Week 9 of the CFL season is already underway with the Ottawa Redblacks upsetting the Edmonton Elks on Tuesday. All of our contributors picked Edmonton, so their ‘L’s are reflected in the records at the bottom.
There are three juicy divisional games on the docket this weekend, including a key game between two top teams in the West Division, a chance for Montreal to stop their losing streak, and an opportunity for the Riders to bury the lowly Stamps.
Without further ado, here are the picks.
Friday, October 1
Winnipeg Blue Bombers at B.C. Lions, 10:00 p.m. EST
Betting Line: Bombers -1.5
Lucky Whitehead faces his former team for the first time since departing for B.C. via free agency. Winnipeg is on a four-game winning streak, but Michael Reilly knows how to light it up at BC Place. If the Lions want to host a playoff game this season, this game is a must-win for the Orange and Black.
DUNK: Winnipeg off a bye WITH the best defence in the league… BOMBERS
HODGE: Winnipeg extends their winning streak. BOMBERS
ABBOTT: B.C. will need four huge plays to beat a team as consistent as Winnipeg. Odds are they get four. BOMBERS
BALLANTINE: Winnerpeg keeps rolling. BOMBERS
FILOSO: I’m not picking against Winnipeg until they give me a reason to. BOMBERS
GASSON: Big test for B.C. but Winnipeg prevails. BOMBERS
HUDSON: I’m taking Winnipeg, but admittedly I want to see Reilly/Whitehead disrupt the boring weekly power rankings. BOMBERS
LUDWIG: The Lions mostly carried play against Saskatchewan. This week, that will be significantly harder. BOMBERS
MCGUIRE: The Leos should put a scare into them, but just a scare. BOMBERS
SMITH: It is tempting to take the Lions at home, but it is almost impossible to pick against Winnipeg right now. BOMBERS
BOMBERS 10
LIONS 0
Saturday, October 2
Montreal Alouettes at Hamilton Tiger-Cats, 4:00 p.m. EST
Betting Line: Ticats -2.5
Jeremiah Masoli will likely be back under centre for the Ticats for the first time since Week 2 when he was injured in Saskatchewan. Vernon Adams Jr. is looking to end his Jekyll-and-Hyde routine and snap a two-game losing streak, particularly with Ottawa now just a half-game behind them in the standings.
DUNK: The Tiger-Cats are about to be humming. TICATS
HODGE: Hamilton’s getting healthy at the right time. TICATS
ABBOTT: Vernon Adams Jr. is due for one of his signature heroic performances. I have a feeling it comes this week. ALS
BALLANTINE: Adams keeps going deep to no avail. TICATS
FILOSO: I’ll give the home team the edge. TICATS
GASSON: The Ticats are back and humming. TICATS
HUDSON: Rumours of Masoli’s return and Hamilton’s D-line pressuring Adams into mistakes. TICATS
LUDWIG: With Ticats reinforcements coming, the outcome for Montreal should be a close game but their floor is a Week 4 repeat. TICATS
MCGUIRE: Montreal has a little more stability at QB. ALS
SMITH: Vernon Adams Jr. is prone to making a couple of boneheaded plays a game and you can’t do that against Hamilton’s defence. TICATS
ALS 2
TICATS 8
Saturday, October 2
Saskatchewan Roughriders at Calgary Stampeders, 7:00 p.m. EST
Betting Line: Riders -2.5
Craig Dickenson sees this as Saskatchewan’s “toughest game to date,” which is wild considering Calgary is 2-5. Bo Levi Mitchell will be looking to get back on track after being pulled in his most recent game as the Stamps look to get out of the basement of the West Division.
DUNK: Because Bo Levi Mitchell. STAMPS
HODGE: Saskatchewan plunges the dagger into Calgary’s coffin. RIDERS
ABBOTT: Calgary is in trouble offensively. RIDERS
BALLANTINE: Calgary’s run starts now. STAMPS
FILOSO: Saskatchewan is playing good football, Calgary is not. RIDERS
GASSON: Saskatchewan starts to lock down second in the west. RIDERS
HUDSON: Bo missing Jorden and maybe other receivers? Not enough weapons. RIDERS
LUDWIG: Hard to see how Calgary scores enough points. RIDERS
MCGUIRE: Saskatchewan’s quarterback is on a roll while Calgary’s isn’t. RIDERS
SMITH: Stamps off a bye and at home used to be automatic, but these aren’t the Stamps of old. RIDERS
RIDERS 8
STAMPS 2
Gasson 19-12
Dunk 17-14
Hudson 17-14
Hodge 15-16
McGuire 15-16
Ludwig 14-17
Smith 13-18
Ballantine 11-20
Filoso 10-21
Abbott 8-23
