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Graham Hughes / the canadian press archives Toronto Argonaut Chad Owens (2) could prove problematic to the Blue Bomber defence Saturday night. He leads the CFL with 2,915 all-purpose yards. (CP)

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ALOUETTES (8-4) at TIGER-CATS (4-8)

Today, 6 p.m. TV: TSN

Ticats line: Hamilton gave up 450 total yards last Friday in a loss to a Winnipeg team that hadn't scored an offensive touchdown in over three games coming into that contest. Did I mention the Ticats have the worst defence in the league? And they have lost six of their last seven games?

Als line: Montreal has won their last two in a row and are 4-2 this season against East Division opponents.

Bottom line: The Ticats are at home. And they need this win more than Montreal. Everything else breaks the way of the Als.

ESKIMOS (5-7) at STAMPEDERS (7-5)

Today, 9 p.m. TV: TSN

Eskimos line: The Eskimos have lost four in a row and are talking about starting their third-string quarterback this week. The sad part is there's a good chance he will be an improvement on the first- and second-string guys.

Calgary line: The Stampeders were embarrassed last week in Regina as they lost the much-hyped matchup with the Roughriders and saw their most important asset -- Jon Cornish -- literally make an ass of himself. Head coach John Hufnagel will have been a very, very angry man at Stamps practice.

Bottom line: Two things are for sure about this game -- Jon Cornish will keep his pants on and the Stampeders will not be embarrassed in back-to-back weeks.

ARGONAUTS (6-6) at BLUE BOMBERS (3-9)

Saturday, 6 p.m. TV: TSN Radio: CJOB

Argos line: The Argos lost the game and their starting quarterback, Ricky Ray, in Montreal last week. That means Jarious Jackson will get the start this week, but the Argos have been all about receiver/returner Chad Owens this year anyway. And Owens -- along with his league-leading 2,915 combined yards this season -- will be playing.

Bombers line: Whatever glimmer of hope the Bombers have on still making the playoffs this season begins with a win over the Argos. The offence looked good last week in a win over the Ticats, but the Ticats always make Winnipeg look good. The Argos will provide a much more accurate litmus test in that regard.

Bottom line: The Bombers are 0-6 on the road and 3-9 overall, but they've actually played .500 ball at home where they are 3-3.

LIONS (9-3) at ROUGHRIDERS (6-6)

Saturday, 9 p.m. TV: TSN

Lions line: B.C. had the best defence in the league. And now they've added linebacker Solomon Elimimian -- the 2010 CFL outstanding rookie and universal consensus as the league's hardest hitter -- to the mix. Mr. T's prognostication in Rocky 3 seems appropriate -- "My prediction? Pain."

Riders line: See above. Good luck with that.

Bottom line: There is B.C. -- and then there are seven other teams in the CFL right now.

THE PICKS (straight up)

The Free Press has assembled a panel to offer their fearless predictions every week. Joining us this year are CJOB's Bob Irving, and from the Free Press, sports editor Steve Lyons, columnists Gary Lawless and Doug Brown and lead football writer Paul Wiecek:

Irving: Hamilton, Calgary,Winnipeg, B.C.

Lyons: Hamilton, Calgary, Winnipeg, Saskatchewan

Brown: Hamilton, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Saskatchewan

Lawless: Montreal,Calgary, Toronto, B.C.

Wiecek: Montreal, Calgary, Winnipeg, B.C.

Last week (overall): Irving 2-2 (32-16); Lyons 4-0 (31-17); Brown 2-2 (27-21); Lawless 2-2 (25-23); Wiecek 2-2 (22-26)

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition September 28, 2012 C2