When I said the CFL was going to take shape this, what I obviously meant was that the West Division would create even more questions for us, while the first of the teams were eliminated from postseason contention.
We’re 17 weeks into the season, and yet the Ottawa Redblacks are still averaging just 17 points a game. While that’s not strictly a question, I feel like something needs to be question there. Perhaps the fact as to why they’re somehow not in possession of the worst record in the four-team East Division.
Moving on.
BC Lions (-2.5) @ Edmonton Eskimos: -110
Saturday 12th October, 7PM
If the CFL started four weeks ago, and I’m almost sure it didn’t nor ever will, the BC Lions would be the hot favourites for the Grey Cup.
Rattling off 24-point, 33-point, 2-point and 47-point wins over the Redblacks twice, Alouettes and the Argonauts respectively might seem more like a favourable schedule than anything else, but they’ve played very well in that stretch.
Winning four games on the spin is tough in Canada due to travel commitments and the bizarre spacing of bye weeks, but the Lions have done exactly that, becoming the form team in Canadian football in the process.
For Edmonton, it’s been tougher sledding.
They’ve lost five of their last six and been outscored quite heavily in each of those defeats bar Hamilton.
Momentum does exist and there’ll be further proof of that this weekend.
BET ON THE CFL WITH CANPLAY SPORTS!
Montreal Alouettes @ Winnipeg Blue Bombers (-3.5): -110
Saturday 12th October, 4PM
The Blue Bombers are on a terrible run and they’re in dire need of a win stall the rot before the postseason.
For all that they’re playing to the level of their opponents on a weekly basis, they’ve just scored 19 points over the last two weeks and that kind of offensive inefficiency is hard to hurdle when it comes to the really meaningful games again.
Montreal, meanwhile, have a habit of stealing wins in close games, the 25-23 defeat to the Lions excused (it should be excused, the Lions are a runaway train). Each of their last six wins have come by a single score and good play-calling usually lands them in situations midgame.
For this reason, I’m happy to back Winnipeg minus the points as I don’t feel that, if they win, it will be by less than four points.
No team in the CFL will have taken as big a hammering from the coaching staff this week as the Blue Bombers and I feel we’ll see that wrath transform into a performance.
Saskatchewan Roughriders (+3) @ Calgary Stampeders: -110
Friday 11th October, 9:30PM
Without question, this is the game of the weekend.
Bookies are keen to hand Calgary the three-point handicap because of home-field advantage, and given that three is usually a standard for a home team, they’ve effectively called this matchup a pick-em.
And I just can’t have that.
Calgary have all the experience, having contested each of the last three Grey Cups, but the Roughriders are a better offence. They’re also a better defence.
I won’t analyse this one too much – go with your gut. Forget experience, as psychologically, players embrace situations in different ways.
Saskatchewan will come away with this one.
BET | Saskatchewan (+3) @ -110 with CanPlay