CFR 50- Round 1 HOT TAKES

Tonight marks the highly anticipated kickoff of the Canadian Finals Rodeo, where the country’s top 12 teams will compete for the coveted Canadian title. On the heel side, Jeremy Buhler, Canada's own team roping legend, leads with $47,947 in season earnings, an impressive $16,700 ahead of second-place heeler Logan Spady. The head side, however, is a tight and competitive race, with Kash Bonnett in the #1 spot at $30,905, holding a mere $587 lead over second-place header Kavis Drake.

With five rounds offering $11,100 to each night’s champion, the competition is wide open and anything can happen. Adding to the excitement are past Canadian champions such as Dawson and Dillon Graham and Brady Tryan and Calgary Smith, coming in near the bottom of the pack, these teams will ensure fast-paced action throughout the entire week.

We caught up with some of Canada’s top ropers and influencers for their predictions and insights ahead of Round 1.

Tate & Kagen Schmidt:

Question: Who's going to win Round 1 and how fast?

Tate: I think I got to go with the Grahams. I can't really bet against em, they win the 1st round and I'm going to say they go 4.0.

Kagen: Man I'm gonna have to go with Daws & Dill in Round 1, it's hard to beat Dawson on that yellow and Dillon on 'Cruz' to begin with and with their backs against the wall, there's no doubt what their gameplan will be.

Question: Who wins the average?

Tate: The average goes to Trey & Jeremy. Since Trey started roping with Jerry, he never misses anymore and just turns em all. And it turns out he can still get it off as fast as any header out there, I think he turns every one to be 4.6 or faster.

Question: Who wins it all?

Tate: That's where I am stuck at. I think it'll be a split champion but I don't know who the header is yet. I think it'll be Kash or Tee, that's my little prediction.

Kagen: Trey and Jerry to win the average and Canada. I heard Trey might be riding Koby Ziemmer's buckskin and after his interview with you, I think they'll go catch 5 and be fast without even trying.

Travis Speer:

Question: Who's going to win Round 1 and how fast?

Travis: I think it'll be Levi Schmidt & Braden Brost or Kavis Drake & Denim Ross. I just feel like it'll be a younger team that takes the first one. Especially with Levi & Kavis, they're both so deadly in those situations. I don't think either one of them is trying for the average, I think they're going to try to get as much money as they can in the rounds. I feel like they're going to shoot for the go rounds and one of those teams get the first one. 4.3 wins first tonight.

Question: Who wins the average?

Travis: Roland and Tyrel or Kash and Logan. Kash & Logan like playing the average game but I do feel like they'll also get a go round win this week. I just feel like they'll go 4.5 in 1 round just doing their thing and it'll be good enough to win one of those rounds. Roland and Tyrel are good shit. Roland's so sharp on the head side and I bet he turns all 5 and Tyrel's going to take his shot and make sure they stay in it.

Question: Who wins it all?

Travis: I really feel like Trey and Jerry. If Trey ropes like he did last year, it's going to be Trey and Jerry. Trey is just so deadly in those situations and then Jerry, he's frickin Jerry. He's on a whole different level this year. It'll be tough to beat them at the end of 5.

Logan Groves:

Question: Who's going to win Round 1 and how fast?

Logan: I’m going with Kavis Drake & Denim Ross, 4.0. They’re hot coming off a 4.0 in Hanna and they’re just so good in them buildings. I mean we seen what they did in Regina last November.

Question: Who wins the average?

Logan: I'm gonna go with the cagey veterans, Pony & Tyrel, they just don’t miss.

Question: Who wins it all?

Logan: I think I gotta go with Trey & Jerry, they’ll be good in the average too and get some round money. They can just be so fast on a short rope. They got that dog in em.

Brett Buss:

Question: Who's going to win Round 1 and how fast?

Brett: I'm going to with the Grahams for round 1 with a 4.0.

Question: Who wins the average?

Brett: I'm gonna go with the veterans, Roland McFadden & Tyrel Flewelling. They're just winners and I'm gonna go with them for the average win.

Question: Who wins it all?

Brett: I think there's a chance of it being split titles this year with the lead that Jerry has got. So I'm going to go with Jerry for the heeling. I think on the head side it will be between Trey & Kavis. I know Kavis is a rookie but that kid has got ice water in his veins.

Cowboi Cole:

Question: Who's going to win Round 1 and how fast?

Cole: I think I have to stick with Kolton Schmidt & Landen Glenn, Kolton's horse power is next level. 4.1 wins it tonight.

Question: Who wins the average?

Cole: Kash and Spady, I think they'll be fast and solid. They're my pick for the average champs.

Question: Who wins it all?

Cole: Trey Gallais gets his 1st one and Jeremy Buhler makes that happen. There is no way, those 2 guys don't catch 5. It'll be tight and right, nobody gets tighter then Jeremy Buhler. They'll just chip away at them all week, they'll place good in the rounds and they will have won enough in the rounds to hold em.

Around The Saddle Horn:

Round 1- A little birdy told me that Tee McLeod has won every 1st Round that he has been at with a 4.3 and to bet against a guy with a 100% batting average would just be silly so that's my pick for Round 1. Plus, if you seen Tee & Sid's run in Mandan at the Roughrider cup 2 weeks ago, you know what these guys are all about.

Average- I'm going with Kolton Schmidt and Landen Glenn, the word on the street is that Kolton will be riding Logan Bonnett's great horse 'Tito'. When you put a guy of Kolton's caliber on a superstar horse like that, there's no way he doesn't spin five good ones for Glenn to come around the corner and lick up.

Champs- It's hard to bet against Trey Gallais & Jeremy Buhler with the year that they just had, but since everyone else is picking them... I'm gonna say that Kash Bonnett and Logan Spady win their 1st Canadian titles by placing deep in the average and winning 3/5 go rounds. We seen how hot the pair finished off the regular season and I think they keep the ball rolling this week in Edmonton.