Adam Gagnon/CFL.ca
TORONTO — Week 1 was a tough week both for Pick ‘Em players and CFL.ca’s Jamie Nye, as all four road teams and three out of four underdogs claimed victories.
Nye looks to get back on the right track this week with his Weekly Predictor, but with four heavy favourites will he settle for conventional wisdom or does he have a couple of upsets in store?
CFL Pick ‘Em returns with more up for grabs than ever before because this season more than $130,000 in combined cash and prizes up for grabs.*
Pick 30 in a row, win $30,000; pick 40, win $40,000; think you can pick 50 straight? You’re looking at $50,000. *View rules regarding streaks and prizing.
As he looks to bounce back from a 1-3 start, here’s Jamie Nye with his picks to try and get your 2016 CFL Pick ‘Em season on the right track.
» CFL PICK ‘EM: MAKE YOUR PICKS TODAY
OTTAWA @ MONTREAL
Kevin Glenn looks to keep the Als’ offence flying high in the home-opener (The Canadian Press)
The Ottawa REDBLACKS have Trevor Harris at quarterback as Henry Burris will miss Week 2 with a finger injury. Harris as the insurance policy paid off in Week 1 with a Top Performer-worthy effort in a win over Edmonton. His three touchdown passes and incredible efficiency showed the REDBLACKS are just fine in the hands of Harris. Giving up over 30 points in the first week of the season will be the sore spot for Head Coach Rick Campbell.
Meanwhile in Montreal, it wasn’t pretty in the Alouettes’ victory over Winnipeg. But they don’t ask how, they just ask how many. Duron Carter back in the receiving corps makes this Alouette offence much more threatening with Tyrell Sutton out of the backfield and fellow receiver SJ Green showing he’s still one of the best in the league. Defensively, Noel Thorpe is at it again with his traditional stout group consistently causing havoc on the quarterback.
I’m going with Ottawa in this one as the REDBLACKS were impressive in the Grey Cup rematch on the road and I think if they can beat the Eskimos on the road, they’ll be able to take care of Montreal.
» PICK: OTTAWA (75% confidence)
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TORONTO @ SASKATCHEWAN
Darian Durant makes his first start in over a year on Thursday night’s season-opener (The Canadian Press)
In Saskatchewan, no one can truly say what to expect out of the Roughriders in their first game under Head Coach/GM/VP Chris Jones. After a first-week bye, the Riders made several roster moves this week and the common phrase has been ‘work in progress’ in regards to the rebuild in Saskatchewan.
That doesn’t instill much confidence.
The Argonauts struggled in their first game but at least they got a week to work out the problems after putting it on the field for the first time all season. The Riders definitely haven’t been able to do that.
Considering the matchup of receivers to defensive back field strongly favours the Argos, I’m taking Ricky Ray in this one to pick a part some DBs who have only had three days of practice to gel. In saying that, I’m not putting much money on it.
» PICK: TORONTO (10% confidence)
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BC @ HAMILTON
Jeremiah Masoli is coming off a dominant performance in a win over the Argos (Adam Gagnon/CFL.ca)
The BC Lions somehow found a way to win despite getting three punts blocked or partially blocked. There looked to be a lot to work on for the Lions coming into Week 2.
In Hamilton, the Tiger-Cats look like they are a well oiled machine with a healthy Andy Fantuz, a recharged Chad Owens and another newcomer in John Chick continuing to show he’s one of the hardest guys to block in the CFL.
There isn’t much to say here because every one should see the Tiger-Cats are again the team to beat in the East.
» PICK: HAMILTON (90% confidence)
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WINNIPEG @ CALGARY
Drew Willy and Bo Levi Mitchell will duel it out as a Western rivalry picks up in Calgary (CFL.ca)
Both these teams enter after tough first week losses. The Bombers will look at the tape and see there were a lot more opportunities against the Alouettes for the big play and I’m watching for Drew Willy to put it up even more than he did in Week 1.
There are still some protection issues in Winnipeg and that’s not a good sign with a very good group along the defensive line of the Calgary Stampeders.
Bo Levi Mitchell, like Willy, will make the appropriate adjustments after a shaky start to the season.
Because I feel the Stampeders defensive line will rattle Willy in similar fashion as the Alouettes did, I’m taking the home side.
» PICK: CALGARY (80% confidence)
