The stakes are getting progressively higher for CFL teams each week on the Shaw #RoadtotheGreyCup.
They are also raised for season-long #TotalPickEm players, who are now close enough to taste the $5,000 end-of-season cash prize. Current leader Burzmiester5 is the equivalent of half a game (assuming players put full 200 confidence on each pick) up on second-place paddlegirl.
In addition to the $5,000 grand prize, the best predictor each week wins two tickets to any 2018 regular-season CFL game of their choice.
So, whether you’ve been invested in this from day one, or you’re just creating your profile and locking in your first picks of the season: You have something to play for.
Let’s take a look at the Week 15 matchups.
Friday | Montreal at Winnipeg (8:30 p.m. ET)
With both teams sliding, it appears the Alouettes have reverted to their old ‘extreme underdog’ status.
We get it: Winnipeg is overdue for a victory — especially at IGF, where the Bombers have lost back-to-back contests — and Montreal appears to be an easy target.
PICK: Winnipeg…because Johnny Manziel has not thrown a touchdown in either of his two starts (against four interceptions), the Bombers are better than they’ve shown in recent weeks and the consensus seems to believe Montreal is about a 3-9 team to begin with.
Saturday | Edmonton at Ottawa (4 p.m. ET)
The Esks are heavily favoured entering Saturday afternoon’s contest in Ottawa, and one can understand why.
Mike Reilly and co. torched Calgary’s league-leading defence for 40-plus points in their last outing, while Ottawa — fresh off a big win in Regina, it must be said — has been far from the picture of consistency this season.
With that said…
PICK: Ottawa…because Edmonton is 2-4 on the road, Noel Thorpe’s REDBLACKS defence looked monstrous last week and Ottawa will be hungry with a bye week right around the corner.
Saturday | Saskatchewan at Toronto (7 p.m. ET)
Despite their loss last week, the Riders heavily favoured and for good reason: Logic would say a 7-5 West Division team is significantly better than a 3-8 East Division one.
There are question marks swirling within both offences, as Zach Collaros and McLeod Bethel-Thompson have both struggled in recent weeks at the helm of the Riders and Argos offences respectively.
Looking beyond the offences, however, it’s clear Saskatchewan has the edge on defence and special teams.
PICK: Saskatchewan…because the sheer number of playmakers in green-and-white is scary in two of three phases, the Riders are a playoff team and Toronto is at least currently not. Plus: The Sask. return duo of Marcus Thigpen/Kyran Moore is terrifying.
Saturday | Hamilton at BC (10 p.m. ET)
The Ticats travel to the Pacific coast for a date with Wally Buono’s BC Lions.
Hamilton enters off a home loss against Calgary which once again called Jeremiah Masoli’s killer instinct into question; BC manhandled Montreal in the second half, and may just be turning a corner.
It’s also a matchup that pits Lions special teams coordinator Jeff Reinebold — one of the coolest personalities in the CFL — against Hamilton, the team he worked for the last five seasons (2013-17).
PICK: BC…because even if Travis Lulay is out, the Lions defence has shown it has the ability to keep the team in ballgames, and Jeremiah Masoli’s Ticats receiver group is decimated. Plus, we’re all-in on the Wally Buono retirement hype train.
