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3DownNation CFL picks: can the Lions reel in West Division by beating Bombers?
We’ve reached Week 18 in the CFL season and the moment we’ve all been waiting for has arrived. The two top teams in the West Division will meet for a deciding matchup on Friday, likely setting the stage for the 2023 playoffs.
Our 3Down contributors are also making their playoff push, though nothing will be decided for them. J.C. Abbott (straight up) and Santino Filoso (against the spread) remain on top of their respective leaderboards, though each lead has shrunk to just two games. No one is having a more perplexing season than John Hodge, however, as he sits dead last against the spread despite being tied for third in straight up picks.
If you think you have the chops to match our experts, try 3DownNation’s new Pick’em game. It’s free to play with a $50 Amazon gift card up for grabs each game. All residents of Canada and the U.S. are eligible to participate, excluding Quebec.
Photo: Timothy Matwey/3DownNation. All rights reserved.
Friday, October 6: Edmonton Elks at Toronto Argonauts — 7:00 p.m. EDT
Toronto still has as little to play for as they did last week but the Grey Cup favourites will celebrate the club’s 150th anniversary with a few more impact starters in the lineup, namely quarterback Chad Kelly. It remains to be seen just how much Kelly and others play, though there is no debate as to how badly their opponents need a victory. The Elks have to win to keep their slim playoff hopes alive but no longer control their own destiny. A banged-up defence should make that task even harder, though not if the Argos pull the plug early on their most valuable assets.
[metabet_core_odds_board query=”531072″ site_id=”3downnation”]
DUNK: Edmonton is desperate but it won’t be easy in The Six.
Straight-up: ARGOS. Against the spread: ELKS.
HODGE: Toronto wants to win in front of their home fans.
Straight-up: ARGOS. Against the spread: ARGOS.
ABBOTT: A classic case of one side needing it way more than the other.
Straight-up: ELKS. Against the spread: ELKS.
BALLANTINE: The Ford sputters this week, better take the boat instead.
Straight-up: ARGOS. Against the spread: ARGOS.
FILOSO: Elks won’t rain on the Argos’ 150th celebration.
Straight-up: ARGOS. Against the spread: ARGOS.
GASSON: The Argos nearly beat a much better team without some of their best players.
Straight-up: ARGOS. Against the spread: ARGOS.
GRANT: The Argos are hard to predict right now due to players resting and playing on snap counts, but they’ll want to make their 150th-anniversary game memorable.
Straight-up: ARGOS. Against the spread: ARGOS.
HOSKINS: I’ll hope for different but this is a tall task for the Elks.
Straight-up: ARGOS. Against the spread: ARGOS.
KLEIN: Who knows which Argos will play but I still have faith that the group they pick will be better than the Elks
Straight-up: ARGOS. Against the spread: ARGOS
MCGUIRE: I took the Elks on In The Huddle this week but that was before we got confirmation of Chad Kelly starting.
Straight-up: ARGOS. Against the spread: ARGOS.
SMITH: Kelly plays, Argos win. Simple as that.
Straight-up: ARGOS. Against the spread: ELKS.
TOTALS STRAIGHT-UP: Toronto 10, Edmonton 1
TOTALS AGAINST THE SPREAD: Toronto 8, Edmonton 3
Photo courtesy: Steven Chang/B.C. Lions
Friday, October 6: Winnipeg Blue Bombers at B.C. Lions — 10:00 p.m. EDT
This one is for all the marbles. This Friday night battle in Vancouver will decide the season series between these two teams and all but determine the top seed in the West Division, along with the first-round bye and home-field advantage that go with it. It could also be the deciding factor in the race for Most Outstanding Player between Zach Collaros and Vernon Adams Jr., with Brady Oliveira throwing his hat in the ring as well. Both teams will be largely healthy for the clash of titans, with the Lions dressing right guard Sukh Chungh and the Bombers getting back electric returner Janarion Grant. The only notable name absent will be CFL interception leader Demerio Houston, which should give Adams a sigh of relief.
[metabet_core_odds_board query=”531073″ site_id=”3downnation”]
DUNK: Mike O’Shea will have his team focused.
Straight-up: BOMBERS. Against the spread: BOMBERS.
HODGE: B.C. takes advantage of a struggling Winnipeg secondary.
Straight-up: LIONS. Against the spread: LIONS.
ABBOTT: If B.C.’s tendency to come out slow allows Oliveira to get going, that is all Winnipeg will need.
Straight-up: BOMBERS. Against the spread: BOMBERS.
BALLANTINE: Winnipeg is getting older and this is when that starts to show up.
Straight-up: LIONS. Against the spread: LIONS.
FILOSO: Last possession wins.
Straight-up: LIONS. Against the spread: LIONS.
GASSON: I like the Lions’ offence more than I like Winnipeg’s.
Straight-up: LIONS. Against the spread: LIONS.
GRANT: Every time I’ve said this about a team this season, they’ve lost, but I think the Lions are the better team right now.
Straight-up: LIONS. Against the spread: LIONS.
HOSKINS: Lions finally get the Bombers at home. With everything on the line, they put on a show for their fans
Straight-up: LIONS. Against the spread: LIONS.
KLEIN: Coin flip game. I’ll go with the Bombers, who have been in so many big games over the years.
Straight-up: BOMBERS. Against the spread: BOMBERS.
MCGUIRE: Leos need this one and the Dome sweet home will help them turn the trick.
Straight-up: LIONS. Against the spread: LIONS.
SMITH: I’ll cautiously side with the home team but I don’t feel good about it.
Straight-up: LIONS. Against the spread: LIONS.
TOTALS STRAIGHT-UP: B.C. 8, Winnipeg 3
TOTALS AGAINST THE SPREAD: B.C. 8, Winnipeg 3
Photo: Matt Smith/3DownNation. All rights reserved.
