The playoffs loom larger and larger for every team in the league, as they jockey for position in the final quarter of the season. The big questions are coming up now: for Calgary and Edmonton, who will find the top spot in the west? For Ottawa and Toronto, can they surpass an ailing Hamilton and win the east this year? For Hamilton and Montreal, can quarterback concerns be overcome by a stalwart defence? And for the Riders, can we start 2017 yet? Here are the week 16 CFL predictions, brought to you as always by the LWOS CFL crew.
Ottawa Redblacks at Toronto Argonauts
Matt’s thoughts: Toronto is coming off a bye week, and are entering their most intense week of the season (although they played games in closer succession in September, their opponents, the Tiger-Cats, did as well). The pieces have fallen into place for their playoff run: Trevor Harris is playing very well, Swayze Waters is back in business, and the team in general looks like it’s ready to gel. Meanwhile, Ottawa’s Henry Burris has led the Redblacks like an athlete ten years younger, and the team has battled its way not only into playoff contention, but into a dead heat for first place in the east. This is a decisive game for both teams, and Ottawa isn’t going to let this opportunity slip away.
Kelly Bale: Ottawa 31 – Toronto 34
Matthew Bin: Ottawa 32 – Toronto 19
Nicholas di Giovanni: Ottawa 31 – Toronto 27
Lance Keiser: Ottawa 24 – Toronto 29
Greg McCulloch: Ottawa 27 – Toronto 20
Gina Schiltz: Ottawa 29 – Toronto 27
Saskatchewan Roughriders at Hamilton Tiger-Cats
Kelly’s thoughts: The Hamilton Tiger-Cats welcome the Saskatchewan Roughriders this Friday night in what is shaping up to be a coming-out party for this version of the Ticats. The Jeff Matthews era, at QB, may only last a short while, but the team will flourish in this matchup. The Riders are clearly lost on defence, and despite their best efforts can’t put up many points. In a league with parity, generally speaking, games are won by committing fewer turnovers than the opposition. Hamilton gives up fewer and takes away almost double. Take the Cats at home.
Kelly Bale: Saskatchewan 22 – Hamilton 37
Matthew Bin: Saskatchewan 17 – Hamilton 23
Nicholas di Giovanni: Saskatchewan 21 – Hamilton 37
Lance Keiser: Saskatchewan 25 – Hamilton 20
Greg McCulloch: Saskatchewan 16 – Hamilton 30
Gina Schiltz: Saskatchewan 22 – Hamilton 30
Edmonton Eskimos at Calgary Stampeders
Greg’s thoughts: It is not like the Battle of Alberta needed more ammunition, but with first place in the West on the line, the final regular season meeting should be explosive. The teams have split the season series in two tightly contested affairs, with 9 and 11 points separating the two teams. Edmonton hasn’t lost since the Labour Day game, riding a four-game winning streak coming into this week. Meanwhile, the Stamps are riding a three-game win streak with the last team to beat them being of course the Eskimos. Edmonton’s strong defense kept Calgary’s high-powered offence to a mere 16 points in both previous games, the lowest of any team all season. If Calgary can’t get past 16 points this game, they’ll find it very hard to keep control of first place in the West.
Kelly Bale: Edmonton 27 – Calgary 30
Matthew Bin: Edmonton 29 – Calgary 27
Nicholas di Giovanni: Edmonton 25 – Calgary 23
Lance Keiser: Edmonton 24 – Calgary 28
Greg McCulloch: Edmonton 33 – Calgary 22
Gina Schiltz: Edmonton 31 – Calgary 34
Winnipeg Blue Bombers at B.C. Lions
Gina’s thoughts: This weeks game, B.C. vs. Winnipeg, is a hard one to pick. We’ve got two struggling teams that aren’t bad teams, they just both have problems with consistency. This past week was horrible to watch Lirim Hajrullahu miss four field goals that would have won them the game had he not missed. B.C., on the other hand, rocked it against Saskatchewan Saturday, but can’t seem to string along consecutive wins. Who wins this week? B.C. has home-field advantage, but I’m going to go with my gut and say the Bombers. Hajrullahu will redeem himself and kick the winning points.
Kelly Bale: Winnipeg 16 – B.C. 34
Matthew Bin: Winnipeg 23 – B.C. 19
Nicholas di Giovanni: Winnipeg 22 – B.C. 21
Lance Keiser: Winnipeg 15 – B.C. 26
Greg McCulloch: Winnipeg 14 – B.C. 28
Gina Schiltz: Winnipeg 24 – B.C. 21
Toronto Argonauts at Montreal Alouettes
Nick’s thoughts: The Toronto Argonauts get the pleasure of playing two games in a week for a second year in a row, but will get a nice six day rest in between games. After playing on Tuesday night at home against Ottawa, the Boatmen will travel to Montreal to take on the Alouettes on Thanksgiving Monday. Aaaaaand they will likely return home with a win, because this Montreal team doesn’t look like they’re in the shape to win anytime soon. With uncertainty at the quarterback position and a thinned-out secondary, Trevor Harris and the Double-Blue will stomp all over the Larks. Sorry, Montreal, but Toronto will walk away with the victory.
Kelly Bale: Toronto 29 – Montreal 9
Matthew Bin: Toronto 21 – Montreal 6
Nicholas di Giovanni: Toronto 27 – Montreal 10
Lance Keiser: Toronto 21 – Montreal 17
Greg McCulloch: Toronto 21 – Montreal 13
Gina Schiltz: Toronto 26 – Montreal 29
Main Photo:
