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We’ve made it, folks.
The final week of the 2018 CFL regular season is upon us, and brings with it the last opportunity for #TotalPickEm players to edge their friends — or competitors — with diamond-in-the-rough picks.
Last week saw Winnipeg and Ottawa score statement victories against divisional rivals; with the unique circumstances presented by Week 21, will they build on their momentum?
Can the likes of Toronto, Montreal or Edmonton, already with their eyes firmly set on offseason personnel moves, score one last consolation victory before moving on from disappointing 2018 campaigns?
Friday | Toronto at Ottawa
The Argos visit Ottawa in a game which has little meaning for the REDBLACKS — already locked into first place in the East — and virtually none for Marc Trestman’s Toronto team.
Obviously the REDBLACKS (10-7) are a significantly better team than the Argos (4-13) all over the field, and last week’s results reflect that; Ottawa beat Hamilton by three scores on the road to clinch the division title, while Toronto was blown out of the water by a not-great Montreal team.
With that said, weird things happen regularly in the final week of the regular season and this might be one of those cases.
PICK: Toronto, because news just broke this afternoon that Ottawa will be resting a ton of key offensive starters.
Saturday | Winnipeg at Edmonton
The Esks will trot out in front of their home fans one final time in this disappointing season, and do it against one of the two teams that sprinted past them in the playoff race down the stretch.
Saturday afternoon’s contest between Winnipeg (10-7) and Edmonton (8-9) won’t have an impact on the standings, but you can be sure both will want the victory.
The Bombers will aim to build on their momentum from last week’s big home win over Calgary; the Esks will want to soften the blow from a dismal second half and send their fans home with a smile.
PICK: Winnipeg, because Mike O’Shea’s team is playing good football in all three phases and Edmonton’s 2-6 record in the second half is as bad as anybody’s.
Saturday | Montreal at Hamilton
While the Tabbies are heavily favoured in this one — rightly so — I’m not sure it’s as cut-and-dried as it looks.
The Alouettes (4-13) put in their best shift of the season in last week’s 40-10 win over Toronto, and Hamilton (8-9) has looked lost in the offensive wilderness since Brandon Banks went down in Ottawa.
Saturday night’s contest at Tim Hortons Field could be a golden opportunity for Jeremiah Masoli and the Ticats offence to get back on track. It could also be a trap game, the final Jenga piece in the dismantling of the team’s confidence down the stretch.
PICK: Montreal, because Mike Sherman’s team has looked more potent in recent weeks — granted, against the Argos — and the Tabbies haven’t sorted out how to score without Brandon Banks.
Saturday | Calgary at BC
Talk about a tasty regular-season finale.
Calgary will be trying to snap an unprecedented three-game losing streak, while BC will aim to bounce back from an ugly road loss in Regina last week.
Both squads have played good football at points this season, and have All-Star calibre players on offence and defence.
If you needed any more reason to watch: Saturday’s contest will be Wally Buono’s last in Vancouver.
PICK: BC, because the Lions are 7-1 on home turf this season and the Stamps have been out of sorts for over a month.