Saturday, October 7: Hamilton Tiger-Cats at Saskatchewan Roughriders — 7:00 p.m. EDT
Legends Night will have a much different tone than expected in Mosaic Stadium, as the event has shifted from a celebration of the 2013 Grey Cup’s 10th anniversary to a day of mourning for the great George Reed. The Riders will need to ride that emotional groundswell to victory, as they seek to escape a four-game losing streak and eliminate both Edmonton and Ottawa from playoff contention. The Ticats already have a postseason berth secure and are playing coy with their quarterbacks, as Taylor Powell and Matthew Shiltz both saw action last week and Bo Levi Mitchell has returned to practice.
[metabet_core_odds_board query=”531074″ site_id=”3downnation”]
DUNK: Until Saskatchewan wins a game in the fall, I won’t believe it.
Straight-up: TICATS. Against the spread: TICATS.
HODGE: If Saskatchewan doesn’t win this game, they won’t win another one all year.
Straight-up: RIDERS. Against the spread: RIDERS.
ABBOTT: If you can’t win at Mosaic Stadium on the week of George Reed’s death, you don’t deserve to call yourself a Rider.
Straight-up: RIDERS. Against the spread: RIDERS.
BALLANTINE: The Ticats have beaten Winnipeg and B.C. during their recent run, which only includes losses to Toronto.
Straight-up: TICATS. Against the spread: TICATS.
FILOSO: Saskatchewan desperately needs this, and it will take time for Bo to knock off the rust.
Straight-up: RIDERS. Against the spread: RIDERS.
GASSON: The Riders are spiralling and have plenty of issues. If they can’t get up for this one considering the last few days, then the whole thing should be flushed.
Straight-up: RIDERS. Against the spread: RIDERS.
GRANT: Hamilton is playing good football right now while the Riders can’t seem to get out of their own way.
Straight-up: TICATS. Against the spread: TICATS.
HOSKINS: Emotions about Reed and the 2013 Grey Cup lift up the Riders at home.
Straight-up: RIDERS. Against the spread: RIDERS.
KLEIN: Riders need this bad and with all the emotions around the team, I think they get a big win.
Straight-up: RIDERS. Against the spread: RIDERS.
MCGUIRE: I like the Riders to finally bounce back here but the Cats to keep it close.
Straight-up: RIDERS. Against the spread: TICATS.
SMITH: Mosaic is the new McMahon for Hamilton.
Straight-up: RIDERS. Against the spread: TICATS.
TOTALS STRAIGHT-UP: Saskatchewan 8, Hamilton 3
TOTALS AGAINST THE SPREAD: Hamilton 7, Saskatchewan 4
Photo courtesy: Scott Grant/CFLPhotoArchive.com
Monday, October 9: Ottawa Redblacks at Montreal Alouettes — 1:00 p.m. EDT
When you gather around the dinner table on Thanksgiving Monday, chances are that a fourth matchup between the Redblacks and Alouettes won’t be on your list of things to be grateful for. At least Ottawa will get the chance to avoid the embarrassment of being swept in the series, though their playoff fate may already be decided by the time they take the field. If a Saskatchewan victory on Saturday delivers that blow, it will be a boon for Montreal, who can then secure a home playoff game with a win.
[metabet_core_odds_board query=”531075″ site_id=”3downnation”]
DUNK: It’s ova in the nation’s capital.
Straight-up: ALS. Against the spread: ALS.
HODGE: Ottawa’s season is over.
Straight-up: ALS. Against the spread: ALS.
ABBOTT: Montreal is the better team, but sweeping a four-game series is hard.
Straight-up: REDBLACKS. Against the spread: REDBLACKS.
BALLANTINE: The Alouettes need to get into playoff form. Beating the Redblacks is a part of that checklist.
Straight-up: ALS. Against the spread: ALS.
FILOSO: Don’t see Ottawa winning but tough to see them blown out in back-to-back weeks.
Straight-up: ALS. Against the spread: REDBLACKS.
GASSON: Montreal is just better.
Straight-up: ALS. Against the spread: ALS.
GRANT: I’m 0-3 on this matchup this year, so I’m going to do the opposite of what I think. What could go wrong?
Straight-up: REDBLACKS. Against the spread: REDBLACKS.
HOSKINS: Ottawa will keep it closer but Montreal’s defence will not break.
Straight-up: ALS. Against the spread: REDBLACKS
KLEIN: Expert analysis alert! The Als are a better football team and thus shall win this football game.
Straight-up: ALS. Against the spread: ALS.
MCGUIRE: I really want to roll the dice on Ottawa but I just can’t. They’ve let me down way too many times and cannot be trusted.
Straight-up: ALS. Against the spread: ALS.
SMITH: Montreal continues to beat the teams they should but Ottawa will put forth a better effort than last week.
Straight-up: ALS. Against the spread: REDBLACKS.
TOTALS STRAIGHT-UP: Montreal 9, Ottawa 2
TOTALS AGAINST THE SPREAD: Montreal 6, Ottawa 5
Records to date (straight-up)
ABBOTT — 48-19
GASSON — 46-21
FILOSO — 45-22
HODGE — 45-22
GRANT — 43-24
SMITH — 43-24
KLEIN — 43-24
DUNK — 42-25
HOSKINS — 40-27
MCGUIRE — 39-28
BALLANTINE — 38-29
Records to date (against the spread)
FILOSO — 39-26-2
GASSON — 37-28-2
ABBOTT — 37-28-2
KLEIN — 37-28-2
SMITH — 35-30-2
GRANT — 34-31-2
DUNK — 33-32-2
MCGUIRE — 33-32-2
HOSKINS — 32-33-2
BALLANTINE — 32-33-2
HODGE — 31-34-2