Johany Jutras/CFL.ca
TORONTO — After a tough first week, CFL.ca writers went 25-3 on their picks last week. That is mathematically impossible to top based on the selections in Week 3 but again, most of the seven writers are in agreement.
BC, Calgary, Ottawa and Saskatchewan are heavy favourites among writers this week while the fans, for the most part, agree. Conventional wisdom, of course, doesn’t always win out.
With another week of action set to arrive, we take a look at who’s trending.
CFL Pick ‘Em is back in 2017 with more than $130,000 in combined cash and prizes are 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.
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BC @ MTL
The Lions and Alouettes have deployed two of the more disappointing offences in the CFL thus far but will try to change that when they go head to head on Thursday night. Third-year quarterback Jonathon Jennings has come on late in both of the Lions’ first two games this season — however, slow starts have plagued a BC club that has yet to score a touchdown outside of the fourth quarter. The Als, meanwhile, have had one of the CFL’s stingier defences but have dealt with similar inconsistencies to their counterpart on the opposite side of the ball.
With two defences that don’t allow a whole lot, look for a tight battle on Thursday night between Jennings and veteran Darian Durant in a game that could go down to the wire.
Pick
Writers: 100% BC
Fans: 84% BC
CGY @ WPG
The Stampeders have lost only twice over their last 20 games while the Blue Bombers are 11-3 since Matt Nichols took over as the team’s starting quarterback. So is it time we’ve started viewing the Bombers as the West Division powerhouse they’ve been since last July?
Friday night will be a good test for the Blue and Gold, who play their first home game of the season against the hottest quarterback in the league in Bo Levi Mitchell. The Katy, Texas native has picked up where he left off after an MOP campaign in 2016, throwing for 671 yards and five touchdowns with no turnovers to his name. This one screams statement game for the Bombers.
Pick
Writers: 71% Calgary
Fans: 81% Calgary
TOR @ OTT
They say what goes up must come down and Ricky Ray certainly fell back to earth in Week 2, going from a 500-plus yard performance to a still-impressive 327 in a home loss to the BC Lions. But the Argos’ offence still looks scary and now it’s on a crash course with another hot quarterback in Trevor Harris.
There’s no personal beef between friends turned foes in Ray and Harris, but the narrative surrounding the former teammates remains: The Argos chose Ray while Harris saw a better opportunity elsewhere. Saturday night could see plenty of fireworks in the nation’s capital.
Pick
Writers: 100% Ottawa
Fans: 82% Ottawa
HAM @ SSK
So maybe it’s extreme to call Saturday’s cross-division duel at Mosaic Stadium a must-win. But for the Ticats and Riders, the pressure is certainly present. The Ticats have a lot to clean up after a 32-15 season-opening loss to the Argos followed by a bye week while the Riders, 0-2, just dropped their first game at new Mosaic Stadium to the hated Winnipeg Blue Bombers.
Look for a hard-hitting, high-intensity matchup from two teams that will stop at nothing to build some positive momentum early in the 2017 season.
Pick
Writers: 71% Saskatchewan
Fans: 58% Saskatchewan
