Today’s Bomber Report

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 23/07/2009 (5925 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

HAMILTON TIGER-CATS (2-1) at MONTREAL ALOUETTES (3-0)

When: Tonight, 6:30 p.m. TV: TSN/RDS.

Streaks: Ham: 2W; Mtl: 3W.

Vegas line: The Alouettes are favoured by a whopping 14 points.

The storyline: As solid as the Ticats have looked in wins over B.C. and Winnipeg, the juicy subplot here may be whether the Als cover that huge point spread. Then again, given that they’ve opened with three straight wins over Calgary, Edmonton and Saskatchewan by an average margin of victory of 27 points, that seems to be a no-brainer. The Ticats will be without two impact players in veteran linebacker Otis Floyd and impressive new receiver Airese Currie.

TORONTO ARGONAUTS (1-2) at WINNIPEG BLUE BOMBERS (1-2)

When: Friday, 6:30 p.m. TV: TSN (local blackout may be in effect). Radio: CJOB.

Streaks: Tor: 2L; Wpg: 1L

Vegas line: The Bombers are favoured by 4 points.

The storyline: Yes, it’s early but these two squads are looking to regroup after disappointing performances last week. The Argos simply had it handed to them in Calgary in an embarrassing loss that exposed some problems. Ditto for the Bombers, who got another stellar effort from their defence in Hamilton but were awful offensively and inconsistent in the return game. Both these clubs need this to keep pace with the Ticats in what looks to be the race for second in the East behind the powerful Alouettes.

CALGARY STAMPEDERS (1-2) at B.C. LIONS (1-2)

When: Friday, 9:30 p.m. TV: TSN.

Streaks: Cal: 1W; B.C.: 1W.

Vegas line: The Stamps are favoured by 3 points.

The storyline: Two squads that got things figured out — finally — after poor performances in the first two weeks. The Stamps looked like champs in beating up the Boatmen, as their defence came to life, and will be looking to continue to force mistakes against Buck Pierce — who gets the start over CFL Offensive Player of the Week Jarious Jackson. Lions head coach Wally Buono might be quicker with the hook, however, if Pierce is to struggle. "We want to have an order to how we do things," Buono told reporters in Vancouver. "Buck didn’t do anything in the game to deserve not starting. Unfortunately, there was an injury, which meant Jarious came in and did what we expected him to do"

EDMONTON ESKIMOS (1-2) at SASKATCHEWAN ROUGHRIDERS (2-1)

When: Saturday, 3 p.m.. TV: TSN.

Streaks: Edm: 2L; Sask: 1L.

Vegas line: The Roughriders are favoured by 3 1/2 points.

The storyline: Longtime former Rider defensive co-ordinator Richie Hall returns to Regina for the first time since becoming the Eskimo head coach. And while he’ll be feted as part of a celebration honouring the Riders’ 1989 Grey Cup victory — Hall was a defensive back on that team — he’s got bigger concerns, namely stopping his football team from bleeding after being sliced open in successive losses. Edmonton has given up 90 points in its last two games and is a league-worst minus-9 in the turnover ratio. The Riders, meanwhile, were lit up by the Alouettes and — despite all the unique looks of Gary Etcheverry’s defence — are giving up 125 yards per game along the ground, second-worst in the CFL.

THE PICKS

Bob Irving, CJOB: Montreal, Winnipeg, B.C., Edmonton.

Gary Lawless, Free Press: Montreal, Winnipeg, B.C., Saskatchewan.

Ed Tait, Free Press: Montreal, Winnipeg, Calgary. Saskatchewan.

Randy Turner, Free Press: Montreal, Winnipeg, B.C., Saskatchewan.

Mitch Zalnasky, CJOB: Montreal, Winnipeg, Calgary, Saskatchewan.

Last week/overall: Irving: 3-1/7-5; Tait: 3-1/6-6; Zalnasky: 3-1/6-6; Lawless: 3-1/6-6; Turner: 3-1/6-6.

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No Bruce III

The Argos will be without receiver Arland Bruce III Friday. Bruce III has been fined four times this season for a variety of offences. Head coach Bart Andrus told him Wednesday he would not be accompanying the club to Winnipeg because he wasn’t acting like a professional.

Roster shuffle

The Bombers will make just one lineup change for the Argo game, adding new receiver/returner Craphonso Thorpe for WR Adarius Bowman.

Expectations

Here’s head coach Mike Kelly on what he expects from Thorpe, who has all of two weeks of practice under his belt: "When the ball’s thrown to him, catch it. And when the ball’s kicked to him, receive it and then run real fast."