ED TAIT’S WEEK 10 IN THE CFL

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 04/09/2009 (5928 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

MONTREAL ALOUETTES (7-1) at B.C. LIONS (3-5)

When: Today, 9:30 p.m.. TV: TSN/RDS

Streaks: Mtl.: 3W; B.C.: 1L

Vegas line: The Als are favoured by 6.5 points.

The storyline: Montreal never travels well to the Left Coast, having not won in Vancouver since 2000. But the Lions looked like a mess, particularly defensively, in playing the speed bump against the Bombers before the bye week and surrendering almost 400 yards rushing. Montreal will be without solid left tackle Josh Bourke and he’s only the guy that protects Anthony Calvillo’s back. But the big question will be whether the Lions have shored up their defence, especially with Avon Cobourne dominating from the Alouettes backfield. “When you’re playing a team like Montreal, you’re going to have to focus or they will expose you,” Lions’ QB Jarious Jackson told The Province in Vancouver.

WINNIPEG BLUE BOMBERS (3-5) at SASKATCHEWAN ROUGHRIDERS (4-4)

When: Sunday, 3 p.m. TV: TSN. Radio: CJOB.

Streaks: Wpg.: 1W; Sask.: 1L

Vegas line: The Roughriders are favoured by 7 points.

The storyline: Do we really need to hype this one? Sold out since tickets first went on sale in June. And the Banjo Bowl, next week in Winnipeg, is now sold out, too. It’s a provincial rivalry, the best in the league, and never, ever boring. The Riders will welcome back solid receiver Andy Fantuz, but the real battle will be along the line of scrimmage, where the Bombers will try to pound Fred Reid — who lit up the Lions for a club-record 260 yards rushing — against a Saskatchewan defence that has been occasionally vulnerable against the run.

TORONTO ARGONAUTS (2-6) at HAMILTON TIGER-CATS (4-4)

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

Streaks: Tor.: 4L; Ham.: 2L.

Vegas line: The Tiger-Cats are favoured by 6 points.

The storyline: Head coach Bart Andrus and the Argos are desperately trying to stop the bleeding due to a four-game skid. Cody Pickett has shown some flashes at QB for the Argos, but has yet to lead the troops to a ‘W’. And with veteran Kerry Joseph wasting away on the sidelines, it’s hard not to wonder about his future in Double Blue. The Ticats roared to a 4-2 start, but have been so-so over the last couple of weeks — including blowing a lead in Edmonton in their last outing. The Battle of Ontario also features a juicy subplot, what with Arland Bruce III returning to Toronto after being banished by Andrus to Hamilton.

EDMONTON ESKIMOS (5-3) at CALGARY STAMPEDERS (4-4)

When: Monday, 6:30 p.m. TV: TSN

Streaks: Edm.: 2W; Cal.: 1W

Vegas line: The Stampeders are favoured by 6 points.

The storyline: Another dandy, the traditional back-to-back Battle of Alberta and the second of three meetings between these two rivals over five weeks. Extra capacity — up to 41,000 — for this one, with the Grey Cup seats that have already been installed, and they’ve all been filled. Edmonton’s Ricky Ray continues to fill the sky with passes — the Esks lead the league in passing yardage — and he’ll be working against a Calgary defence that is trying to find some consistency.

THE PICKS

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

Gary Lawless, Free Press: Montreal, Saskatchewan, Hamilton, Calgary.

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

Randy Turner, Free Press: Montreal, Winnipeg, Hamilton, Edmonton.

Mitch Zalnasky, CJOB: Montreal, Saskatchewan, Hamilton, Edmonton.

Last week/overall: Bob Irving: 2-0/19-13; Ed Tait: 2-0/17-15; Randy Turner: 2-0/17-15; Gary Lawless: 2-0/17-15; Mitch Zalnasky: 2-0/16-16.