's Audrey de Montigny for the singing of "O Canada" before Sunday's game, now doesn't it?

Pigskin prognosticator

The Alouettes and Argonauts met under the same conditions last year, with a trip to the Grey Cup on the line and the Als winning 35-18 in a game that was closer than the final score indicated.

This time around don't expect such a lopsided score. The Argonauts are clicking on both sides of the ball, and while the Als closed out the season with a win, it should take them a quarter or so to match the Boatmen's intensity.

The Als will have to mix up their pass-heavy offence, since the Argonauts will drop seven or eight defenders back into coverage, knowing full well the Als can't run the football. Expect to see a couple of reverses and other trick plays to try to keep the defence honest.

But as good as A.C. and company are, the game will be won or lost by the Als' defence and their ability to stuff Michael Jenkins and force the Argos into second-and-long situations. When all is said and done, the home field advantage could be the deciding factor for two teams that are more evenly matched than appears. We say the Als secondary saves the day with a late interception.

Final Score: Montreal 29, Toronto 23

Western Final: Edmonton 33, Saskatchewan 30

All-Star Panel of Experts

It seems as though every rag in town has a panel of so-called experts picking games, so we decided to round up our own crew. Here are their picks…

Montreal's hardcore queen Tangerine Dream picks Montreal 27-14; Edmonton 40-24.

Homeless guy Lucky picks Toronto 41-31; Edmonton 29-14.

Angry pit bull Schwing picks Montreal 38-18; Saskatchewan 31-28.

Shameless plug

Sports Rage is celebrating its first anniversary at Club 1 (1186 Crescent), Friday, Nov. 7. Musical guests, various athletes and surprises. $5 at door, 9 p.m.

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