Friday 6/29/18 thread for free handicapping service plays and expert predictions for MLB, CFL and WNBA games.
Winnipeg Blue Bombers vs. Hamilton Tiger-Cats Preview and Predictions 06-29-2018
CFL Previews 26th June 2018 by Gracenote
by Gracenote on 06/26/2018
The Hamilton Tiger-Cats look to build off their impressive Week 2 win when they host the Winnipeg Blue Bombers on Friday. The Tiger-Cats split their western road swing following an impressive 38-21 victory against the Edmonton Eskimos and hope to climb over .500 for the first time in nearly two years by avenging a 39-12 home loss to the Blue Bombers last season.
"I think we all feel comfortable in the offence right now," Hamilton quarterback Jeremiah Masoli told reporters. "We'll just continue to grow and develop and we got a lot of smart people we can do that with." Winnipeg bounced back from a Week 1 loss to Edmonton with a 56-10 rout of the Montreal Alouettes, which was their largest margin of victory in 16 years. Rookie quarterback Chris Streveler has filled in admirably for an injured Matt Nichols as he became the first player in CFL history to throw three touchdown passes in his first two starts directly out of college, and hopes to lead the Blue Bombers to their third straight win at Tim Hortons Field. "I don't care about stats," Streveler told reporters. "I just want us to be effective moving the ball and put up points to win."
TV: 7 p.m. ET, TSN, ESPN2
ABOUT THE BLUE BOMBERS (1-1): Streveler was named one of the CFL's Top Performers of the Week after going 22-of-38 for 246 yards through the air and adding 98 yards and a touchdown on the ground in the win against Montreal. Drew Wolitarsky, who was Streveler's roommate at the University of Minnesota, has been the main beneficiary of the rookie's hot start as he caught a pair of touchdown passes against the Alouettes to bring his season total to three. Andrew Harris gained 126 yards from scrimmage to go along with a touchdown reception before suffering a knee injury in the third quarter, but is expected to play Friday.
ABOUT THE TIGER-CATS (1-1): Masoli solidified his status as the starting quarterback as he completed 19-of-29 passes for 332 yards and three touchdowns against the Eskimos en route to one of the league's Top Performers of the Week honours. Mercer Timmis had the best game of his young career as the third-year running back racked up 133 rushing yards and a pair of touchdowns, including the game-sealing 44-yard score in the fourth quarter against Edmonton. Terrence Toliver caught four passes for 76 yards in his first game back since tearing his ACL in the opening week of the 2017 season.
EXTRA POINTS
1. Winnipeg has won four of its last five road games against East Division opponents.
2. Masoli has thrown for more than 300 yards in his last seven starts.
3. Streveler leads the CFL with seven total touchdowns.
PREDICTION: Tiger-Cats 37, Blue Bombers 33
__________________
BC Lions vs. Edmonton Eskimos Preview and Predictions 06-29-2018
CFL Previews 26th June 2018 by Gracenote
by Gracenote on 06/26/2018
The Edmonton Eskimos look to bounce back from a disappointing Week 2 loss when they host the BC Lions on Friday. The Eskimos opened the season with a promising 33-30 victory against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers but were humbled at home 38-21 against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, and hope to regain their swagger by downing the Lions for the fourth consecutive time.
"(Hamilton) beat our pants off in all three phases and we should be embarrassed about it to be quite honest," Edmonton quarterback Mike Reilly told reporters. "We've got to make sure we figure out why that happened, fix it and get better." BC was idle last week after a 22-10 victory against the Montreal Alouettes in its season opener. The Lions have struggled on the road to Edmonton in recent years, dropping four straight games at Commonwealth Stadium and hope to reverse the trend by sending an early message to their West Division opponents. "These games are four-pointers and we haven't had a lot of success in Alberta the last couple of years," BC coach Wally Buono told reporters. "We have to go in there with an attitude and we've been preaching that during the bye week and obviously there is lot of incentive to win a conference game."
TV: 10 p.m. ET, TSN, ESPN2
ABOUT THE LIONS (1-0): Jonathon Jennings completed 20-of-24 passes for 183 yards and a pair of touchdowns while finishing without an interception after leading the league with 19 picks in 2017. Linebacker Solomon Elimimian recorded seven defensive tackles against Montreal to give him 726 for his career, vaulting him past Kevin Eiben (722) in eighth place on the CFL's all-time list. Veteran quarterback Travis Lulay took individual reps in practice during the off week as he inches closer to a return after suffering a season-ending knee injury against the Alouettes on Sep. 8, 2017.
ABOUT THE ESKIMOS (1-1): Reilly threw for 286 yards and two touchdowns to go along with another TD on the ground, but it wasn't enough as Edmonton gave up 521 yards of offence to Hamilton. Derel Walker continued his strong start to the season as he finished with six receptions for 56 yards and a touchdown after hauling in eight passes for 176 yards and a TD in the Week 1 win against Winnipeg. Edmonton signed wide receiver Sam Giguere, who spent the previous three seasons with Montreal, and added defensive lineman Tashon Smallwood to the practice squad Tuesday.
EXTRA POINTS
1. Reilly leads the CFL in passing yards (694).
2. BC's last win in Edmonton came July 13, 2013.
3. Walker tops the league in receptions (14) and receiving yards (232).
PREDICTION: Eskimos 31, Lions 21
__________________