<h2>Finding the Needle in the Haystack for the 2005 CFL Season</h2>
by Ron Raymond of the PST
Preparation is the key to all successful endeavors…
Rule number one of sports handicapping, you must do your homework! You wouldn’t buy stocks or enter a job interview without proper preparation right? That same logic should be applied to sports handicapping.
The CFL season is vastly approaching and if you’ve been following the off-season activities, you know some teams have been very busy with player personnel and strengthening their management ownership. When the CFL regular season schedule came out February 28th, it was time to roll up the sleeves and get back to work, as the holidays were over!
In Week 1, the 2005 CFL campaign will preview a Grey Cup rematch in Toronto, as the Lions couldn’t have asked for a better revenge situation to kick off the season vs. the defending champion Argonauts. Following Week 1, there will be some high-energized crowds for Canada Day games in Ottawa and Calgary. There will be tons of pressure for the Stamps in this one, as they’ve made some big sweeping changes in the off season and there will be tons of expectation during the first few weeks for Tom Higgins and staff.
Without breaking down the whole season in one article, here are some other key dates to watch out for this season. The Argos will feel as if they have a big bulls-eye on their back for the first month, as Montreal is waiting in line for a piece of the Boatmen in Week 6, as they lost at home to Toronto last season in the Eastern Division Semi-Finals. Which I’m sure, probably left a bad taste in Don Matthews mouth, as Toronto was pretty vocal during Grey Cup week and asking reporters “where’s Montreal?” as in that’s what most expert predicted. Plus, Labor Day wouldn’t be the same without our Monday classics! Nothing beats a Toronto vs. Hamilton showdown in Steel town and an Edmonton vs. Calgary matchup in Alberta.
Here’s a team-by-team “Cole’s Note” type cheat sheet for the upcoming CFL season.
<b>Montreal:</b>
<ul>
<li>Week 2: @Ottawa - Montreal is 4-11-1 ATS as a RF on Friday games</li>
<li>Week 5: @Winnipeg -13 days rest, look ahead to Toronto</li>
<li>Week 6: vs. Toronto - Montreal is 16-2 SU as a home favorite on Thursday</li>
<li>Week 7: vs. Sask - Between Division Sandwich, look ahead spot to Toronto</li>
<li>Week 13: @B.C. - 14 days rest</li>
<li>Week 17: vs. B.C.- look ahead to Toronto</li>
</ul>
<b>Ottawa:</b>
<ul>
<li>Week 2: Big game vs. Montreal at home vs. Montreal - Ottawa 5-1 ATS as home dog week 1-4</li>
<li>Week 8: Sask is 2-18 SU on Thursday games</li>
<li>Week 14: @Cal - 3rd game in 14days, After 2 game home stand</li>
<li>Week 18: @Ham - after a bye, look ahead to Montreal at home</li>
</ul>
<b>Toronto</b>
<ul>
<li>Week 1: vs. B.C. - The UNDER is 14-4 in Week 1-4 for Toronto</li>
<li>Week 2: @Calgary - Toronto is 2-4 ATS as AF during Week 1-4</li>
<li>Week 4: @B.C.- before bye and 3rd game in 14days</li>
<li>Week 6: @ Montreal - sluggish after a bye vs. Montreal (Revenge game for Als)</li>
<li>Week 6: vs. Winnipeg - 2nd game in 3 days Between division sandwich, before bye</li>
<li>Week 11: @ Hamilton - Labor day classic</li>
<li>Week 16: Thanksgiving game vs. Edmonton </li>
<li>Week 17: @Winnipeg look ahead to Montreal next week</li>
<li>Week 19: vs. Hamilton 3 games in 11 days</li>
</ul>
<b>Hamilton</b>
<ul>
<li>Week 2: vs. Sask - Hamilton is 9-3 SU as Home Favorite during week 1-4</li>
<li>Week 4: after a bye and 14 days off - back to back games vs. Sask</li>
<li>Week 7: vs. Ottawa coming off 4 Non-division games</li>
<li>Week 10: vs. Winnipeg - letdown spot for Hamilton, Toronto on deck next week labor day </li>
<li>Week 13: vs. Calgary - letdown spot after 2 Argos game and before a bye</li>
<li>Week 17: @Calgary - between division sandwich vs. Ottawa</li>
</ul>
<b>Winnipeg</b>
<ul>
<li>Week 2: vs. Edmonton - Winnipeg is 0-9 SU as Home Dog during Week 1-4 since ‘96</li>
<li>Week 3: vs. Calgary - 3rd game in 12 days</li>
<li>Week 11: @Sask - Labor day classic after 3 non division games</li>
<li>Week 12: vs. Sask in back to back games</li>
