ED TAIT’S WEEK 16 IN THE CFL

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 16/10/2009 (5836 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

EDMONTON ESKIMOS (6-8) at TORONTO ARGONAUTS (3-11)

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

Streaks: Edm.: 3L; Tor.: 4L.

Vegas line: The Eskimos are favoured by 41/2 points.

The storyline: Two teams bleeding profusely right now, but at least the Eskimos have an opportunity to salvage their season. Edmonton must rebound from the trauma of their last-second loss to the Lions after Geroy Simon slipped behind coverage — again with no "prevent defence" (see: Stegall, Milt, in 2006) — to steal away a victory and send the Green and Gold into the West basement. The Boatmen, meanwhile, are a complete disaster. On top of their on-field woes are the concerns now about ownership and the franchise’s continuing struggle to make an impact in the most competitive market in the country.

SASKATCHEWAN ROUGHRIDERS (8-6) at CALGARY STAMPEDERS (8-6)

When: Saturday, 2:30 p.m. TV: TSN.

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

Vegas line: The Stampeders are favoured by 31/2 points.

The storyline: Should be the Game of the Week, although based on the way the Stampeder offence has struggled over the last couple of weeks — no TDs in nine quarters — this could potentially be a dog. Some nasty fallout after the Stamps’ loss in Montreal, with teammates jawing at each other in the locker-room and in front of the media, but that’s a natural byproduct of getting your backside spanked. The Riders will try to snatch sole possession of first without their most dynamic offensive threat in Weston Dressler (broken fibula). Offensive struggles aside, we expect this to be a cage match extraordinaire.

HAMILTON TIGER-CATS (6-8) at MONTREAL ALOUETTES (12-2)

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

Streaks: Ham.: 3L; Mtl.: 5W.

Vegas line: The Alouettes are favoured by 12 points.

The storyline: Kevin Glenn gets the nod at QB for the Ticats in an effort to jump-start their troubled offence, but the Ticats’ biggest challenge will be trying to stop the Alouettes’ offensive juggernaut. Juicy stat of the week: In 15 games against the Ticats dating back to 2004, Montreal QB Anthony Calvillo has tossed 36 touchdowns against just eight interceptions. Hello. Still wonder when, not if, the Als will blow a tire while trying to stay focused before their next big game — the East Final Nov. 22.

B.C. LIONS (7-7) at WINNIPEG BLUE BOMBERS (6-8)

When: Sunday, 4 p.m. TV: TSN. Radio: CJOB.

Streaks: B.C.: 2W; Wpg.: 3W.

Vegas line: This game is listed as a pick-’em.

The storyline: A ton of subplots at play here: Can the Lions rebound from the August beating in which the Bombers rushed for almost 400 yards? Can the Bombers win four straight for the first time in six years? Will both Fred Reid and Lions RB Martell Mallett — 1-2 in the race for the CFL rushing title — suit up Sunday? Both have been on the mend all week; Reid has been saying he’s good to go, but the Lions may turn to former Eskimo A.J. Harris and recently signed Canadian Jamall Lee, who would be making his CFL debut, if Martell can’t play.

THE PICKS

Bob Irving, CJOB: Toronto, Calgary, Montreal, Winnipeg.

Gary Lawless, Free Press: Edmonton, Calgary, Montreal, Winnipeg.

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

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

Mitch Zalnasky, CJOB: Edmonton, Calgary, Montreal, B.C.

Last week/overall: Bob Irving: 4-0/37-19; Randy Turner: 3-1/32-24; Ed Tait: 4-0/32-24; Gary Lawless: 2-2/31-25; Mitch Zalnasky: 2-2/30-26.