Week 10 CFL Picks: Building On Another .750 Week:

CFL Football Top Stories

Another three for four week for this predictor… Just not the 3 for 4 week you may think… Yes I took Montreal to upset BC at home, however, I thought that Toronto would be able to continue their recent roll with a win at home over the Stamps. The 3 correct predictions did improve my overall season record to 24-8, though.

Now here’s what I see happening this Labour Day weekend across the Canadian Football League.

 

Hamilton Tiger-Cats at British Columbia Lions:

Tabbies: LW 37-14 win vs. WPG. Record 4-4 (2nd In East)

Leos: LW 39-38 loss at MTL. Record 5-3 (3rd in West)

Both teams come into this one with something to prove in order to assert them heading into the second half of the season. Here’s what to expect:

THREE KEYS:

In Hamilton success is spelt with a ‘D’… This game in a number of ways will come to whether or not the Hamilton defence can stop the big play of the BC Lions. The Tabbies are growing defensively but the question is have they grown enough?

Secondary needs to come up smelling like LaRoses’… A late game Hail Mary cost the Lions a win in week 9. A lot of the criticism has been heaped on the shoulders of safety JR LaRose. The Former Eskimo and Edmonton Huskie needs to live up to his potential in a quick way or this could be his last start in the CFL.

Hank can’t tank…. Henry Burris still has a penchant for making ill-advised decisions in the Red zone. With the quality of opponent that the BC Lions present Burris and the offence are going to need to manage the game and eliminate turnovers.

THE PRDICITION: While the Tiger-Cats have taken strides in the last few weeks one needs to consider that their 4 wins this season have come against Winnipeg and Edmonton. BC on the other hand was beaten by an unknown back-up quarterback for the second time this season. I’m going with B-C to put the loss behind them and perhaps school the Ti-cats by at least two scores.

 

Winnipeg Blue Bombers at Saskatchewan Roughriders:

Bombers: LW 37-14 loss at HAM. Record 1-7 (4th in East)

Riders: LW 30-27 win at EDM. Record 7-1 (1st in West)

Two teams heading in opposite directions collide. The questions though are intriguing; Have the Bombers hit rock bottom? Can the Riders continue to perform at a high level or will they play at the level of their opponent?

THREE KEYS:

Sheets runs downhill… Kory Sheets is now over 1000 yards rushing on the season. Can he continue that pace in the second half of the season?  One factor for Labour’s Day game will be the Winnipeg front 7 defensively. If Sheets can continue to find time and space they Riders should be well on their way to win number 8.

Pick A Pivot… So who starts at quarterback? The answer may come down to who is healthiest as all three pivots in Winnipeg are banged up with not a lot of help from their offensive line. Whoever it is will need to play mistake free against a hungry Rider offence.

Terrible Turnovers…  Turnovers are starting to creep into the Rider game as compared to the start of the season when they held on to the ball consistently. Meantime, the Bombers have not won the turnover battle in a game since week one. Retain the ball = win the game.

THE PREDICITION: Some are calling for this one to be a complete blowout and perhaps even a repeat shutout from last year. I don’t see it that way as it is every man for himself in Bomber-ville. That lack of cohesiveness and switch to more individual play leads me towards, SASKATCHEWAN, by a touchdown.

 

Edmonton Eskimos at Calgary Stampeders:

Eskies: LW 30-27 loss vs. SK. Record 1-7 (4th in West)

Stamps: LW 35-24 win at TOR. Record 6-2 (2nd in West)

The Battle of Alberta could shape up to be the game of the week as both teams may be playing their best ball of the season heading into this one.

THREE KEYS:

Envelope Stamps…. Fred Stamps leads the league in receptions and when the going gets tough for the Eskimos they go to Fred Stamps. The Stamps defence will be hard pressed to limit his productivity which they need to do to stop the Eskies.

Can Cornish… Jon Cornish appears poised to return to the line-up. The Eskimos were in tough trying to defend Kory Sheets last week especially when Odell Willis left the game. Willis is a question mark this week and if Cornish can pound away at the Eskimo front seven (the supposed strength of the Eskimos) it could be a long afternoon for the Edmonton defence.

O-Line needs an A… Quarterback Mike Reilly was beaten up by the Rider defence last week. The offensive line of Edmonton has been downright offensive this season. They will have their hands full with Calgary’s front four but they need to step it up and give Riley more protection.

THE PREDICITION: This could be a classic Labour Day beating laid down by the Stamps and the Eskimos record is not good in Calgary in this Classic. However, the Eskimo offence is really starting to round into form and if that offence can control the ball a little longer, establish Hugh Charles a little better and maybe just maybe force the Stamps into some mistakes we could have an upset. Call me crazy I think we are in for that upset but not by much, the Eskimos have lost their last 4 games by 12 points. This week I’m taking EDMONTON to win by no more than 3 points.

Montreal Alouettes at Toronto Argonauts:

Als: LW 39-38 win vs. BC. Record 3-5 (3rd in East)

Argos: LW 35-14 loss vs. CGY. Record 5-3 (1st in East)

Both teams are coming off very different statement games. The Argos had a chance to make a statement against Calgary but came up short. While Montreal made the statement that they are not yet ready to be put out to pasture. Another statement can be made by both this week.

THREE KEYS:

Infirmary… The Montreal Alouettes are beaten and bruised in so many ways while Toronto too has their share of injuries the Argonauts have shown the depth that they have amassed can fill in aptly. Can the Als do the same.

D-Fence… The Argo offence was lit up somewhat by the Stamps after a couple of preety good performances. It’s a young group on the defensive side of the ball of the Argos one that will need to step it up in order to get a Q.

Green in the Red zone…. S.J. Green, despite being the Alouettes seemingly lone offensive threat, continues to light it up in the score zone. Big catches, key blocks and great route running are all typical of an SJ Green game. If he can do it again the Als will have a chance.

THE PREDICITION: The Montreal Alouettes had an opportunity a couple of weeks back to try and make a statement against Toronto. That didn’t happen and even with Ricky Ray out for an extended period of time I don’t think it’s likely to happen either. Zach Collaros struggled to replace Ray last week but a week’s worth of first team reps will help that. In addition, the Alouettes offence even under the direction of Anthony Calvillo is beat up. Should Calvillo be back he will give the Als a chance. It’s a slim chance and I’m not going to go there as I’m taking TORONTO to win a tight defensive battle by less than a field goal.

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