September 6, 2018

Weekly Predictor: Redemption for the Eskimos

Larry MacDougal/CFL.ca

Mark’s Labour Day Weekend certainly didn’t disappoint, well… unless you were a fan of one of those who happened to lose, but even then, the weekend was filled with great football!

Week 13 brings us a series of re-matches, including the Banjo Bowl between Saskatchewan and Winnipeg. Will the Blue Bombers get back on track and continue their winning ways in the historic game? We’ll see.

Total CFL Pick ‘Em is back in 2018 and if you can pick the winners with regularity, you’ll have a chance to win $5,000. *View rules regarding streaks and prizing.

With the first game tabbed to kick off on Friday, here are my picks for Week 12 of the CFL season.


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OTTAWA @ B.C.

Friday | 10:00 p.m. ET

The highly-potent offence of the Ottawa REDBLACKS should be able to score points in bunches against a the Lions defence on Friday. (The Canadian Press)

The B.C. Lions are in the group of three. The three three-win teams who are moving into that desperate time of year where they need to start stringing wins together, or if you’re Montreal, continue to string wins together.

The Lions were dealt a blow however with Emmanuel Arceneaux‘s injury. The receiving depth is thin and big-play potential lacking among the group as well as the chemistry Arceneaux and Travis Lulay have in key down and distance situations.

The Ottawa REDBLACKS should be able to outscore the Lions although it’s a West trip and a late start and many eastern teams struggle with those late times. I like the REDBLACKS to respond from a big upset by Montreal and come out much more prepared to play.

PICK: OTTAWA (33% confidence)


HAMILTON @ TORONTO

Saturday | 1:00 p.m. ET

The fall of Jalen Saunders from the Ticats receiving corps opens things up for pass-catchers like Brandon Banks and Luke Tasker. (Adam Gagnon, CFL.ca)

Toronto is another of the group of three. A Toronto loss and they will have lost the season series to the Tiger-Cats and will be a long way back with a lot of ground to gain.

After that amazing four-touchdown game, McLeod Bethel-Thompson hasn’t blown people away with his play, especially last week against the best secondary in the game. The Tiger-Cats took some penalties they’ll want back as well.

I think the same recipe the Tiger-Cats had last week will work fine again. Alex Green running the ball to wear down the Argonauts and Jeremiah Masoli spreading the wealth throughout the receiving corps. Jalen Saunders injury will hurt the Tiger-Cats but with Brandon Banks and Luke Tasker there are still enough in the receiving corps to make life difficult on a defence that hasn’t played well.

PICK: HAMILTON (50% confidence)


SASKATCHEWAN @ WINNIPEG

Saturday | 4:00 p.m. ET

The Blue Bombers continue to lean on Andrew Harris as the workhorse in the Winnipeg offence. Can he take it to another level and win another Banjo Bowl for Winnipeg? (Peter McCabe, CFL.ca)

The Riders head into tough territory after beating the Bombers in the Labour Day Classic. Can Riders continue to get defensive and special teams plays that either score touchdowns or close to it?

When will Zach Collaros have his coming out party? Collaros has been good but not great. I wonder after having over a 100-yards taken off the board by an interception and a punt return if Collaros would have hit the 300-yard plateau for the first time. I think Collaros will hit his stride soon.

Winnipeg has be fired up out of the gate in this one after giving up a big play to the Riders off the start last week. Someone has to make a play for this team to get them moving. Andrew Harris continues to be the workhorse but they need more than just Harris to succeed.

You know the Riders defence will be much more prepared to take Harris away after giving up over 150-yards on the ground to Harris last week.

PICK: SASKATCHEWAN (25% confidence)


CALGARY @ EDMONTON

Saturday | 7:00 p.m. ET

There might just be more hype around the re-match between the Eskimos and Stamps after C.J. Gable’s comments following the Labour Day Classic on Monday. (The Canadian Press)

There is a lot of heat on this game after some back and forth in the media between Eskimos running back C.J. Gable and Calgary quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell.

I don’t know why Gable would give some bulletin board material to a team at 9-1, but he was right. The Eskimos really did all they could to lose the game last week.

Mike Reilly was as fired up as I’ve seen him in a while after a loss to be better and stop giving away games.

Kamar Jorden and Derel Walker were both injured so it’s a bit of a saw off in terms of teams losing their top receiver. Bo Levi Mitchell is also a little hobbled by a knee injury. We’ll see what comes of a few more practices.

I really do think that the Eskimos aren’t leaving Commonwealth without revenge.

PICK: EDMONTON (40% confidence)


TSN Fantasy Picks

QUARTERBACK – Zach Collaros – I’m waiting for that breakout game and the Winnipeg secondary can give up the big play. Collaros has a 300-yard game and multiple touchdown games in him and I like the dynamic Kyran Moore has brought to an already inexperienced receiving group. I also will play him to help the budget around the roster.

RUNNING BACKS – William Powell and C.J. Gable – Powell can do it all for the Ottawa REDBLACKS and they’ll need him to have a big game on the road as Ottawa should be feeling the heat of the surging Tiger-Cats on their tail. CJ Gable sounded off about the team’s play and the letdowns against the Stamps. Time to walk the walk for the running back. I think he has a big game this week.

RECEIVERS/FLEX – D’Haquille Williams, Davaris Daniels, Jordan Williams-Lambert – TARGETS, TARGETS, TARGETS!!!! With Derel Walker and Kamar Jorden out of the lineup, Williams and Daniels become the #1 target for both the Eskimos and the Stampeders. I think they can respond in a big way. Jordan Williams-Lambert continues to be spotted on key plays, as well as near the end zone, plus the budget works out with good yards and a decent amount of catches to boot.