THIS WEEK IN THE CFL — WEEK 7

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This article was published 12/08/2010 (5841 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

THIS WEEK IN THE CFL — WEEK 7

B.C. LIONS (1-5) at SASKATCHEWAN ROUGHRIDERS (4-2)

When: Tonight, 8 p.m. TV: TSN.

Vegas line: Saskatchewan by 8

Left Coast line: RB Jamal Robertson leads the CFL with six touchdowns (tied with Riders RB Wes Cates) and averaging 7.1 yards a carry. The Leos are only scoring 20 points a game and are dead-last in time of possession (26:52). QB Jarious Jackson gets the start — the third starting pivot the Lions have had this season.

Queen City line: The Roughriders are averaging 468.2 yards per game and have amassed 2,809 yards of total offence — both tops in the league. QB Darian Durant is the only CFL pivot over 2,000 yards (2,040). His accuracy (59.6) is still a work in progress, though. The O-line has only allowed 12 sacks this season. How solid is the offence? The Riders have only punted 29 times — an average of less than five per game.

Bottom Line: Hall of Fame night in Regina. At least the Lions will have a chance to meet some CFL legends.

HAMILTON TIGER-CATS (2-4) at WINNIPEG BLUE BOMBERS (2-4)

When: Friday, 7:30 p.m. TV: TSN. Radio: CJOB

Vegas line: Winnipeg by 4 1/2

Steeltown line: Hamilton has won two straight games against the Bombers. In fact, both of their wins have come against Winnipeg. QB Kevin Glenn has thrown for 1,890 yards (141-of-218), with 11 touchdown passes against four interceptions in six games. WR Arland Bruce III leads the CFL with 680 yards receiving. The Ticats are averaging a league-worst 69.2 yards per game and have just one major on the ground.

River City line: Winnipeg has lost two straight games and four of their last five. Here’s the frustrating part for Blue and Gold fans: The Bombers are second in offence (409.5 yards per game) and second in defence (339.8 yards against). RB Fred Reid is fourth in league rushing with 451 yards. SB Terrence Edwards is averaging a staggering 19.7 yards per catch. He leads the Bombers with five touchdowns.

Bottom line: With trips to Montreal and Regina on the horizon, Winnipeg needs a home win here.

MONTREAL ALOUETTES (5-1) at TORONTO ARGONAUTS (4-2)

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

Vegas line: Montreal by 7 1/2

Sin City line: And so it goes for Montreal; first in the CFL in points scored (208) and second in points allowed (139). The Als have been deadly in East Division play, allowing just 24 points in two wins. WR Kerry Watkins has to be considered a top receiver in the league this year (458 yards, 17 yards per catch and five touchdowns). KR Tim Maypray has 359 yards (a 22.4 yard average) on kick returns.

Hogtown line: RB Cory Boyd has rushed for 648 yards — a number which leads the CFL. He’s carried the ball 100 times already. LB Kevin Eiben and DB Lin-J Shell have 73 tackles between them. QB Cleo Lemon has more interceptions (5) than touchdowns (4). Montreal has thrown for over 600 yards more than the Argos (1,863 to 1,234). Toronto’s defence is last in yards allowed per game (443.8) and sacks (7).

Bottom line: The Alouettes beat the Argos 41-10 in Week 5. We see things being a lot closer this time.

EDMONTON ESKIMOS (1-5) at CALGARY STAMPEDERS (5-1)

When: Sunday, 7 p.m. TV: TSN.

Vegas line: Calgary by 8 1/2 points.

City of Champions line: QB Ricky Ray only has six touchdown passes — one more than the number of picks he’s thrown this season. LB Maurice Lloyd is one of the few Eskimos who shouldn’t worry about his job: He has 37 tackles and four sacks, both good for third in the CFL. Same deal with DB Chris Thompson, whose five interceptions is three better than the league standard (nine players have two picks). Edmonton’s run defence is allowing 164.5 yards per game.

Cowtown line: Bad news for Edmonton; Calgary is undefeated at home (3-0) this season. The Stamps have the top-ranked defence in the CFL, first in points allowed (21.2 per game) and yards against (326). QB Henry Burris leads all CFL quarterbacks in touchdown passes (13) and interceptions (9). KR Deon Murphy has 470 yards in kickoff returns.

Bottom line: Looking to save your season, Edmonton? A win in Calgary would be a start.

THE PICKS

Bob Irving, CJOB: Saskatchewan, Winnipeg, Toronto, Calgary

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

Randy Turner, Free Press: Saskatchewan, Winnipeg, Montreal, Calgary

Adam Wazny, Free Press: Saskatchewan, Winnipeg, Montreal, Calgary

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

Last week (overall): Irving: 1-3 (14-10); Tait: 3-1 (13-11); Turner: 2-2 (15-9); Wazny: 4-0 (18-6); Zalnasky: 3-1 (15-9).

— Adam Wazny