Weekly Predictor: Can McLeod keep it rolling?

Jamie Nye

CFL.ca

@jamienye

Coming off of a bye week that saw McLeod Bethel-Thompson make a truly inspiring comeback victory in his CFL debut the week before, the Argos may just be on the verge of setting sail with Bethel-Thompson at the bow of the ship.

Up against Travis Lulay and the Lions this week, Jamie Nye is willing to take the Double Blue as his usual upset in this week’s edition of Weekly Predictor.

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With the first game tabbed to kick off on Friday, here are my picks for Week 10 of the CFL season.

OTTAWA @ WINNIPEG
Friday | 8:30 p.m. ET

Trevor Harris and the REDBLACKS are focused on finding some sort of consistency in their offence after rollercoaster performances the past few weeks. (Patrick Doyle, CFL.ca)

This Winnipeg offence has been something else, with a league-high average of 33.4 points per game. That is over four points per game clear of the Calgary Stampeders. The biggest thing you see in Winnipeg is a defence that gives up the second fewest points.

This all adds up to a big challenge for the Ottawa REDBLACKS to go into Winnipeg and try to win. Trevor Harris and Greg Ellingson finally found some magic and if that continues, the Bombers could be up against a challenge with Brad Sinopoli, Diontae Spencer and William Powell having decent starts to the season.

I can’t see the REDBLACKS winning this one, however.

PICK: WINNIPEG (50% confidence)

BC @ TORONTO
Saturday | 4:00 p.m. ET

McLeod Bethel-Thompson made his CFL debut two weeks ago in what would be an exciting and inspirational comeback victory for the Argos. (Adam Gagnon, CFL.ca)

Travis Lulay looks to be sparking the Lions but was there a bigger spark in the last few weeks than McLeod Bethel-Thompson’s debut performance by throwing four touchdown passes in a comeback win?

The Argos are a dreadful -11 in the takeaway/giveaway category and if they clean that up, we’ll see a turn in the Argos season. I really think they can grow from that comeback win and it starts with Bethel-Thompson taking care of the ball.

For the B.C. Lions, things are starting to look like the promise that many felt about the team going into the season with the moves on defence. Shawn Lemon and Odell Willis look like a dynamic duo off the edge for B.C. but I’m going to go with a bit of an upset in this one.

PICK: TORONTO (10% confidence)

MONTREAL @ EDMONTON
Saturday | 9:00 p.m. ET

Mike Reilly and the Eskimos get their second meeting with the Als this week. Will the Eskimos be putting up more or less points than they did their previous meeting? (The Canadian Press)

Edmonton Eskimos head coach Jason Maas this week says he needs to change as a head coach to help control the lack of discipline that he’s seeing from the most penalized team in the CFL.

Fewer penalties could make a big difference in the Eskimos run to playing in their home Grey Cup and they’ll put it to the test against the struggling Alouettes.

Johnny Manziel was better last week but he’s going up against Mike Reilly and that will mean the Alouettes will likely be playing from behind and that’s when the quarterback has to take more risks. When you take more risks, more mistakes are likely made.

PICK: EDMONTON (90% confidence)

CALGARY @ SASKATCHEWAN
Sunday | 7:00 p.m. ET

What will it take to beat the undefeated Stamps? A strong performance, and perhaps career performances from many on the Roughriders roster. (The Canadian Press)

It seems like groundhog’s day with this two teams as Calgary just played and beat the Riders in Regina three weeks ago.

A few things here. The Riders WILL NOT be down 24-0 after the first quarter this week. Zach Collaros will play quarterback for the Riders, not Brandon Bridge. The Riders can look at that last game and say they outscored them 22-10 after that dreadful first quarter.

There has been a lot of drama around Saskatchewan since that loss with Jerome Messam and Duron Carter released. Messam because of a criminal charge, while Carter was more personal than anything.

The Riders defence also played well against Bo Levi Mitchell.

However, I just think if there is a coach who will make adjustments and find a different way to beat you, it’s Dave Dickenson. But I do think the Riders definitely have it in them for an upset.

PICK: CALGARY (50% confidence)

TSN Fantasy Picks

QUARTERBACK – MCLEOD BETHEL-THOMPSON – I’m hoping the quarterback continues to throw for big yards and scores and his price is right to spread the wealth around, especially with what I think is a pretty decent matchup with the Lions near the bottom of passing defence. Travis Lulay is also a good investment with an equally favourable matchup.

RUNNING BACK – ANDREW HARRIS / DON JACKSON – Jackson is an ‘if’. If he’s healthy, he wasn’t able to play against Saskatchewan last time out and I think he could be a bit of a difference maker in the team’s return to Regina. Andrew Harris leads the league in rushing and in touchdowns. Why wouldn’t you play him?

RECEIVERS – DUKE WILLIAMS / MANNY ARCENEAUX – Williams has been quiet over the last two weeks of the season as he’s no longer a secret. But I don’t think you keep Williams down too much longer until he gets another 100-yards and touchdown. Arceneaux did get a boost with Lulay back throwing the ball and despite only seeing one catch last week, he was facing a pretty good secondary. This week, he is not.

FLEX – JORDAN WILLIAMS-LAMBERT – He’s quietly averaged five catches and 60 yards over the last three games and now with Duron Carter released, JWL is likely an even more favourable target for Zach Collaros as Lambert is one of the biggest targets on the Riders in a game that throwing late could be their only bet.

DEFENCE – NONE – To play some bigger and more consistent players, leaving defence open this week

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