This Week in the CFL

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 22/07/2011 (5222 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

HAMILTON TIGER-CATS (1-2) at B.C. LIONS (0-3)

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

Vegas line: B.C. by 3

Ticats line: Things are back on track in Steeltown, thanks to a 33-3 pounding of Saskatchewan. QB Kevin Glenn is 58-of-95 for 609 yards. He has thrown just one interception in his last two games. LB Jamall Johnson leads the CFL with 22 tackles. Hamilton is one of the least-penalized teams in the league. The defence is only allowing 18.3 points per game.

Lions line: After stumbling out of the gate in 2010, the same feeling surrounds the den this year. B.C. is 3-9 in the last four years through Weeks 1-3. A big reason for the slow start — the Lions are only averaging 52.7 yards per game on the ground (league-leading Edmonton averages 140 per contest). SB Geroy Simon is the lone bright spot: His 16 catches for 272 yards ranks him third in the country.

Bottom line: Things are better in Wally’s world after this one.

WINNIPEG BLUE BOMBERS (2-1) at TORONTO ARGONAUTS (1-2)

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

Vegas line: Toronto by 3

Bombers line: QB Buck Pierce is 42-of-76 for 465 yards passing, last among starting pivots in the CFL. He’ll start, with Alex Brink serving as the backup. Second-year WR Cory Watson is the leading receiver (11 catches, 142 yards) and sits 17th in the league. RB Fred Reid has 237 yards rushing, but is averaging just 4.6 yards per carry. The Bombers defence is the best in the land.

Argos line: QB Cleo Lemon gets the start. He’s thrown for 670 yards this season. He needs to have a big game to take the heat off. RB Cory Boyd remains on the shelf with a knee injury. The Argos lost to the Bombers 22-16 in Week 2. K Noel Prefontaine is one of two kickers who haven’t missed a field goal this season (Saskatchewan K Eddie Johnson is the other). The Argos have scored a league-low 56 points.

Bottom line: Expect another low-scoring, hard-hitting, field-position battle.

EDMONTON ESKIMOS (3-0) at CALGARY STAMPEDERS (2-1)

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

Vegas line: Calgary by 3 1/2

Eskimos line: QB Ricky Ray is on fire, throwing for 66-of-91 for 1,002 yards. His 72 per cent completion rate is tops in the CFL. His best stat these days: Six TDs and no interceptions. His 130.8 QB efficiency rating is far and away the best in the league. The Edmonton offence has just one turnover (a fumble). WR Fred Stamps has 316 yards on 17 receptions.

Stamps line: Calgary is coming off a gutsy 21-20 win over Winnipeg last week. SB Nik Lewis is the top man in the pass catching department with 194 yards. QB Henry Burris has four TDS and four interceptions. KR Larry Taylor averages over 25 yards per kickoff return. DB Keon Raymond has two interceptions this season.

Bottom line: Edmonton’s first real test of the season comes here.

SASK. ROUGHRIDERS (0-3) at MONTREAL ALOUETTES (3-0)

When: Sunday, 6 p.m. TV: TSN

Vegas line: Montreal by 11

Roughriders line: Tough days in Rider Nation. Coach Greg Marshall is feeling the heat and could be in trouble with a 0-4 start. Saskatchewan has turned the ball over 12 times — six of those coming off of QB Darian Durant interceptions. The Riders are minus-eight in the turnover ratio. The defence has given up a league-high 114 points in three games. The release of DB Tad Kornegay added more gasoline to a hazardous situation.

Alouettes line: No surprise here, but QB Anthony Calvillo leads the league with 1,038 yards passing and 10 TDs. DE John Bowman is second in sacks with four — one behind Winnipeg DE Odell Willis. RB Brandon Whitaker leads the CFL with 259 yards rushing.

Bottom line: Given the turmoil in Regina, the 11-point line should probably be higher.

— Adam Wazny