This week in the CFL — Week 17

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 17/10/2014 (4065 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

OTTAWA REDBLACKS (2-12) at HAMILTON TIGER-CATS (6-8)

Tonight, 6 p.m. TV: TSN

Redblacks line: Ottawa followed up their impressive win over Winnipeg by heading out west to Vancouver and then getting completely devoured 41-3 by the B.C. Lions. This isn’t how Year 1 was supposed to turn out for the Redblacks, who look a lot more like an expansion franchise than the threat many predicted they’d be last winter when their roster was stocked. The Redblacks picked up just 243 yards of total offence against the Leos while the defence surrendered 548. And Henry Burris may have thrown for 3,142 yards this year, but his receiving corps has been brutal.

Tiger-Cats line: The Ticats came completely unravelled in last week’s 34-33 loss to the Argos, blowing a 13-point lead with less than five minutes to play, but return to Tim Hortons Field, where they are a perfect 4-0 this year. Hamilton is in control of how this crazy race for first in the East unfolds, with two more games against the Redblacks and one more against both Toronto and Montreal — the two teams they are battling for top spot. Zach Collaros threw for 302 yards in the loss to Toronto, the fifth time this season he has eclipsed the 300-yard mark.

MONTREAL ALOUETTES (6-8) at TORONTO ARGONAUTS (6-8)

Saturday, 3 p.m. TV: TSN/RDS

Alouettes line: Remember earlier in the summer when the consensus was Montreal head coach Tom Higgins was working on borrowed time and looked absolutely lost on the sidelines? Well, that talk has essentially disappeared with the Als having won three straight and five of their last six to get right back in the East Division fight. Montreal has hitched its QB wagon to Jonathan Crompton — Troy Smith was cut on Thursday — and while his numbers aren’t overwhelming, he is an excellent game manager. And with the Alouette defence flying around, they are now a tough out for opponents.

Argonauts line: Future hall of famer Ricky Ray was brilliant in rallying the Argos last week, completing 34 of 46 passes for 431 yards and three TDs. His receiving corps is getting healthy again, and both Chad Owens (six catches, 109 yards, TD) and John Chiles (eight catches for 123 yards) were busy last week. Toronto holds the advantage, having beaten the Als in August, but these two clubs play each other twice in the final four weeks.

CALGARY STAMPEDERS (12-2) at WINNIPEG BLUE BOMBERS (6-9)

Saturday, 6 p.m.. TV: TSN

Stampeders line: Calgary rolls into town with a chance to clinch first in the West Division with a win. Oh, and there’s this little nugget to digest for Bomber fans: both QB Bo Levi Mitchell and RB Jon Cornish are expected back in the lineup. Just how good is Cornish? Despite missing seven games, he is second in the league in rushing with 817 yards and averaging 7.7 yards per carry.

Bombers line: Another interesting week here in the Manitoba capital where the Bombers — who have lost six straight and eight of their last nine — cut their leading rusher Nic Grigsby. On top of all that, the status of QB Drew Willy remains a mystery and there will be two more changes to an offensive line that has played the speed bump over the last few weeks. And there’s this: the Bombers’ league-worst run defence (129.3 yards per game) faces a Stamps team that leads the CFL, averaging 143.6. Nice.

EDMONTON ESKIMOS (10-5) at SASKATCHEWAN ROUGHRIDERS (9-6)

Sunday, 5 p.m. TV: TSN

Eskimos line: Edmonton steamrolled the Bombers on Thanksgiving Monday and is trying to lock down a home playoff game, rather than have to potentially travel back to Regina in November. This team has a ton of weapons on offence, including Adarius Bowman (101 catches for 1,241 yards and six TDs) and RB John White, who has a 7.1 yard average. But its the Esks defence that can be a difference-making force and is led by the former mayor of Swaggerville, Odell Willis.

Roughriders line: No word of a lie, the Riders confirmed Thursday that veteran Kerry Joseph — who was just dusted off and brought out of retirement — will start this critical contest. In other words, both Tino Sunseri and Seth Doege both might want to be considering career options outside of football. Saskatchewan has lost three straight and many of the offensive deficiencies that were masked over when Darian Durant was healthy, have now become fully exposed.

THE PICKS

The Free Press has assembled a panel to offer their predictions every week in 2014. Joining us once again this year are CJOB’s Bob Irving, and from the Free Press, sports editor Steve Lyons, columnists Gary Lawless and Doug Brown and football writers Paul Wiecek and Ed Tait:

Irving: Hamilton, Toronto, Calgary, Edmonton

Lawless: Hamilton, Toronto, Calgary, Edmonton

Lyons: Hamilton, Toronto, Calgary, Saskatchewan

Brown: Hamilton, Toronto, Calgary, Edmonton

Tait: Hamilton, Toronto, Calgary, Edmonton

Wiecek: Hamilton, Toronto, Calgary, Edmonton

Last week/overall:

Irving: 4-0/47-18

Wiecek: 4-0/44-21

Lawless: 2-2/43-22

Lyons: 3-1/43-22

Brown: 3-1/42-23

Tait: 3-1/41-24