Week 8 in the CFL with Paul Wiecek

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 16/08/2013 (4485 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Tiger-Cats (2-4) at Bombers (1-5)
Tonight: 7 p.m.; TV:TSN

Hamilton Line: The Ticats last played Aug. 2, when they went into Commonwealth Stadium and escaped with a 30-29 win that dropped the sad-sack Eskimos to 1-5. With a bye week to rest and all-star slotback Andy Fantuz back from a hamstring injury, the oddsmakers have Hamilton as four-point favourites to win their second straight on the road tonight.

Winnipeg Line: The Bombers are also coming into tonight off a bye week, but theirs wasn’t exactly relaxing as it featured the firings of the GM and CEO and the announcement of yet another new starting QB, former NFLer Max Hall. If Winnipeg wins at home tonight it would be a first — they’re 0-3 at brand new Investors Group Field.

Alouettes (2-4) at Roughriders (5-1)
Saturday, 3 p.m.; TV:TSN

Montreal Line: The Als fired their head coach Dan Hawkins a couple weeks back but got more of the same-old, same-old last week in an embarassing 38-13 loss to the Toronto Argonauts at home. Montreal has now won just once in their last five games and GM Joe Popp, who is now doing double duty as head coach too, doesn’t have many cards left to play.

Saskatchewan Line: The Roughriders were exposed as mere mortals in a 42-27 loss to Calgary last week that was the first defeat for Saskatchewan this season after opening with five straight wins. It bears noting — and Rider fans are hoping not repeating — that Saskatchewan won their first three games in 2012 before losing five straight.

Stamps (5-1) at Lions (4-2)
Saturday, 8 p.m.; TV:TSN

Calgary Line: Running back Jon Cornish comes into this weekend off a history-making performance last week in a win over Saskatchewan in which Cornish ran for four TDs and 175 yards. Calgary has beaten BC the last two times these teams have faced each other — in last year’s West Final and again this year in Week 1.

BC Line: Much is being made of the fact Lions QB Travis Lulay has yet to throw for 300 yards in a game this season, but the flip-side to that is the Lions have still won twice as many games as they’ve lost. And the Lions are also almost unbeatable at home, having won nine of their last 10 — the lone blemish that West Final loss to Calgary last November.

Eskimos (1-5) at Argos (4-2)
Sunday, 6 p.m.; TV:TSN

Edmonton Line: The Eskimos are tied with the Bombers for the worst record in the league, but can at least boast they’ve been close in their last two losses. Edmonton QB Mike Reilly has shown a knack for mounting fourth quarter comebacks; the problem is he’s been lousy in the first three quarters: the Esks were outscored a combined 37-12 in the first half of their last two games.

Argos Line: Mr. Everything Chad Owens continues to lead the league in combined yards for the Argos, who have the distinction of being the only team in the CFL’s sad-sack East Division with a record above .500. QB Ricky Ray has battled injuries this season, but his rookie backup Zach Collaros has proven himself a winning replacement.

THE PICKS

The Free Press has assembled a panel this season to offer their fearless predictions every week. Joining us this year are CJOB’s Bob Irving, and from the Free Press, sports editor Steve Lyons, columnists Gary Lawless and Doug Brown and football writers Paul Wiecek and Ed Tait:

Irving: Winnipeg, Saskatchewan, BC, Toronto

Lyons: Winnipeg, Saskatchewan, BC, Toronto

Lawless: Winnipeg, Saskatchewan, Calgary, Toronto

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Brown: Winnipeg, Saskatchewan, BC, Toronto

Tait: Hamilton, Saskatchewan, Calgary, Toronto

Wiecek: Hamilton, Saskatchewan, Calgary, Toronto

Last week/overall: Irving 1-1/13-11; Lyons 1-1/16-8; Lawless 1-1/15-9; Brown 2-0/14-10; Tait 1-1/16-8; Wiecek 0-2/15-9.