EDMONTON (11 - 8) at MONTREAL (11 - 7)
Top Trends for this game.
EDMONTON is 0-6 ATS (-6.6 Units) after 2 or more consecutive straight up wins over the last 2 seasons.
Head-to-Head Series History
EDMONTON is 4-2 against the spread versus MONTREAL over the last 3 seasons
EDMONTON is 4-2 straight up against MONTREAL over the last 3 seasons
4 of 6 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons
BRITISH COLUMBIA (12 - 7) at CALGARY (13 - 5)
Top Trends for this game.
CALGARY is 13-5 ATS (+7.5 Units) in all games this season.
CALGARY is 13-5 ATS (+7.5 Units) in all lined games this season.
CALGARY is 19-9 ATS (+9.1 Units) in home games over the last 3 seasons.
CALGARY is 19-9 ATS (+9.1 Units) in home lined games over the last 3 seasons.
CALGARY is 15-6 ATS (+8.4 Units) in a home game where the total is greater than or equal to 52 over the last 3 seasons.
CALGARY is 8-2 ATS (+5.8 Units) off a division game this season.
CALGARY is 12-4 ATS (+7.6 Units) in games played on turf this season.
BRITISH COLUMBIA is 9-0 ATS (+9.0 Units) as an underdog over the last 2 seasons.
BRITISH COLUMBIA is 13-4 ATS (+8.6 Units) in road games off a division game over the last 3 seasons.
BRITISH COLUMBIA is 31-16 ATS (+13.4 Units) in road games revenging a loss versus opponent since 1996.
Head-to-Head Series History
CALGARY is 5-5 against the spread versus BRITISH COLUMBIA over the last 3 seasons
BRITISH COLUMBIA is 5-4 straight up against CALGARY over the last 3 seasons
6 of 10 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons
EDMONTON vs. MONTREAL
Edmonton is 4-2 ATS in its last 6 games
Edmonton is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games
Montreal is 2-4 ATS in its last 6 games when playing at home against Edmonton
Montreal is 8-3 SU in its last 11 games when playing at home against Edmonton
BRITISH COLUMBIA vs. CALGARY
British Columbia is 5-2 ATS in its last 7 games on the road
British Columbia is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games on the road
The total has gone OVER in 6 of Calgary's last 7 games when playing at home against British Columbia
Calgary is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games when playing British Columbia
CFL Playoffs Second Round
Keep in mind that both home teams had last week off, while both road teams won last week, also on the road.
Edmonton (11-8) @ Montreal (11-7)- Home side won both meetings in series this year, with Eskimos waxing Alouettes 37-14 in the last regular season game, after they had been crushed 40-4 in Montreal back in Week 13 (+3). Als had scored 30+ points in 13 straight games before being the last two games, when they scored 23-14. Edmonton won seven of nine home games (6-3 as home favorite). Montreal covered one of last four as an underdog- five of their last seven games stayed under the total.
BCLions (12-7) @ Calgary (13-5)- Stampeders are 3-0 vs Lions so far in 2008, winning here 28-18 in season opener (+3), then 36-29 on road in Week 8 (+3), before winning 41-30 at home two weeks ago, in last game of regular season. Calgary won eight of last nine regular season games, as they rallied from 5-4 start to win West. Lions split last six games; they are 5-1 vs spread in last six road games.
CFL divisional finals previews and predictions
By Charles-André Marchand
Edmonton Eskimos (10-8) at Montreal Alouettes (11-7) (Montreal -6)
The Montreal Alouettes enter this game knowing they have a unique opportunity to host the Grey Cup next week if they can win against the Eskimos.
These two teams met twice this season. The Als won convincingly 40-4 in September before falling apart and later lost to Edmonton 37-14 without many of their usual starters in the final game of the season.
These two games are meaningless now. Tomorrow's game will oppose two of the best QBs in the league, Ricky Ray, for the Eskimos and Anthony Calvillo for the Alouettes. Both of them can tear apart any secondary and most likely one or both of them will.
The key to this game will be clock control and both teams knows it. Expect the ball carriers - A.J. Harris for Edmonton and Avon Cobourne for Montreal - to be busy. Since both Ray and Calvillo are such threats, you can also expect that the opposing defenses will try to apply lots of pressure on them.
Keep in mind Montreal's offensive line has allowed the fewest sacks (22) in the league this year CFL. The Alouettes also set club records for yardage and points scored.
There’s a lot of playoff history between these two rivals and many dramatic games including a double overtime 38-35 Grey Cup win by the Eskimos against the Als in 2005. This game has all the ingredients to be another piece of anthology and the team that will control the ball for more than 35 minutes should prevail. Expect it to be Montreal.
Pick:Montreal (-6)
B.C. Lions (11-7) vs Calgary Stampeders (13-5) (Calgary -6)
Henry Burris finished second behind Montreal's Anthony Calvillo on the 2008 CFL All-Star team which many in Alberta believe was grand theft. And they have a point.
Burris had a fabulous season with 5000-plus yards and 39 touchdowns. He also led the Stampeders to the best record in Canadian football this season.
Can he bring this team to the next level? The question deserves to be asked seriously since Burris hasn't won a playoff game in three years with the Stamps.
The Calgary fans still remember the two interceptions he threw against the Eskimos in 2005, the four picks and the fumble he gave at home against Saskatchewan the year after and last November, this time in Regina, his two fumbles and an interception that cost the Stampeders a third playoff loss in a row.
But Burris, now 33 years old, has been a more mature quarterback this season, better at reading defenses and selecting the right target. He has the second best QB rating in the CFL, after Calvillo, and threw 39 touchdown passes with just 14 picks. But he will be pressured Saturday by the most terrifying defensive end in this league, Cameron Wake, who dominated this season with 23 sacks.
Burris and his OL must also keep in mind that Wake's teammates, Aaron Hunt (11) and Brent Johnson (10), finished second and third for sacks in the CFL. The Stampeders will also need to control the clock and running back Joffrey Reynolds should be in for a busy afternoon.
If Burris manages to escape the Lions’ blitzes and avoid mistakes, the Stampeders should win their ticket to the Grey Cup.
Pick:Calgary (-6)