July 12, 2017

Weekly Predictor: West looks best in Week 4

The Canadian Press

With four cross division matchups on the schedule, Jamie Nye predicts that only one team in the East will come out of Week 4 with a win.

Will the Edmonton Eskimos get their revenge against the Ottawa REDBLACKS in a rematch of the 2016 East Final? Will Ricky Ray and the Argos continue to put up staggering numbers against the Bombers?

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.

Here’s Nye with his picks for Week 4.

RELATED
» CFL PICK ‘EM: MAKE YOUR PICKS TODAY
» BE THE GM IN CFL FANTASY
» FANTASY NEWS: WEEK 4 TIPS AND STRATEGIES

TORONTO @ WINNIPEG
THURSDAY | 8:30 P.M. ET

Can Matt Nichols and the Bombers’ offence keep pace with the Ricky Ray and the Argos? Johany Jutras/CFL.ca

As much heat that is being put on the Hamilton Tiger-Cats defence through their first two games of the season, they’ve given up the exact same amount of points as the Bombers defence.

And who is coming in to Winnipeg, the Ricky Ray show. The Argonauts are averaging 400-yards per game passing. Take away that 500-yard  game and that is still a 350 yard average in the other two games. Oh, the Bombers secondary hasn’t had a swell start to the season either.

The Argonauts have a ferocious pass rush and Matt Nichols will be under pressure. He’s thrown three interceptions so far in two games.

You may read this as I have the Argos in a blowout. That’s not the case but I am picking the Argos to win on the road.

PICK: TORONTO (50% confident)

CALGARY @ MONTREAL
FRIDAY | 7:00 P.M. ET

Darian Durant and his offence have posted less than 20 points in each of their first three games (Dominick Gravel/Montreal Alouettes)

Bo Levi Mitchell has not exactly been the high efficiency quarterback to start the season as he now takes on a pretty decent defence in Montreal.

The Alouettes meanwhile need a lot more out of their offence to match what their defence has been able to do this season. If those two things come together, this has the makings of an upset.

I can’t believe that is going to happen here, however. The Stampeders still pile up the points, no matter the efficiency of Bo Levi Mitchell.

PICK: CALGARY (70% confident)

OTTAWA @ EDMONTON
FRIDAY | 10:00 P.M. ET

Trevor Harris and the REDBLACKS are still looking for their first win of the season heading into Week 4 (THE CANADIAN PRESS/ Patrick Doyle)

The Ottawa REDBLACKS have scored the second most points in the CFL and have no wins to show for it and this is not going to be an easy road trip to Edmonton to find that first victory.

The Eskimos defence has been very good against the pass, while being not so good against the run. The Eskimos are coming off the bye week, hoping to find a little more from the passing game and wouldn’t you know it, the REDBLACKS give up the third most in the league.

I also see the line play favouring the Eskimos in this matchup as well.

PICK: EDMONTON (65% confident)

BC @ HAMILTON
SATURDAY | 7:30 P.M. ET

Jonathon Jennings and the BC Lions will be looking for their third win on the road when they visit Hamilton on Friday night (CFL.ca)

I would be at or near 100% confidence to pick BC in this matchup if it wasn’t their third game out east in as many weeks. At some point that has to wear on a team.

But the matchup looks very good for the BC Lions on paper. They have the defence with the fewest points allowed. Hamilton gives up the most. Time of possession, give away/takeaway.. the Lions are ahead in almost every category.

But again, I’m a little worried about the Lions ability to pull off three straight wins in three straight weeks in the East Division.

The only thing going for Hamilton is the belief they have to turn things around sooner or later.

PICK: BC (80% confident)

DRAFTKINGS: NYE PICKS HIS ROSTER

With the CFL continuing its partnership with DraftKings for a second season, fans can experience the excitement of daily fantasy and test their skills without the need to make a season-long commitment.

Each week throughout the upcoming 2017 season, fans will have the opportunity to set their ultimate CFL fantasy team. DraftKings offers free-to-play contests, the ability to play privately with friends or with other fans globally to win prizes, tickets and exclusive VIP CFL experiences.

DraftKings Week 4 lineup

 

POS

PLAYER

TEAM

AVG PTS

SALARY

QB

J. Jennings 

BC@HAM

16.4

$10,600

RB

Andrew Harris 

TOR@WPG

16.4

$7,500

WR

Brandon Zylstra

OTT@EDM

19.3

$6,700

WR

Bryan Burnham 

BC@HAM

12.4

$6,000

FLEX

Armanti Edwards 

TOR@WPG

16.9

$5,900

FLEX

Mossis Madu Jr. 

OTT@EDM

18.8

$6,900

DST

Lions

BC@HAM

7.0

$5,200

I will officially admit, this is playing the averages through the first weeks of the season.

Who gives up the most yards rushing? Edmonton! Enter Mossis Madu Jr. This is a player to watch again to make sure William Powell doesn’t get thrown in as starter. If he does, he’s less value than Madu so it garners a top up of going with a player like Manny Arceneaux over Burnham.

Who gives up the most yards passing? Hamilton, Winnipeg, Ottawa. Enter Zylstra, Burnham and Edwards.

Now Edwards is again the Argos receiver hunch of the week. S.J. Green, DeVier Posey and Armanti Edwards have all had big weeks with Ricky Ray, so I’m going back to Edwards, who also gets some points from kick returns.

Also, the Tiger-Cats have allowed Ricky Ray and Kevin Glenn to throw for a combined 870 yards in two games so yeah, I’m playing Jonathon Jennings.

The Lions come in with the highest priced defence but until Zach Collaros and crew can show vast improvement, I don’t think it’s a bad play to go with the defence playing Hamilton.

That leaves Andrew Harris.

The Argos allow the second fewest yards rushing, however, they’ve given up three touchdowns to running backs (two receiving touchdowns) in the past two games. Harris, of course, can catch the ball out of the back field.