<li>Week 16: vs. B.C. Thanksgiving day game after 2 game road trip</li>
<li>Week 17: vs. Toronto between division sandwich</li>
</ul>
<b>Saskatchewan</b>
<ul>
<li>Week 1: vs. Winnipeg - The OVER is 14-5 during Week 1-4</li>
<li>Week 3: @Toronto - Sask is 12-5 ATS during Week 1-4 on the road.</li>
<li>Week 5: @Calgary - after 5 days rest and coming off 3 non-division games tough spot</li>
<li>Week 7: @Montreal - Sask is 3-18 SU on Thursday games</li>
<li>Week 8: @Ottawa - Sask is 3-18 SU on Thursday games</li>
<li>Week 10: vs. B.C. after bye and 15days rest. After 3 non-division games. Tough spot</li>
<li>Week 11: vs. Winnipeg - Labor day classic</li>
<li>Week 12: @Winnipeg back to back game, after 2 game home stand</li>
<li>Week 14: vs. Toronto, between division sandwich and 3rd game in 4 days</li>
</ul>
<b>Edmonton</b>
<ul>
<li>Week 3: Caught between division sandwich @ Montreal</li>
<li>Week 9: sluggish after a bye week and 14 days off vs. Toronto</li>
<li>Week 11: Labor day @Calgary after a 2 game home stand</li>
<li>Week 12: Back to back game vs. Calgary on 3 days rest</li>
</ul>
<b>Calgary</b>
<ul>
<li>Week 2: vs. Toronto on Canada Day after a bye week of week 1 - Calgary is 0-6 SU as a home dog during Week 1-4</li>
<li>Week 4: @ Ottawa caught between Division Sandwich</li>
<li>Week 9: @ Montreal After 2 game home stand and after 4 division games</li>
<li>Week 10: @Toronto - 3rd game in 13 days and look ahead to Labor day classic</li>
<li>Week 11: vs. Edmonton - Labor Day Classic and after 2 game road trip</li>
<li>Week 12: @ Edmonton - back to back games on 3 days rest</li>
<li>Week 14: vs. Ottawa - after 2 game road trip and 3rd game in 13 days</li>
<li>Week 18: @Sask - after 3 game home stand and after 4 non division game</li>
</ul>
<b>B.C.Lions</b>
<ul>
<li>Week 1: @Toronto - Grey Cup rematch and before bye </li>
<li>Week 3: vs. Ottawa - B.C. is 3-10-1 ATS as a HF during Week 1-4</li>
<li>Week 7: vs. Edmonton - Final of 4 out of 5 home games</li>
<li>Week 9: vs. Hamilton between division sandwich</li>
<li>Week 16
Winnipeg - Thanksgiving game</li>
<li>Week 17: @Montreal - caught between division sandwich</li>
<li>Week 19: @Edmonton - 3rd game in 12 days</li>
</ul>
by Ron Raymond of the PST
Preparation is the key to all successful endeavors…
Rule number one of sports handicapping, you must do your homework! You wouldn’t buy stocks or enter a job interview without proper preparation right? That same logic should be applied to sports handicapping.
The CFL season is vastly approaching and if you’ve been following the off-season activities, you know some teams have been very busy with player personnel and strengthening their management ownership. When the CFL regular season schedule came out February 28th, it was time to roll up the sleeves and get back to work, as the holidays were over!
In Week 1, the 2005 CFL campaign will preview a Grey Cup rematch in Toronto, as the Lions couldn’t have asked for a better revenge situation to kick off the season vs. the defending champion Argonauts. Following Week 1, there will be some high-energized crowds for Canada Day games in Ottawa and Calgary. There will be tons of pressure for the Stamps in this one, as they’ve made some big sweeping changes in the off season and there will be tons of expectation during the first few weeks for Tom Higgins and staff.
Without breaking down the whole season in one article, here are some other key dates to watch out for this season. The Argos will feel as if they have a big bulls-eye on their back for the first month, as Montreal is waiting in line for a piece of the Boatmen in Week 6, as they lost at home to Toronto last season in the Eastern Division Semi-Finals. Which I’m sure, probably left a bad taste in Don Matthews mouth, as Toronto was pretty vocal during Grey Cup week and asking reporters “where’s Montreal?” as in that’s what most expert predicted. Plus, Labor Day wouldn’t be the same without our Monday classics! Nothing beats a Toronto vs. Hamilton showdown in Steel town and an Edmonton vs. Calgary matchup in Alberta.
Here’s a team-by-team “Cole’s Note” type cheat sheet for the upcoming CFL season.
