WEEK 16 IN THE CFL

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 15/10/2010 (5808 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

HAMILTON TIGER-CATS (7-7) at TORONTO ARGONAUTS (7-7)

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

Vegas line: Hamilton by 1.5

Tiger-Cats line: Hamilton already owns the season series against the Argos. Arland Bruce III is back on top of the receiving race with 80 catches and 1,237 yards. QB Kevin Glenn has 4,144 yards passing. Linebackers Jamall Johnson, Markeith Knowlton and Otis Floyd have 202 tackles between them.

Argonauts line: Toronto has given up 80 more points than it has scored this season (283 for, 362 against). QB Cleo Lemon has just 11 TD passes in 375 attempts this season. Jermaine Copeland leads all Argo receivers with three TD catches. RB Cory Boyd leads all backs with 196 carries and 1,179 yards rushing.

Bottom line: The winner of this game is in the driver’s seat to host the East semifinal.

EDMONTON ESKIMOS (4-10) at B.C. LIONS (5-9)

When: Saturday, 9 p.m. TV: TSN

Vegas line: B.C. by 5

Eskimos line: Edmonton lost by 25 to Hamilton last week. The numbers aren’t pretty: 273 points scored (last in the league) and 449 points against (again, last). Total takeaways (29) and giveaways (49) are also at the bottom of the league lists. New WR Derick Armstrong, picked up earlier this week, should be in the lineup. Edmonton signed K Justin Medlock Thursday.

Lions line: The Lions will have to regroup after blowing a 21-point lead to the Bombers in the fourth quarter earlier this week. B.C. is a dismal 2-5 at Empire Field. With Casey Printers off the premises, Travis Lulay is the No. 1 quarterback option. RB Jamal Robertson averages nearly seven yards a carry.

Bottom line: Another Lions loss puts Edmonton and Winnipeg right back in the playoff hunt.

WINNIPEG BLUE BOMBERS (4-10) at MONTREAL ALOUETTES (10-4)

When: Sunday, noon. TV: TSN Radio: CJOB

Vegas line: Montreal by 11.5

Bombers line: Winnipeg is still alive in the playoff hunt, thanks to a 47-35 overtime win over the Lions. After being benched last week, QB Steven Jyles gets the start. The 28-year-old has thrown for 17 touchdowns and five interceptions. DE Phillip Hunt leads the CFL with 13 sacks. Winnipeg is 0-7 on the road and just 1-7 against the East division.

Alouettes line: Montreal can clinch first place in the East division with a win. QB Anthony Calvillo has 27 TD passes against just five picks. Calvillo has just 83 yards rushing. The defending champs lead the CFL with a plus-18 turnover ratio and are 6-1 at Molson Stadium.

Bottom line: Tough place to end a lengthy road losing streak, Winnipeg.

CALGARY STAMPEDERS (10-4) at SASKATCHEWAN ROUGHRIDERS (9-5)

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

Vegas line: Saskatchewan by 1.5

Stamps line: Calgary had its doors blown off by Montreal 46-19 last week. The Stamps are 4-3 on the road, but 6-2 against teams from the West division. In those eight games, they’ve scored an impressive 306 points. QB Henry Burris has 30 touchdown passes, tops in the CFL. Calgary leads the league with 43 takeaways.

Roughriders line: Saskatchewan is coming off a surprising home loss to Toronto last week — its first defeat at Mosaic this season. Andy Fantuz is second in receiving yards with 1,158. QB Darian Durant continues to lead all pivots with 4,381 yards passing. He’s tied with Burris for the interception lead (18). S James Patrick has eight picks.

Bottom line: With first on the line in the West, this one should be a dandy.

THE PICKS

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

Ed Tait, Free Press: Hamilton, Edmonton, Montreal, Calgary

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

Adam Wazny, Free Press: Hamilton, B.C, Montreal, Saskatchewan

Mitch Zalnasky, CJOB: Hamilton, B.C, Montreal, Saskatchewan

Last week (overall): Irving: 3-1 (34-22); Tait: 2-2 (32-24); Turner: 3-1 (34-22); Wazny: 2-2 (34-22); Zalnasky: 3-1 (32-24).

— Adam Wazny