The Canadian Press photo
The penultimate week of the CFL’s regular season is in the books and while the league’s playoff-bound teams are decided, the #TotalPickEm race for $5,000 is far from decided.
User javawaken has a 300-point lead on former leader broncodc6, but the title race will go down to the final week.
Let’s revisit how things shook down on the field in Week 20.
Friday | Calgary 21, Winnipeg 29
After favouring Calgary the past two weeks, it looks like users are starting to come around to the idea Calgary isn’t the dominant force it has been for the past, oh, six years.
With the Stamps reeling from injuries at receiver, with a dried-up ground game and no-longer-dominant defence, Dave Dickenson’s team looks to be far from a sure thing entering the playoffs. Even Week 21’s matchup at BC (home record: 7-1) looks scary for Calgary, which is on a three-game losing streak for the first time in QB Bo Levi Mitchell’s career.
Note: Winnipeg’s defence, led by surefire All-Star Adam Bighill, makes the Bombers a legitimate option against any opponent.
Saturday | Ottawa 30, Hamilton 13
The REDBLACKS came out and made a statement in the wind and sleet at Tim Hortons Field in Hamilton on Saturday, quieting the hardy Hamilton crowd and locking up the East Division regular-season crown in the process.
Trevor Harris chucked three touchdowns, Diontae Spencer did Diontae Spencer things and coordinator Noel Thorpe’s defence utterly shut down Jeremiah Masoli and the Ticat offence.
Look, anything can happen in the playoffs.
But Ottawa’s combined record against Hamilton (3-0) and BC (1-1) is 4-1, which bodes well for the REDBLACKS’ Grey Cup aspirations.
Saturday | BC 16, Saskatchewan 35
After last week’s bounce-back victory, the Riders built momentum this week with a defensive masterclass at home against the Lions on Saturday night.
In case you didn’t know: Chris Jones’s Saskatchewan defence is terrifying. They finish tackles, generate turnovers and are the only group in the league that is consistently generating touchdowns.
Needless to say, any team that is 9-2 in their last 11 games is a force to be reckoned with.
Sunday | Toronto 10, Montreal 40
So the, uh, Montreal Alouettes can score points.
And rookie running back William Stanback can rumble.
There hasn’t been a lot to celebrate in Montreal this season, but at least the Als sent their fans home happy on Fan Appreciation Day.
Week 20: 2-2
Season: 48-29 (.623)
