This Week in the CFL — Week 18

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 24/10/2014 (4360 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Montreal Alouettes (7-8) at Ottawa Redblacks (2-13)

Tonight, 5:30 p.m. TV: TSN

Alouettes line: After a dreadful start to the regular season, the Als have settled in nicely under QB Jonathon Crompton and are nothing less than the hottest team in the CFL right now, carrying a four-game winning streak and a share of first place in the East Division into Ottawa tonight.

Redblacks line: The expansion Redblacks have only won twice all season, but both times the victories came at home at TD Place. Emotions will be running high tonight for the Redblacks in a game that at one point this week was in danger of being postponed due to Wednesday’s shootings on Parliament Hill.

Saskatchewan Roughriders (9-7) at Calgary Stampeders (13-2)

Tonight, 8:30 p.m. TV: TSN

Roughriders line: The Riders have been a train wreck since starting QB Darian Durant went down with an elbow injury during the Banjo Bowl in Winnipeg in mid-September and will carry a four-game losing streak into McMahon Stadium.

Stampeders line: The Stamps are home and cooled with three games still to play in the regular season, having already clinched first place in the West with last weekend’s win over Winnipeg. Calgary has won three in a row and been beaten just once at home this season, but if you’re looking for a reason to bet against them, it’s significant to note that MVP running back Jon Cornish is sitting out tonight.

Hamilton Tiger-Cats (7-8) at Toronto Argonauts (6-9)

Saturday, 3 p.m. TV: TSN

Ticats line: Hamilton led Toronto 30-13 heading into the 4th quarter at Rogers Centre just two weeks ago, only to get out-scored 21-3 in the final frame and lose 34-33. Take away that epic collapse and the Ticats would be riding a six-game winning streak and be the hottest football team in Canada coming into tonight.

Argos line: The Argos squandered whatever momentum they might have carried out of that big comeback win over Hamilton two weeks ago by laying an egg last week in a gutless 20-12 loss to the Alouettes at home.

B.C. Lions (8-7) at Winnipeg Blue Bombers (6-10)

Saturday, 6 p.m. TV: TSN

Lions line:- B.C. is nicely rested after enjoying a bye last weekend and they can clinch a playoff berth with a win over the Bombers tonight. Vancouver hosts this year’s Grey Cup and the Lions are attempting to become the 4th consecutive host team to also play in the big game.

Bombers line: The Bombers are riding a seven-game losing streak and will be eliminated from playoff contention for the fifth time in the last six years if they lose to the Lions this weekend. If the Bombers beat B.C., they would need to win again next week in Calgary for the first time since 2002 — plus get a lot of help — to keep their playoff hopes alive.

THE PICKS

The Free Press has assembled a panel to offer their predictions every week in 2014. Joining us once again 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: Mtl, Calgary, Toronto, Winnipeg

Wiecek: Mtl, Calgary, Hamilton, B.C.

Lawless: Montreal, Saskatchewan, Hamilton, B.C.

Lyons: Montreal, Calgary, Toronto, B.C.

Brown: Mtl, Calgary, Toronto, B.C.

Tait: Montreal, Calgary, Hamilton, B.C.

Last week/overall:

Irving: 3-1, 50-19

Wiecek: 3-1, 47-22

Lawless: 3-1, 46-23

Lyons: 2-2, 45-24

Brown: 3-1/45-24

Tait: 3-1/44-25