Weekly Predictor: More Masoli magic in Week 12?

Jamie Nye

CFL.ca

@jamienye

Mark’s Labour Day Weekend has come and gone, which means fall football is in the air and the points are a little more meaningful.

That’s true whether you’re trying to win a Grey Cup or your CFL Pick ‘Em Championship, because at this time of year, the margin for error is only getting slimmer.

Week 12 features the highly-anticipated Banjo Bowl, as prairie rivals Winnipeg and Saskatchewan put their season series on the line at Investors Group Field.

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.

Without further ado, Nye makes his Week 12 picks.

Montreal at BC
Friday | 10:00 p.m. ET

Caught in a mid-season slump, the Lions have made the full-time switch to Travis Lulay (Johany Jutras/CFL.ca)

The move to Travis Lulay is intriguing for the BC Lions, who need to keep pace with the red hot Roughriders right now in the West Division. Lulay was efficient and was able to throw for a bunch of yards with Jennings out of the lineup and now that Lions’ backs are against the wall, expect the claw back.

I think that’s going to happen with the Montreal Alouettes travelling out West. The Als’ offence needs to find its groove or there may be talk starting in Montreal of a quarterback change there.

I think the talent level in BC is higher and with home field, I think it’s going to be decent victory for the Lions.

PICK: BC (90% confidence)

Saskatchewan at Winnipeg
Saturday | 3:00 p.m. ET

Ed Gainey‘s two interceptions made the different in a Riders win on Sunday (Arthur Ward/CFL.ca)

The Banjo Bowl is going to be a loud one and the Bombers are going to be extra ornery after losing the Labour Day Classic to Saskatchewan less than a week ago.

While Andrew Harris was able to get over 100 yards from scrimmage, he wasn’t a factor until the score got one-sided. He’s going to be a bigger factor earlier and I don’t think the Riders capitalize on early turnovers like they have over the three-game winning streak.

And what appears to be the flawless Saskatchewan Roughriders start showing their imperfections.

I really do smell a dramatic fourth quarter finale for this one.

PICK: WINNIPEG (5% confidence)

Hamilton at Ottawa
Saturday | 6:00 p.m. ET

Trevor Harris and the REDBLACKS are playing some of their best football heading into September (Johany Jutras/CFL.ca)

The Hamilton Tiger-Cats felt the sweet taste of victory and while I do believe we’ll start to see a different looking Tiger-Cat team down the stretch, I can’t pick them to come up with back to back wins.

Everything seemed to go Hamilton’s way in the Labour Day Classic but I think Trevor Harris, Greg Ellingson, Brad Sinopoli etc. are ready to take a bigger first-place lead in the East Division.

Ottawa has a lot to play for and I don’t see a let down like the Argonauts had heading into their bye week.

PICK: OTTAWA (75% confidence)

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

Roy Finch and the Stampeders ran away with a big win on Labour Day over the Eskimos (The Canadian Press)

The Battle of Alberta is one of my favourite things in sports whether it be CFL or NHL. You get these teams together and it’s going to be high-intensity and high-energy, with the fans pushing the envelope further with noise and trash talk.

The Stampeders are riding high after a convincing win over the Eskimos. Now Edmonton has signed receiver Derel Walker, who has spent the last few months trying out for the NFL. Walker’s arrival could be the positive jolt the Eskimos needed after losing three in a row.

Calgary, however, is the most complete team in the CFL from top to bottom, from offence to special teams. The Stamps are so challenging to stop and I think the Eskimos will be outmatched again in this one, although winning that second game to sweep is one of the hardest things to do in the Battle of Alberta.