<b>Montreal:</b>
<ul>
<li>Week 2: @Ottawa - Montreal is 4-11-1 ATS as a RF on Friday games</li>
<li>Week 5: @Winnipeg -13 days rest, look ahead to Toronto</li>
<li>Week 6: vs. Toronto - Montreal is 16-2 SU as a home favorite on Thursday</li>
<li>Week 7: vs. Sask - Between Division Sandwich, look ahead spot to Toronto</li>
<li>Week 13: @B.C. - 14 days rest</li>
<li>Week 17: vs. B.C.- look ahead to Toronto</li>
</ul>
<b>Ottawa:</b>
<ul>
<li>Week 2: Big game vs. Montreal at home vs. Montreal - Ottawa 5-1 ATS as home dog week 1-4</li>
<li>Week 8: Sask is 2-18 SU on Thursday games</li>
<li>Week 14: @Cal - 3rd game in 14days, After 2 game home stand</li>
<li>Week 18: @Ham - after a bye, look ahead to Montreal at home</li>
</ul>
<b>Toronto</b>
<ul>
<li>Week 1: vs. B.C. - The UNDER is 14-4 in Week 1-4 for Toronto</li>
<li>Week 2: @Calgary - Toronto is 2-4 ATS as AF during Week 1-4</li>
<li>Week 4: @B.C.- before bye and 3rd game in 14days</li>
<li>Week 6: @ Montreal - sluggish after a bye vs. Montreal (Revenge game for Als)</li>
<li>Week 6: vs. Winnipeg - 2nd game in 3 days Between division sandwich, before bye</li>
<li>Week 11: @ Hamilton - Labor day classic</li>
<li>Week 16: Thanksgiving game vs. Edmonton </li>
<li>Week 17: @Winnipeg look ahead to Montreal next week</li>
<li>Week 19: vs. Hamilton 3 games in 11 days</li>
</ul>
<b>Hamilton</b>
<ul>
<li>Week 2: vs. Sask - Hamilton is 9-3 SU as Home Favorite during week 1-4</li>
<li>Week 4: after a bye and 14 days off - back to back games vs. Sask</li>
<li>Week 7: vs. Ottawa coming off 4 Non-division games</li>
<li>Week 10: vs. Winnipeg - letdown spot for Hamilton, Toronto on deck next week labor day </li>
<li>Week 13: vs. Calgary - letdown spot after 2 Argos game and before a bye</li>
<li>Week 17: @Calgary - between division sandwich vs. Ottawa</li>
</ul>
<b>Winnipeg</b>
<ul>
<li>Week 2: vs. Edmonton - Winnipeg is 0-9 SU as Home Dog during Week 1-4 since ‘96</li>
<li>Week 3: vs. Calgary - 3rd game in 12 days</li>
<li>Week 11: @Sask - Labor day classic after 3 non division games</li>
<li>Week 12: vs. Sask in back to back games</li>
<li>Week 16: vs. B.C. Thanksgiving day game after 2 game road trip</li>
<li>Week 17: vs. Toronto between division sandwich</li>
</ul>
<b>Saskatchewan</b>
<ul>
<li>Week 1: vs. Winnipeg - The OVER is 14-5 during Week 1-4</li>
<li>Week 3: @Toronto - Sask is 12-5 ATS during Week 1-4 on the road.</li>
<li>Week 5: @Calgary - after 5 days rest and coming off 3 non-division games tough spot</li>
<li>Week 7: @Montreal - Sask is 3-18 SU on Thursday games</li>
<li>Week 8: @Ottawa - Sask is 3-18 SU on Thursday games</li>
<li>Week 10: vs. B.C. after bye and 15days rest. After 3 non-division games. Tough spot</li>
<li>Week 11: vs. Winnipeg - Labor day classic</li>
<li>Week 12: @Winnipeg back to back game, after 2 game home stand</li>
<li>Week 14: vs. Toronto, between division sandwich and 3rd game in 4 days</li>
</ul>
<b>Edmonton</b>
<ul>
<li>Week 3: Caught between division sandwich @ Montreal</li>
<li>Week 9: sluggish after a bye week and 14 days off vs. Toronto</li>
<li>Week 11: Labor day @Calgary after a 2 game home stand</li>
<li>Week 12: Back to back game vs. Calgary on 3 days rest</li>
</ul>
<b>Calgary</b>
<ul>
<li>Week 2: vs. Toronto on Canada Day after a bye week of week 1 - Calgary is 0-6 SU as a home dog during Week 1-4</li>
<li>Week 4: @ Ottawa caught between Division Sandwich</li>
<li>Week 9: @ Montreal After 2 game home stand and after 4 division games</li>
<li>Week 10: @Toronto - 3rd game in 13 days and look ahead to Labor day classic</li>
<li>Week 11: vs. Edmonton - Labor Day Classic and after 2 game road trip</li>
<li>Week 12: @ Edmonton - back to back games on 3 days rest</li>
<li>Week 14: vs. Ottawa - after 2 game road trip and 3rd game in 13 days</li>
<li>Week 18: @Sask - after 3 game home stand and after 4 non division game</li>
</ul>
<b>B.C.Lions</b>
<ul>
<li>Week 1: @Toronto - Grey Cup rematch and before bye </li>
<li>Week 3: vs. Ottawa - B.C. is 3-10-1 ATS as a HF during Week 1-4</li>
<li>Week 7: vs. Edmonton - Final of 4 out of 5 home games</li>
<li>Week 9: vs. Hamilton between division sandwich</li>
<li>Week 16
Winnipeg - Thanksgiving game</li><li>Week 17: @Montreal - caught between division sandwich</li>
<li>Week 19: @Edmonton - 3rd game in 12 days</li>
</ul>
