Week 15 in the CFL

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 09/10/2009 (5842 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

B.C. LIONS (6-7) at EDMONTON ESKIMOS (6-7)

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

Streaks: B.C.: 1W; Edm.: 2L.

Vegas line: The Eskimos are favoured by 4 points.

The storyline: The Esks have lost two straight and four of their last five, giving up what was once a share of first in the West to the point where they are now looking at the crossover spot. The big issue in the Alberta capital is the offence, especially after the firing of offensive co-ordinator Rick Worman and the hiring of Kevin Strasser as his replacement. Edmonton is 1-3 since that change. B.C. will go as far as QB Buck Pierce and running back Martel Mallett can take them. The Lions will play their first game in cold weather this week and Lions head coach Wally Buono has had his pivots practising with frozen footballs this week to simulate the conditions.

TORONTO ARGONAUTS (3-10) at SASKATCHEWAN ROUGHRIDERS (7-6)

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

Streaks: Tor.: 3L; Sask.: 1L.

Vegas line: The Roughriders are favoured by 10.5 points.

The storyline: A couple of teams that have had to deal with quarterback issues this week. Riders head coach Ken Miller spent the last couple of days insisting he did not hint at a quarterback rotation involving Darian Durant and Steven Jyles, although that could be the route the team is headed. After all, Durant has thrown just one TD against five interceptions in the last two games. And in Toronto, well, it’s just a mess. Head coach Bart Andrus and Kerry Joseph have kissed and made up over the veteran QB’s frustration about being left in the dark as to who gets the start this week. Might not matter. The Boatmen look lost.

CALGARY STAMPEDERS (8-5) at MONTREAL ALOUETTES (11-2)

When: Monday, 1 p.m.. TV: TSN/RDS.

Streaks: Cal.: 2W; Mtl.: 4W.

Vegas line: The Alouettes are favoured by 6.5 points.

The storyline: Looks like a sexy matchup on paper, what with this being a Grey Cup rematch and featuring the top two teams in the CFL. But if Stamps QB Henry Burris and the Calgary offence don’t get their game right again, this could be one-sided. Calgary simply has too much firepower to have been held to under 20 points in two of their last three games, but Burris had one of his worst games as a pro last week against Hamilton, going 14 of 30 for 132 yards with no TDs and two interceptions. The Als will be without dominant running back Avon Cobourne (groin), who will be replaced in the backfield by Brandon Whitaker.

WINNIPEG BLUE BOMBERS (5-8) at HAMILTON TIGER-CATS (6-7)

When: Monday, 3:30 p.m. TV: TSN. Radio: CJOB.

Streaks: Wpg.: 2W; Ham.: 2L.

Vegas line: The Tiger-Cats are favoured by 9.5 points.

The storyline: A critical matchup for both teams, but especially the Bombers. They need this game to prevent Hamilton from pulling four points ahead of them AND winning the season series (the Ticats won 25-13 in Week 3). The two teams meet again on Nov. 8 in the final game of the CFL regular season and if Winnipeg can pull into a tie for second on Monday, the final month of games should be juicy. Word out of Hamilton has Quinton Porter still taking most of the snaps, but it was ex-Bomber Kevin Glenn who came off the bench in July to rally the Ticats to victory over Winnipeg.

THE PICKS

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

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

Ed Tait, Free Press: B.C., Saskatchewan, Montreal, Winnipeg.

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

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

Last week/overall: Bob Irving: 3-1/33-19; Gary Lawless: 3-1/29-23; Randy Turner: 4-0/29-23; Mitch Zalnasky: 2-2/28-24; Ed Tait: 3-1/28-24.