Last week, three blowout wins and one last-second collapse. Interdivisional play is done for the year and the playoff battles are heating up. This week, what’s in store for the CFL? The LWOS CFL crew will tell you – and we’ll see if the Canadian football gods smile upon them again.
Week 17 CFL Predictions
Ottawa Redblacks at Hamilton Tiger-Cats
Matt’s thoughts: The Ottawa Sadsacks are the only team left in the league who don’t have a shot at a playoff berth; between the logjam at the top of the East, and the race for the crossover spot in the West, only Ottawa knows its fate at the end of this season. That doesn’t mean they aren’t coming to play, though; they’ve still got pride on the line, and next year to think about. But Tim Hortons Field is getting a reputation for being tough on visitors, and Hamilton dropped an easy win in the last five minutes last week. The Hamilton players who Kent Austin didn’t beat to death after that loss will be primed for revenge, and they won’t take their foot off the pedal in the fourth quarter this week, guaranteed. The result is almost guaranteed; as long as Hamilton’s defence doesn’t collapse again, it’ll be a long, tiring visit for Ottawa.
Matthew Bin: Ottawa 12 – Hamilton 35
Nicholas Di Giovanni: Ottawa 7 – Hamilton 29
Steve Gifkins: Ottawa 21 – Hamilton 27
Lance Keiser: Ottawa 15 – Hamilton 33
Montreal Alouettes at Toronto Argonauts
Nick’s thoughts: Just two hours after the Impact visit TFC at BMO Field, the Argos and Alouettes will square off only 3 km away for the second time this season. In their first match up, the Boatmen destroyed the Alouettes 31-5 in Montreal, but that was back in the Alouettes’ Troy Smith/Alex Brink days, when the team had mustered only one win in the four previous games. Now, with a proper starting quarterback in Jon Crompton, the Alouettes are 5-1 in their last six while the Argos are 3-3 in the same span. Both teams are riding a three-game winning streak and have identical records at 6-8. In the midst of a playoff push, this game should be a classic between the two clubs, with Montreal edging the double-blue by very few points to take control of the Eastern Division.
Matthew Bin: Montreal 23 – Toronto 21
Nicholas Di Giovanni: Montreal 32 – Toronto 31
Steve Gifkins: Montreal 21 – Toronto 17
Lance Keiser: Montreal 22 – Toronto 31
Calgary Stampeders at Winnipeg Blue Bombers
Steve’s thoughts: The Bombers have just cut their promising young running back in Nick Grigsby; fans are questioning their rookie coach and the team has dropped six straight including their latest 41-9 defeat at the hands of the Eskimos. If that’s not enough the Bombers now play the top-ranked Stampeders who are coming in fresh off a bye week. Other then that things are just peachy in Bomberland. Calgary will be looking to clinch first place in the West with a win on Saturday. QB Bo Levi Mitchell should make the start after missing three games with an ankle injury. Drew Tate filled in well, leading the Stamps to a 2-1 record in his absence, but when Bo is healthy their is no controversy here. It’s Mitchells job and there’s no reason the Stamps should stumble here.
Matthew Bin: Calgary 37 – Winnipeg 8
Nicholas Di Giovanni: Calgary 37 – Winnipeg 0
Steve Gifkins: Calgary 28 – Winnipeg 23
Lance Keiser: Calgary 37 – Winnipeg 12
Edmonton Eskimos at Saskatchewan Roughriders
Lance’s thoughts: Edmonton comes to Regina with the opportunity to move way up in the standings and they won’t take that chance lightly. Saskatchewan is rumored to be turning to newly signed Kerry Joseph, but even if Joseph starts, how productive will the veteran be with only a week of practice? The Riders are in full-out free fall mode and the only thing that will save this is Darian Durant, and he’s not throwing the ball yet. Durant may be back soon, but sadly not this week, which means another Rider loss.
Matthew Bin: Edmonton 29 – Saskatchewan 16
Nicholas Di Giovanni: Edmonton 45 – Saskatchewan 13
Steve Gifkins: Edmonton 28 – Saskatchewan 24
Lance Keiser: Edmonton 26 – Saskatchewan 19
Week 16 Notes
Oh, it was a tough week. We all want to believe in the underdogs, in the late-season turnaround, in the surprising victories. And last week that belief was wrong almost every time. Nick led the way at 3-1, getting only the Hamilton-Toronto pick wrong; Matt and Steve both went 2-2; and nothing went Lance’s way, giving him no correct picks on the week.
Commenter salty1264, meanwhile, still guarantees himself a missed pick every week by picking Winnipeg against all odds. A stopped clock and all that, but he ended 2-2 again last week.
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