Adam Gagnon, CFL.ca
TORONTO — Week 19’s tab of games get underway with the battle of those who are still standing in the East Division. The Hamilton Tiger-Cats will travel to the nation’s capital to take on the Ottawa REDBLACKS in the first of a back-to-back series that will certainly help in determining who will claim top spot in the division.
The Lions will hope to put another nail in the Eskimos coffin later on Friday. The Lions are coming off a week in which they handed the Calgary Stampeders their first home loss of the season. As for the Stamps, they’ll be facing the No. 2 ranked Roughriders in the West Division, a team that’s coming off of a loss themselves.
Prior to that tilt on Saturday night, however, the Montreal Alouettes and Toronto Argonauts will face off at BMO Field as either team is now ineligible to make the playoffs, but simply playing for pride at this point in the season.
Who will win each matchup? Do you agree with the CFL.ca writer’s picks, or do you go against the trend?
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HAM at OTT
It’s the battle of the East.
Both the Hamilton Tiger-Cats and Ottawa REDBLACKS have the same record heading into their Week 19 tilt against each other.
Ottawa’s defensive line will have their hands full as they try to contain Jeremiah Masoli. The recent update that Alex Green will be back in the Ticats backfield will also alter the REDBLACKS game plan on how to approach the Black and Gold offence.
William Powell will have the Ticats all over him, or at least that’s what Hamilton is hoping for in order to put the pressure on Trevor Harris and the passing game.
PICK
Writers: 100% Hamilton
Fans: 61% Ottawa
EDM at BC
A BC win and the Eskimos receive another blow to their playoff hopes. An Edmonton win and it boosts their confidence and keeps them in a competitive race to the finish for a playoff spot, likely to be the crossover.
Mike Reilly enjoyed a bounce-back performance last week against the REDBLACKS after a series of weeks that saw the Eskimos spiral to the bottom of the West Division standings. The Eskimos signal-caller will be hoping for another performance in Vancouver on Friday night.
The addition of Tyrell Sutton has paid off for the Lions after he made his debut last week. Can he follow it up with another stellar performance while Travis Lulay orchestrates the offence?
PICK
Writers: 67% Edmonton
Fans: 52% Edmonton
MTL at TOR
There’s nothing to lose in this one.
Both the Toronto Argonauts and Montreal Alouettes have been eliminated from playoff contention, so this matchup will simply be a game of pride as either team looks to prove their worth.
James Franklin looked comfortable last week at the helm of the offence. Look for him to really work the connection with Duron Carter as Carter will look for a redemption game against the team that dealt him to Saskatchewan.
Johnny Manziel will likely be hoping to enjoy the most of the last few games as he continues to build chemistry with the rest of the offence. William Stanback has the opportunity to truly define himself as the running back of the future in Montreal, especially if he has a strong performance against Toronto.
PICK
Writers: Toronto?
Fans: 64% Toronto
SSK at CGY
No. 1 and No. 2 of the West battle it on Saturday night at McMahon Stadium.
The Stampeders are coming off a week in which they were handed their first home loss of the season.
As for the Roughriders, they’re coming off of a loss of their own in an ugly shutout loss to the Blue Bombers in Week 18.
Either team’s defences are arguably two of the strongest in the league. It’s the offensive side of the ball that Calgary has the advantage as Zach Collaros and the Riders offence continue to figure out their identity.
PICK
Writers: 100% Calgary
Fans: 75% Calgary
