Weekly Predictor: Who gets a W in the final week of the regular season?

Jamie Nye

CFL.ca

@jamienye

Here we are at the final week of the regular season and it’ll be a bizarre week for CFL Pick ‘Em fans with three games that every team knows their fate.

That’s not to say there is nothing to play for.

Toronto is going for an all-time great Argo regular season record, the Stamps are going for franchise win 700, while the Tiger-Cats and Alouettes are in the business of sending a message before they’re right back in Montreal next week for the Eastern Semi-Final.

However, with that being said. It’s not going to be an easy week to pick the winners.

What’s the strategy for these teams? We likely won’t find out until the depth charts are released the day in advance and in some cases as the game is playing out.

Winnipeg at Calgary
Friday, October 27
9:00 p.m. ET

The first test happens on Friday night when the Bombers, who already have a bye week next week, could give their veterans a nice long rest until the Western Final.

Or they could play a lot of the starters in the first half again to keep them focused before getting a week off. The Bombers have played the starters in the first half the last two seasons with first place wrapped up.

For Calgary, I don’t think you can rest many of their starters. Yes, it was an impressive win over the BC Lions last week to help clinch a playoff spot, but the Stamps still have some things to figure out.

If there was one player for the Bombers I’d be giving a bit of a breather it would be Brady Oliveira.

Dru Brown came in last week and threw two touchdowns in relief so even if the Bombers rest starters, they’re still capable of a win.

I’m torn. I feel that last week the Stamps showed they’re more than capable of battling the best and with some regulars likely out for Winnipeg, opportunity knocks.

But I also feel the Stamps could want to hold back going into the playoffs because they don’t have the advantage of a bye like the Bombers.

Depth wins here. And the Bombers have more of it.

PICK: WINNIPEG

Hamilton at Montreal
Saturday, October 28
4:00 p.m. ET

Both teams are coming off a bye week knowing they’re facing each other again next week in the Eastern Semi-Final.

Can the Tiger-Cats ‘send a message’?

Who will play and how many quarterbacks could play for either team in this game?

Montreal has not lost to a team that is below .500 all season. Their only losses remain to BC, Toronto and Winnipeg.

The Tiger-Cats have been playing some quality football recently and I think with their quarterbacks lack of timing with some of the receivers because of a mixed bag of injuries, I think you’ll see the Tiger-Cats look a little sharper coming out of the bye week and likely go with their regulars longer.

PICK: HAMILTON

Toronto at Ottawa
Saturday, October 28
7:00 p.m. ET

Could you imagine being the REDBLACKS coming off a bye and right into the final game as a group?

We’ll find out what kind of group Bob Dyce has inspired this week with their effort.

I expect to see this younger group to excel and to get some more game tape for the coaches to break down in the off-season.

Meanwhile, the Toronto Argonauts are likely planting Chad Kelly on the pine after the injury in Saskatchewan late in the third quarter.

But, Cameron Dukes settled in and led a game winning drive with Daniel Adeboboye running the ball with some success with AJ Ouellette getting time off against Saskatchewan.

I just really find it hard to believe Ottawa will be mentally engaged after leaving for a week, already knowing their playoff fate. Toronto, meanwhile, is chasing an all-time regular season wins record for the franchise.

PICK: TORONTO

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