Week 14 Picks: No respect for Bombers in showdown with the Stamps

Toronto Argonauts (5-7) at Ottawa Redblacks (5-5-1)
Fri., Sept. 22, 7 p.m. EST

An important game for both teams with Ottawa standing second in the East Division ahead of Toronto. They’re also playing to avoid the crossover with Edmonton (5-7) standing fourth in the West Division. The winner of this contest cements the season series 2-1, which is the tie-breaker should they end the season tied. Former Argo Trevor Harris completed 28-of-31 passes (CFL-record 90.3 per cent) and 392 yards in Ottawa’s 30-20 win at Toronto on July 13. Dan LeFevour makes a third straight start for Toronto, which is 3-2 on the road. Ottawa is 1-3-1 at home

Drew Edwards: Ottawa at home, I guess. REDBLACKS
Justin Dunk: At some point, Ottawa gets it together. Now would be good. REDBLACKS
John Hodge: The Redblacks become the latest team stricken with LeFevour. ARGOS
Joel Gasson: I feel like Ottawa is due. REDBLACKS
Ian Busby: If it comes down to Harris vs. LeFevour, I will take the former. REDBLACKS
Josh Smith: Logan Kilgore went into Ottawa and led the Argos to victory. Dan LeFevour is better than Logan Kilgore. ARGOS
Santino Filoso: Ottawa has issues but Toronto has more REDBLACKS
Totals: REDBLACKS 5 ARGOS 2

B.C. Lions (8-3) at Edmonton Eskimos  (5-7)
Fri., Sept. 22, 10 p.m. EST

Edmonton has dropped three straight, including last week’s 26-23 overtime decision to Saskatchewan. CFL passing leader Mike Reilly threw for 306 yards and a TD but a fourth-quarter interception helped the Riders force overtime. Adarius Bowman recorded nine catches for 152 yards but was stripped of the ball by Ed Gainey on a second-quarter defensive TD. B.C. comes off the bye having won three straight,. Receiver Terrell Sinkfield, who joined the Lions last weekend, has practised with the starting offence this week and could see action against the Eskimos.

Drew Edwards: The Esks lost to Saskie last week and B.C. is coming off a bye. LIONS
Justin Dunk: Mike Reilly is good but are we sure Edmonton is? LIONS
John Hodge: B.C. wins this game without Terrell Sinkfield. With him? Look out. LIONS
Joel Gasson: the Lions are better and rested. LIONS.
Ian Busby: Not sure when the defending champs will turn it around but this would be an ideal week. ESKIMOS
Josh Smith: The Esks are in such a tailspin you’d think Kit Cloudkicker was their head coach. B.C. in a walk. LIONS
Santino Filoso: Edmonton desperately needs a win but won’t find it against the 2nd best team in the West LIONS
Totals: LIONS 6 ESKIMOS 1

Winnipeg Blue Bombers (8-4) at Calgary Stampeders (10-1-1)
Sat., Sept. 23, 4 p.m. EST

Matt Nichols and the Winnipeg Blue Bombers will try to accomplish something no other CFL team has this season: beat the Calgary Stampeders at home. Calgary hosts Winnipeg on Saturday afternoon in a matchup between the CFL’s two hottest teams. The Stampeders have won nine straight and are riding an 11-game unbeaten streak while the Bombers are 7-0 since Matt Nichols became their starting quarterback. The Stampeders are 6-0 at McMahon Stadium, the CFL’s lone unbeaten home team. But the Bombers are 5-1 away from Investors Group Field, tied with B.C. Lions for the league’s best road record.

Drew Edwards: Winnipeg comes back to earth. Hard. STAMPS
Justin Dunk: Bo Levi Mitchell cracks Matty Ice. STAMPS
John Hodge:  The Bombers have a shot to upset the Stamps, but you never pick against Calgary at home. STAMPS
Joel Gasson: you know what they say about Calgary at home? STAMPS
Ian Busby: At this point, it would be foolish to pick against the Stamps. Best team in the CFL by far. STAMPS
Josh Smith: Is this game at McMahon? Yes? Done. STAMPS
Santino Filoso: Calgary doesn’t lose at home. Period. Doesn’t mean Winnipeg isn’t for real though STAMPS
Totals: STAMPS 7 BOMBERS 0

Hamilton Tiger-Cats (6-6) at Saskatchewan Roughriders (2-10)
Sat., Sept. 23, 9:30 p.m. EST

Hamilton sits atop the East Division after last week’s 20-17 home win over Montreal and earned a 53-7 victory over Saskatchewan at Tim Hortons Field on Aug. 20. But the Riders are coming off an overtime win over Edmonton, thanks to Darian Durant’s TD run in the extra session. Receiver Chad Owens, offensive lineman Peter Dyakowski, safety Courtney Stephen and running back Ross Scheuerman are all out for the Ticats with receiver Luke Tasker and running back C.J. Gable uncertain. But quarterback Zach Collaros is healthy and defensive lineman John Chick returns to Regina for the first time since being released this off-season by the Riders.

Drew Edwards: Football teams keep the faith, even when nobody else does. And those Hamilton injuries. RIDERS
Justin Dunk: The Riders won last week. Big deal. TICATS
John Hodge: Saskatchewan’s win last week was a nice feel-good story, but it’s not the start of a trend. TICATS
Joel Gasson: Hamilton is decimated by injury and the Riders are getting moderately better. Still think Hamilton gets by. TICATS
Ian Busby: The winning streak no one expected ends at a modest one game. TICATS
Josh Smith: This has trap game written all over it, but so did last week’s Ticats game. It won’t be pretty, but Hamilton will do enough. TICATS
Santino Filoso: Hamilton is banged up and Saskatchewan has a bit of momentum, but I’ll still take Kent Austin’s group TICATS
Totals: TICATS 6 RIDERS 1

Season records
Smith: 34-18-1
Dunk: 34-18-1
Filoso: 33-19-1
Hodge: 33-19-1
Edwards: 31-21-1
Gasson: 26-26-1
Busby: 25-27-1