CFL News and Notes Week 15

Friday, October 9

BRITISH COLUMBIA vs. EDMONTON
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of British Columbia's last 5 games
British Columbia is 2-5 SU in its last 7 games on the road
Edmonton is 8-3 ATS in its last 11 games when playing at home against British Columbia
Edmonton is 15-7-1 ATS in its last 23 games when playing British Columbia

Saturday, October 10

TORONTO vs. SASKATCHEWAN
Toronto is 3-8 ATS in its last 11 games on the road
Toronto is 1-5 SU in its last 6 games on the road
Saskatchewan is 17-8 SU in its last 25 games at home
The total has gone OVER in 7 of Saskatchewan's last 10 games at home

Monday, October 12

CALGARY vs. MONTREAL
Calgary is 2-7 ATS in its last 9 games
Calgary is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games
Montreal is 1-4 ATS in its last 5 games when playing at home against Calgary
Montreal is 1-4 SU in its last 5 games when playing at home against Calgary

WINNIPEG vs. HAMILTON
The total has gone UNDER in 15 of Winnipeg's last 22 games
Winnipeg is 2-5 SU in its last 7 games on the road
Hamilton is 2-3-1 ATS in its last 6 games when playing Winnipeg
Hamilton is 1-5 SU in its last 6 games when playing Winnipeg

CFL Week 15 Preview and Picks
By Charles-André Marchand

B.C. Lions at Edmonton Eskimos (-4, 53)

The Eskimos are a much better team than their 6-7 record indicates and this game will be played…in the snow. Edmonton has the second-best quarterback in this league in Ricky Ray and it leads for team passing, ahead of the Montreal Alouettes. But Pierce struggled against the Riders last week when he had only 188 yards passing and Jason Maas had to come in relief. He couldn’t seem to find an offensive rhythm, sustain drives or score points. The Eskimos have dropped four of their last five and they can’t afford to loose this one against the Lions, who won the first and only meeting between these divisional rivals earlier this season, in Edmonton by a score of 40-22. Buck Pierce was named Offensive Player of the Week after leading the Lions to a victory against the Saskatchewan Roughriders. The Lions also have another potent weapon in Martell Mallett, CFL’s top rusher who has run for 1086 yards so far this season. The Eskimos allowed only two touchdowns in the last two games but if you look at the stats, they are dead last in many defensive categories. Also give an edge to B.C. when it comes to special teams. It will be a closer game than last time but the end result should be the same.

Pick: B.C. +4

Toronto Argonauts at Saskatchewan Roughriders (-10.5, 50)

Good thing the Argos have one of the best defences in the league. Bettors just can’t imagine what it would be like if their defence was has inept has their offence. The Argos did not score a passing touchdown in their last five games, going back to August 28. No wonder QB Kerry Joseph is fed up with rookie head coach Bart Andrus, who will probably start Cody Pickett again. He described the situation in Toronto as a fiasco and he was right. It is said that Joseph and Andrus ironed out their differences. “I can understand the frustration” said Andrus to the media after Joseph’s outburst. If true, that may be reassuring for Argos fans since Joseph has had success against his former team since he was traded to Toronto two years ago. In three games against the Roughriders, he threw for 914 yards with nine touchdown passes. The Roughriders also have their own quarterback controversy, where Riders coach Ken Miller suggested this week he will probably alternate QB’s Darian Durant and Steven Jyles. But it is nothing next to the melodrama that has kept unfolding in Toronto since the start of the season.

Pick: Saskatchewan -10.5

Calgary Stampeders at Montreal Alouettes (-6, 51.5)

Will this be a preview of the next Grey Cup? It could very well be. The Alouettes will most likely play without RB Avon Cobourne (groin injury) but their running game should still be potent with backup Brendan Whittaker. Montreal’s Anthony Calvillo and Calgary’s Henry Burris are two of the best quarterbacks in the game. Both can throw to some of the best wide receivers in the business. But Burris has been a disappointment in his last three outings, with a QB rating of only 57.1. Calgary won a narrow 15-14 win against Hamilton last week without scoring a touchdown – the first since 1995. It will be tough for Burris to rebound against the tightest defence in the CFL. The last time these two teams met, the Alouettes won 40-27 in the season opener in Calgary. Despite Cobourne’s absence, the Als, at home, should once again prevail.

Pick: Montreal -6

Winnipeg Blue Bombers at Hamilton Tiger Cats (-6, 47)

Veteran QB Kevin Glenn would sure like to face the team that rejected him after last season. But Quinton Porter is the No. 1 QB in Hamilton and, despite Glenn’s displeasure with that situation, nothing gives the impression that coach Marcel Bellefeuille has changed his mind. The Tiger Cats, after pulling a few upsets, have lost three of their last four games. This will be a game with much at stake. With a third win in a row, the Bombers would rise to second place in the East, tied with the Tiger Cats. These two teams will meet again on November 8 in the last game of the regular season. The Bombers have made peace with veteran linebacker Barrin Simpson, who returned to the practice field Wednesday but it is still unclear whether he will play or not on this Thanksgiving game. But the Bombers will be in need of a middle linebacker after Joe Lobendahn was injured last week against the Eskimos and I would be surprised if Simpson didn’t play Monday. Wide Receiver Terrence Edward, who missed the last two games due to a concussion, could also be back in the lineup. Import DE Gavin Walls missed Wednesday’s practice with a knee injury and may miss the game. Last time these two met in Hamilton, The Tiger Cats won 25-13. Expect a similar result.

Pick: Hamilton -6

(Last Week 3-1, season 29-23)

Week 15 CFL games

BC Lions (6-7) @ Edmonton (6-7)-- Lions (+3.5) beat Eskimos 40-22 in Week 3, passing for 411 yards; BC is 2-4 on road, 2-1 as road dog, with road losses by 4-12-4-9 points. Eskimos are 1-4 in last five games- they lost last two home games by combined total of four points- they're 0-4 as a home favorite, but do have eight INTs in last four games. Last six Lion games stayed under the total.

Saturday, October4 10

Toronto (2-11) @ Saskatchewan (7-6)-- Roughriders (+3) won 46-36 at Toronto in Week 2, leading 37-13 at the half- Argos turned ball over five times, had 17 penalties for 141 yards. Toronto lost its last nine games, is 3-4 as road dog, losing last four away games by 25-19-6-5 points. Riders are just 2-3 in last five home games, 1-2 as home favorite; they've got -5 turnover ratio last two games, and just two takeaways last three games.

Monday, October 12

Calgary (8-5) @ Montreal (11-2)-- Calgary lost its season opener 40-27 at home to Montreal, getting outrushed 176-54; both teams turned ball over three times in game. Stampeders won five of their last six games, are 3-3 on road, with losses by 12-3-7 points. Alouettes won their last four games, covered last three; they're 3-3 as home favorite, winning at home by 34-13-25-9-4-19. Five of last six Calgary games stayed under total.

Winnipeg (5-8) @ Hamilton (7-6)-- Bombers won last two games after a 1-4 skid; they're 4-2 as road dog, losing its away games by 2-12-8-15-19 points TiCats lost their last two games, scoring 8-14 points; they're 5-2 at home, 2-1 vs spread as a fave. Bombers (+1.5) lost 25-13 at Hamilton in Week 3, despite four turnovers- they threw for 325 yards. Last four Hamilton games stayed under the total.