CFL Week 1 Predictor:

CFL Football Riders Top Stories

With the CFL season set to kick-off tonight at Investors Group Field in Winnipeg.

So without further adieu here are my week one picks…

Feel free to submit your own and go toe to toe!

Montreal Alouettes @ Winnipeg Blue Bombers:

There are a pair of debuts in this game. Firstly, the Bombers will officially show off their new stadium to the rest of the country. Here’s hoping it goes a little smoother than opening night where some Bomber fans didn’t get into their seats until the end of the first quarter. The Bombers and University of Manitoba say they have some parking and access issues sorted out. We shall see.

The second debut is that of coach Dan Hawkins. Hired by the Als out of the states to replace Marc Trestman who took the Head Coaching gig with the Chicago Bears. It will be interesting to see the systems that this rookie has installed.

Three Keys To The Game:

Anthony Calvillo will pick up right where he left off with Marc Trestman. Calvillo is a vet, the all time leading passer in the sport and has a veteran receiving corp, and offensive line. AC should be ready come kick-off.

The Winnipeg offence all comes down to whether or not they can protect Quarterback Buck Pierce. Buck shed 25 lbs in the off-season to help him elude the pass rush. Not sure that the Bombers, though, have done enough personnel wise to help him, however, a new scheme may help. However, only putting up 7 pre-season points has to be a concern for Tim Burke who is entering his first full season as a Head Coach.

AND can Montreal’s ‘D’ step up. It appeared to me that the Als defence lost a little bit of their swagger last season. Can they stop the run and cover down field? Two big questions they will need to answer.

PREDICTION: I’m going with Montreal in what could be an ugly one for the home team at Investors Group Field.

Hamilton Tiger Cats @ Toronto Argonauts:

Kent Austin will make his debut with the Tabbies at Rogers Centre which should be buzzing as the Grey Cup Champion Argonauts will celebrate their 2012 title one more time.

Three Keys:

Will Kent Austin’s team be ready to implement his systems. Judging by their 55-0 drubbing of Winnipeg last week I would say so. Yes, that was only pre-season but Austin’s team’s whether he is the Head Coach or the O-C always seem to be a step ahead early in the season.

Toronto will have some swagger coming into this one. Can Hamilton’s ‘D’ stop Ricky Ray and his offence who are working together under the same system for a second consecutive season. The Tabbies ‘D’ was a sore spot throughout 2012. Some key vets were let go in the off-season time will tell if their younger replacements can step in and perform.

AND as mentioned Toronto will have some swagger but there is a fine line between confident and cocky. They cannot afford to be the latter in this game.

PREDICTION: A tight high scoring affair with Chad Owens being the difference on special teams as the Argos edge the Ti-Cats.

BC @ Calgary:

Many pundits are predicting these teams to be the pair that will battle for West Division supremacy.

Both are veteran groups with play makers on either side of the ball. Travis Lulay is undoubtedly the number one guy in BC, while Drew Tate will have a chance to show that he is ready to lead the Stamps. This should be a dandy at McMahon Stadium where emotions will be high afer the recent flooding events in Southern Alberta.

Three Keys:

Jon Cornish. He can be the best running back in the league especially with the blocking that he gets up front. If the Stamps can get production out of number nine they can control the clock and the game.

Travis Lulay’s receivers. With the departure of Geroy Simon and Arland Bruce has Wally Buono assembled enough talent to overcome their lack of experience. There are still some talented vets in that group who will need to find a way to get open in order to give Lulay a target.

PREDICTION: This should be the best game of the week! Hold on to your hats as Calgary should come away with the win in a low scoring affair.

Saskatchewan Roughriders @ Edmonton Eskimos

I know tha the Eskimos will never call it a rebuild but rather a retool. However, I am more inclined to call this an entire re-mold. General Manager Ed Hervey has made some sweeping changes in personnel and attitude. Can this team gel and come together. That is the question.

For the Riders they got old in the off-season with the addition of Geroy Simon, Ricky Foley, Dwight Anderson, Charlston Hughes and John Chick. The question now is can the vets and younger players gel and find consistent success.

Three Keys:

Kory Sheets needs to make an impact. The Rider offensive line was lit up by Calgary last week. More of a presence in the running game from Sheets will make a huge difference for the group.

Can Mike Reilly’s receivers get open. Reilly will be making his first start with the Eskimos after being acquired in the off-season from BC. Reilly’s receivers will need to see what he sees as he is the guy at quarterback after Matt Nichols went down with a season ending ACL injury in the first game of the pre-season.

The line. It’s pretty cliché to say the game will be won in the trenches, however, whichever offensive line can better protect their Quarterback and control the line of scrimmage will have the advantage.

PREDICTION: The game is going to be a closer one than some think. The Roughrider vets along the offensive and defensive lines will be the difference though, as Saskatchewan escapes Commonwealth Stadium with a rare victory.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.