Week 6 This week in the CFL

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 04/08/2011 (5557 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

MONTREAL ALOUETTES (3-2)at TORONTO ARGONAUTS (1-4)

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

Vegas line: Montreal by 5

Alouettes line: The two-time defending champs have lost two straight games and do not like the way that tastes. QB Anthony Calvillo has thrown for 1,482 yards and leads the league with 11 TDs. His 103.6 QB efficiency rating is second behind Edmonton’s Ricky Ray. RB Brandon Whitaker is averaging 6.4 yards a carry. SB Jamel Richardson has 401 yards receiving and three TDs.

Argos line: Coach/GM Jim Barker made a poor decision to go for the win with a field-goal try from 57 yards out last week. It might as well have been from 75 yards. Toronto, an East Division finalist last season, has lost four straight games. This is only the second game at home for

the Boatmen. RB Cory Boyd (knee) is not ready to return this week. His replacement, RB Chad Kackert, has five TDs and looks like a pretty

solid player.

Bottom line: Uh-oh. The season is slipping away from the Argos.

EDMONTON ESKIMOS (5-0) at WINNIPEG BLUE BOMBERS (4-1)

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

Vegas line: Edmonton by 1

Eskimos line: QB Ricky Ray is the top-rated pivot in the league, completing 67 per cent of his passes with 10 TDs and just one interception. Receiver Fred Stamps is the No. 1 pass catcher in the CFL with 578 yards on 30 catches and five TDs. Stop those two guys and stop the Eskimos. The defence is excellent against the run; the secondary has a few holes. Edmonton is 5-0 for the first time since 1980.

Bombers line: The four wins matches the win total from the 2010 season. Winnipeg is 2-1 at home. RB Fred Reid continues to lead the CFL with 374 yards. He has one touchdown. SB Terrence Edwards leads the club with four TDs. The Bombers have attempted 20 field goals this season — most in the league. The Winnipeg formula: Defence, and no turnovers on offence. DE Odell Willis was named CFL defensive player of the month for July.

Bottom line: The marquee game of the week features the two clubs who missed the playoffs last season.

SASK. ROUGHRIDERS (1-4) at B.C. LIONS (0-5)

When: Friday, 9:30 p.m. TV: TSN

Vegas line: B.C. by 3

Riders line: The battle of the two worst clubs in the West Division. QB Darian Durant is struggling. He has five TDs and six interceptions, and has a QB efficiency rating of 76.9. He needs to be a lot better. LB Barrin Simpson has 25 tackles and three sacks. The Riders have scored a league-low 101 points. The defence is giving up 32 points per contest. That needs to be a lot better, too.

Lions line: The lowly Leos are last in the league in most defensive categories, including total yards against (2,086), average yards per game against (417), and touchdowns against (13). We could go on. DB Tad Kornegay, formally of the Riders, should make his Lions debut here. QB Travis Lulay is completing a CFL-low 53 per cent of his passes, but he’s not going anywhere.

Bottom line: First one to 50 points wins?

HAMILTON TIGER-CATS (3-2) at CALGARY STAMPEDERS (3-2)

When: Saturday, 8:30 p.m. TV: TSN

Vegas line: Calgary by 4

Ticats line: After losing the first two, Hamilton has won three straight games and looked pretty good doing so. WR Dave Stala leads the club with five TDs. Arland Bruce was dealt to B.C., which is not surprising considering he has just nine catches for 104 yards and no TDs. RB Avon Cobourne has been an excellent pickup, with 331 yards and two TDs. LB Jamall Johnson has 31 tackles and three sacks.

Stamps line: Not a bad team; they just need to be a little sharper. QB Henry Burris has thrown for more than 1,400 yards through five weeks, but he hasn’t looked quite right. The Stamps have scored 117 points and have given up 117 points. SB Nik Lewis has 389 yards and 27 catches. KR Larry Taylor has 212 yards on 20 punt returns. Calgary has been penalized for 495 yards — most in the CFL.

Bottom line: Surprisingly, the Stamps are winless in two tries at home.

— Adam Wazny