Courtesy Winnipeg Sun:

The bookmakers have set their betting line, and the Winnipeg Blue Bombers will be prohibitive underdogs in this Sunday’s Grey Cup.

The Saskatchewan Roughriders are a whopping 111/2-point favourites to beat the Bombers at Rogers Centre, primarily because Winnipeg will be going with backup quarterback Ryan Dinwiddie.

Starter Kevin Glenn broke his left arm in Sunday’s 19-9 win over the Toronto Argonauts in the East Division final.

“It’s a weird situation,” Bombers middle linebacker Barrin Simpson said after the game. “We’re losing our ace pitcher right now, and that’s always tough.

“It may make us underdogs, but we like being underdogs.”

WAR OF WORDS, PART II? Roughriders defensive tackle Scott Schultz had some strong words after his team’s win over the B.C. Lions in the West Division final.

“We are a freight train right now that cannot be stopped,” he told Sun Media. “This is huge for Saskatchewan. It’s unbelievable what this team has come together and done. Unbelievable.

“We’re going to rule (Toronto) this week. All of our fans from across the nation are invited. There’s only one team there. The Roughriders.”

To which Doug Brown, a Bombers defensive tackle, had this to say: “Scott Schultz should know better than to run his mouth. He should know better, because of what happened this week.”

In case you missed it, Argos linebacker Kevin Eiben guaranteed that the Bombers wouldn’t score more than 10 points on Sunday. They scored 19.

AN OMEN? Here’s a quirky stat that should give Bomber fans some hope for Sunday.

Five of the past seven Grey Cup champions hosted the big game the year before they won. The B.C. Lions (2006 and 2000), Edmonton Eskimos (2003), Montreal Alouettes (2002) and Calgary Stampeders (2001) all served as hosts the previous November.

Last year’s Grey Cup, of course, was played at Canad Inns Stadium in Winnipeg.

BEEN THERE, DONE THAT: The Bombers have two players on their active roster who own Grey Cup rings.

Defensive back Kelly Malveaux won a championship in 2001 with the Calgary Stampeders (who defeated the Bombers), and kick returner Keith Stokes picked one up with the Montreal Alouettes in 2002.

“I’m elated. I’m so elated. I’m jacked,” Malveaux said. “It’s my third Grey Cup. I’ve won one, lost one, and hey, hopefully the third time’s a charm, baby.”

The Bombers also have two practice roster players, Marcus Winn and Jabari Issa, who helped the Edmonton Eskimos capture the 2005 Cup.

Winnipeg has 14 players on its active roster who have participated in a Grey Cup, and their combined record in the big game is 2-16.