Canadian Bacon
Friday, November 6
Edmonton Eskimos at B.C. Lions (-4, 54)
The Eskimos and the Lions will possibly battle for the last available playoff spot. Only a Blue Bombers loss to the Tiger Cats could prevent one of these western teams from starting their vacations Monday and allow them to come back next week as crossovers in the East semifinals. B.C. has not missed the playoffs in the last 12 years. The Lions won their two games against the Eskimos earlier this season by scores of 40-22 and 34-31. Geroy Simon and Paris Jackson gained at least 100 yards each time they played the Eskimos this season.
This time, the Esks will face the new protégé of coach Wally Buono, QB Casey Printers who gained 676 yards on 41 completed passes with two touchdowns in his last two games. The Eskimos are dead last in the CFL when it comes to stop the pass, having conceded 5016 yards through the air in 17 games. Also take note that the Eskimos won only two of their last six games and these wins were obtained against the mediocre Argonauts. They will be without wide receiver Maurice Mann, who suffered a leg injury and will probably be without kick returner Tristan Jackson, who has the flu. Like if it was not enough to make the scale tip in favour of the Lions, RB Martell Mallett and safety Barron Miles will be back in B.C.’s lineup.
Pick: B.C. -4
Saturday, November 7
Montreal Alouettes at Toronto Argonauts (+9.5, 48)
Excluded from the playoff picture, the Argonauts are already preparing for 2010. So nobody will be surprised that they will take this opportunity to start with rookie QB Stephen Reaves. He can’t really do worse against the Als than Kerry Joseph or Cody Pickett. On the other side, the Alouettes, who secured first place and the privilege of hosting the East Finals, will try to write a new chapter in the history of the franchise by finishing the regular season with a 15-3 record. Ironically, that would also be the first time a CFL team can boast such a record since the 1997 Toronto Argonauts coached by Don Matthews.
Quarterback Anthony Calvillo will start as will most of the usual Alouettes starters. Safety Matthieu Proulx, who suffered a fracture to his left hand, won’t make the trip to Toronto. This being said, head coach Marc Trestman held a practice for only the backup players and made no secret that he would like to play everyone against the Argos. The Alouettes lineup might become unrecognizable in the second half but that doesn’t matter because there’s a good chance that even the Als’ B-squad can shut down the pathetic Argos offence.
Pick: Montreal -9.5
Calgary Stampeders at Saskatchewan Roughriders (-1.5, 55)
This will certainly be the most exciting game of this last weekend of the regular season. This game will decide who finishes first and earns a week off before hosting the West Final November 22. For the Roughriders, a division championship would be a first in thirty three years. The Riders and Stampeders met twice this season and in both occasions, it has been extremely close. Saskatchewan won the first one by 24-23 and then on October 17, these two teams took a 44-44 draw in OT.
But last week in Hamilton, the Roughriders didn’t look like a potential champion. They conceded 196 rushing yards, 159 alone to DeAndra’ Cobb and QB Darian Durant completed only eight of the 20 passes for a meagre 66 yards, no touchdown and one pick. If the Riders defense can’t do better stopping the run, imagine the kind of field day the best RB in the country, Joffrey Reynolds, will have. There’s a possibility that the Roughriders will come up stronger and make people forget an awful performance, especially in front of their home fans. But that may not be enough against a more talented Stampeders team that is playing with the consciousness that each win brings them closer to their main goal - to defend their Grey Cup title at home.
Pick: Calgary +1.5
Sunday, November 8
Hamilton Tiger Cats at Winnipeg Blue Bombers (-1.5, 50)
The last time these two teams faced each other the Bombers pounded the Tiger Cats on Thanksgiving. But things have changed since that day. The Tiger Cats are coming to Winnipeg with renewed confidence after a surprising 24-6 win against the Saskatchewan Roughriders last week. It’s quite the opposite for Winnipeg, which after inflicting a huge loss to the Alouettes, got whipped in return in Montreal last Sunday. Blue Bombers quarterback Michael Bishop demonstrated that as much is he capable of great performances, he is also capable of the worst.
His opponent, QB Kevin Glenn, has been gifted with the luxury of an offensive line that didn’t allow a single sack over the last three weeks, giving him the time to tally 233 passing yards against the Riders. The same offensive line creates openings for the running game and DeAndra’ Cobb makes the most of the opportunities, averaging almost six yards per carry. It should be interesting to see how the front seven of the Bombers will get to a Kevin Glenn, who will be motivated against the team that got rid of him. Also consider the Tiger Cats players will be fully aware that a victory in this game would lead to an East Division semifinal in Hamilton, something their city has not seen in 10 years.
Pick: Hamilton +1.5
