Weekly Predictor: Riding the momentum

Week 9 was a tough one for CFL Pick ‘Em players as two teams pulled off upsets, including the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and their streak-buster against the previously-undefeated Eskimos.

Could the Green and Gold lose a second game in a row at the hands of Chris Jones and the Saskatchewan Roughriders?

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 Jamie Nye with his picks for Week 10.

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Winnipeg at Montreal
Thursday | 7:30 p.m. ET

Matt Nichols celebrates after a Bomber touchdown in a win over Edmonton (Jason Halstead/CFL.ca)

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers became no-doubt contenders last week while the Montreal Alouettes made many question just where they stack up in the race with Toronto for top spot in the East.

The Bombers’ offence may be run by Matt Nichols but it truly hums with Andrew Harris. Harris is on pace for the never-before-seen double 1,000-yard season in terms of rushing and receiving yards. Good luck trying to defend this team when Paul LaPolice has so many weapons to use in various formations.

The Alouettes’ offence has to figure things out, especially after allowing three sacks and 13 pressures on Darian Durant last week.

PICK: WINNIPEG (90% confidence)

Saskatchewan at Edmonton
Friday | 9:30 p.m. ET

Chris Jones leads the Riders into a duel against his former team, the Eskimos (Matt Smith/CFL.ca)

You may look at the records and think 7-1 at home vs. 3-4 on the road should be an easy pick. But I’m not looking at it that way.

With the Roughriders’ convincing home victory over the BC Lions and the Eskimos finally unable to scrap out another victory, the Riders’ chances of breaking their lengthy winless drought visiting western cities increases.

When you look at the stats of these teams, they are much closer than the records indicate. I was pretty confident taking the Riders in this game until I saw the reports of some injured Eskimo players potentially returning. But I’m going to go with my gut and that the Riders’ win over BC wasn’t an anomaly and the Riders start putting pressure on the teams above them going into the back half of the season.

PICK: SASKATCHEWAN (10% confidence)

BC at Ottawa
Saturday | 3:30 p.m. ET

Can Jonathon Jennings re-discover his first- and second-year success? (The Canadian Press)

Something seems off in BC. After the switch to Jonathon Jennings at quarterback, the team is 0-2 and the offence does not seem like the one Jennings led earlier in the season, nor the one Travis Lulay helped to some big wins.

The Lions lost to a Calgary team that did not play very well last week, while the REDBLACKS got a win against a team they should beat.

Ottawa still has some big issues to clean up on the defensive side of the ball. BC still has to do a much better job of protecting the quarterback.

I’m going to take Ottawa at home as the REDBLACKS start to move up the standings in the East Division.

PICK: OTTAWA (35% confidence)

Toronto at Calgary
Saturday | 9:00 p.m. ET

The Argonauts’ offence with Ricky Ray again impressed in the win over the Montreal Alouettes. Ray is such a calming influence on the team and that offence was as efficient as ever. The big problem, however, is protecting Ray. Toronto has allowed the second-most sacks and third-most pressures on its quarterbacks.

Calgary, meanwhile, is No. 1 in both categories and has kept Bo Levi Mitchell upright all season. Mitchell though just hasn’t been his MOP-esque self, completing just 63 per cent of his passes (second-lowest among starters).

I’m going to take the team who should do a much better job in the trenches, though if Calgary plays like it did last week, this is going to be a big upset at McMahon. 

PICK: CALGARY (80% confidence)

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 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 9 lineup

Going with Kevin Glenn … on the road … call me crazy, but I think this is the week this will pay off. It won’t be a popular pick, which means it puts you ahead of the game and gives you more money to spread elsewhere. Duron Carter has become as valuable a weapon as was sold when he signed and that opens things up across the board for Glenn, who has more than enough weapons. I’m bullish on the Riders carrying momentum out of the bye week and into Commonwealth.

Andrew Harris is a must play every week. Period.

At some point the attention on Greg Ellingson should open things up for every one else in Ottawa and Spencer has that big play, game breaking speed and BC gives up the most big plays from receivers in the league.

T.J. Thorpe has turned into a solid contributor for Matt Nichols and that Bombers offence. He’s had very consistent numbers that equate into a safe 10 points and potential for more.

Ernest Jackson has become Darian Durant’s favourite target over the last few weeks and has a high potential to score each and every week, plus get a lot of targets.

Jeremiah Johnson’s numbers have come down and the BC Lions aren’t winning. Hmmm. He also hasn’t found the end zone in a few weeks after scoring at will in the first part of the season. As people stop investing in Johnson, I’m going to go with a bounce back.

There is no safe play for defences this week as Hamilton is on the bye so I’m going to go with Winnipeg against the offence that seems to be having the hardest time of late getting things going.