Canadian Bacon
CFL Week 9 preview and picks
Calgary Stampeders at Toronto Argonauts (+7, 54)
Last time these two teams met, the Stampeders stomped all over the Argonauts 44-9. Calgary’s defence scored three touchdowns on turnovers. Since then, Cody Pickett has taken over and will get a second straight start at QB for the boatmen. But one can wonder if his offensive line will do better than they did in the July 17 game where Kerry Joseph was sacked six times. The Stamps have won they’re last four games against the Argos, a streak that started on the last game of the 2007 season.
Some stats to consider: They have the second best record for most points scored with 238. The Argos are dead last with only 134. The Stamps lead the CFL with an average of 34 points scored per game. The Argos, again, are last with an average of 19.1 points a game. Calgary has scored 22 touchdowns so far this year, while the Argos only scored 11.
Both teams are coming off a bye week and show a losing record, but the Stampeders have lost a few close ones against division rivals like Saskatchewan and Edmonton, two teams that have to be considered quite superior to the Argos who should extend their club record losing streak at home to 10.
Pick: Calgary -7
Hamilton Tiger Cats at Edmonton Eskimos (-7.5, 53)
The Tiger Cats could match their highest victory total of the last five years with a win in Edmonton - and they still will have 10 games to play this season. Hamilton has improved, no doubt about it, but they still have many issues to resolve and that starts at the QB position. Quinton Porter is the starter but has he been replaced three times already during the course of a game by veteran Kevin Glenn. In order to win consistently, the Tiger Cats need better performances from Porter.
The Eskimos are one of the rare teams in the CFL this year where there’s no doubt about the identity of the starting QB. Ricky Ray is currently the third-best QB in the league, stats wise, behind Anthony Calvillo and Henry Burris. He can also count on two excellent receivers in Fred Stamps and Maurice Mann, while running back Arkee Whitlock has established himself as a threat on the ground after a rocky start in the CFL.
But the TiCats have allowed the second-fewest points per game and they are the best when it comes to avoiding turnovers with only 14 giveaways. I still think Edmonton will win this one at home but it won’t be a walk in the park for the Eskimos.
Pick: Hamilton +7.5
(Last Week 1-1, season 17-13)
CFL Week 9 preview and picks
Calgary Stampeders at Toronto Argonauts (+7, 54)
Last time these two teams met, the Stampeders stomped all over the Argonauts 44-9. Calgary’s defence scored three touchdowns on turnovers. Since then, Cody Pickett has taken over and will get a second straight start at QB for the boatmen. But one can wonder if his offensive line will do better than they did in the July 17 game where Kerry Joseph was sacked six times. The Stamps have won they’re last four games against the Argos, a streak that started on the last game of the 2007 season.
Some stats to consider: They have the second best record for most points scored with 238. The Argos are dead last with only 134. The Stamps lead the CFL with an average of 34 points scored per game. The Argos, again, are last with an average of 19.1 points a game. Calgary has scored 22 touchdowns so far this year, while the Argos only scored 11.
Both teams are coming off a bye week and show a losing record, but the Stampeders have lost a few close ones against division rivals like Saskatchewan and Edmonton, two teams that have to be considered quite superior to the Argos who should extend their club record losing streak at home to 10.
Pick: Calgary -7
Hamilton Tiger Cats at Edmonton Eskimos (-7.5, 53)
The Tiger Cats could match their highest victory total of the last five years with a win in Edmonton - and they still will have 10 games to play this season. Hamilton has improved, no doubt about it, but they still have many issues to resolve and that starts at the QB position. Quinton Porter is the starter but has he been replaced three times already during the course of a game by veteran Kevin Glenn. In order to win consistently, the Tiger Cats need better performances from Porter.
The Eskimos are one of the rare teams in the CFL this year where there’s no doubt about the identity of the starting QB. Ricky Ray is currently the third-best QB in the league, stats wise, behind Anthony Calvillo and Henry Burris. He can also count on two excellent receivers in Fred Stamps and Maurice Mann, while running back Arkee Whitlock has established himself as a threat on the ground after a rocky start in the CFL.
But the TiCats have allowed the second-fewest points per game and they are the best when it comes to avoiding turnovers with only 14 giveaways. I still think Edmonton will win this one at home but it won’t be a walk in the park for the Eskimos.
Pick: Hamilton +7.5
(Last Week 1-1, season 17-13)
