CFL Week 7 News and Notes

Thursday, August 12

BRITISH COLUMBIA vs. SASKATCHEWAN
The total has gone OVER in 4 of British Columbia's last 6 games when playing on the road against Saskatchewan
The total has gone UNDER in 7 of British Columbia's last 10 games when playing Saskatchewan
The total has gone UNDER in 7 of Saskatchewan's last 10 games when playing British Columbia
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Saskatchewan's last 6 games when playing at home against British Columbia

Friday, August 13

HAMILTON vs. WINNIPEG
Hamilton is 4-2 SU in its last 6 games when playing Winnipeg
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Hamilton's last 6 games when playing on the road against Winnipeg
Winnipeg is 2-4 SU in its last 6 games when playing Hamilton
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Winnipeg's last 5 games at home

Saturday, August 14

MONTREAL vs. TORONTO
Montreal is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games when playing Toronto
Montreal is 6-1 SU in its last 7 games when playing on the road against Toronto
Toronto is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games
Toronto is 1-6 SU in its last 7 games when playing at home against Montreal

Sunday, August 15

EDMONTON vs. CALGARY
Edmonton is 2-4 ATS in its last 6 games
Edmonton is 2-5 ATS in its last 7 games when playing on the road against Calgary
The total has gone UNDER in 4 of Calgary's last 5 games when playing at home against Edmonton
Calgary is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games when playing Edmonton

CFL Showdowns
By Bodog

Only in the CFL can a city build a team a new stadium, and the team isn’t happy. The Hamilton Tiger-Cats are threatening to move the franchise to Quebec City after Hamilton city council voted in favor of building on a suburban site (East Mountain) for the 2015 Pan Am Games. Tiger-Cats president Scott Mitchell says the team would lose “millions of dollars” by moving there after the lease at antiquated Ivor Wynne Stadium expires in 2011. However, if there were a CFL betting line on this move taking place, “no” would be the heavy favorite. There are only so many viable markets in Canada, and it’s difficult to argue that Quebec City is one of them.

While we sit back and enjoy the mudslinging, there’s football to be played. Thursday sees the struggling B.C. Lions (1-5 SU, 2-4 ATS) visit the reigning West Division champions, the Saskatchewan Roughriders (4-2 SU and ATS). This could be the turning point for both teams; the Lions have lost five in a row, while the Riders have dropped two of three – both on the road against quality teams in the Calgary Stampeders and Montreal Alouettes. They’ll be giant favorites versus the Leos in this matchup.

Meanwhile, we’ve got three more games to look at for the weekend. Check Bodog Sports for the latest CFL odds.

Friday: Hamilton Tiger-Cats at Winnipeg Blue Bombers (8:30 p.m. ET)

These are the bottom two teams in the East Division, tied at 2-4 – which would be enough to make the playoffs if they started today. The Tiger Cats (2-4 ATS) recorded both of their wins against the Blue Bombers (3-3 ATS) at Ivor Wynne Stadium. Winnipeg owns a victory over Hamilton at Canad Inns Stadium, plus another win at home over the awful Edmonton Eskimos.

The CFL is historically more hospitable toward place-kickers than the NFL, but the Bombers have lost patience with Alexis Serna, giving him his walking papers after honking a pair of short field goals in last week’s 29-22 loss to the Ti-Cats (-3). This could be a costly move for the Bombers; Serna’s misses were at the windy west end of the stadium, which has also given new Hamilton kicker Sandro DeAngelis (5-of-9 on field goals at home, 5-of-6 away) plenty of trouble. Former Riders and Utah Utes punter/kicker Louie Sakoda takes over this week.

Saturday: Montreal Alouettes at Toronto Argonauts (7:30 p.m. ET)

The Alouettes (5-1 SU, 3-3 ATS) have won five games in a row since dropping their season opener to the Riders (+3.5), 54-51 in Regina. That winning streak includes a massive 41-10 thrashing of the Argonauts (+9.5) two weeks ago at home. The Argos have already exceeded expectations this year at 4-2 SU and ATS, but their four wins – all upsets – are by a total of nine points. Toronto has been out-gained 2663-1906 in yardage and 145-115 on first downs.

Where are the Boatmen making up the difference? Turnovers, for one, intercepting eight passes compared to five for the opposition. And Toronto has done a good job of avoiding penalties, losing just 276 yards compared to 488 for the other guys. Combine that discipline with the running of Cory Boyd (6.5 yards per carry, three TDs), and you can mask a lot of ugliness. But a team as talented as the Alouettes is far less likely to fall victim. The Als are on a 7-0 ATS streak against the Argos and haven’t lost straight up since October 2007.

Sunday: Edmonton Eskimos at Calgary Stampeders (8:00 p.m. ET)

The Battle of Alberta has a lot less spice on it with the Eskimos (1-5 SU, 2-4 ATS) playing so poorly. Edmonton committed a pair of pass interference penalties that allowed Toronto to put together the winning drive in a 29-28 victory last week at Commonwealth Stadium, covering as 5.5-point road dogs in the Eskies’ first game since firing general manager Danny Maciocia. The OVER has cashed in three times in a row against Edmonton’s awful defense.

The Stampeders (5-1 SU, 4-2 ATS) are coming off their third win in a row, 27-22 in Vancouver against the Lions (+2). “The sky’s the limit, man, the sky’s the limit,” Calgary slotback Ken-Yon Rambo told reporters after the win. The Stamps have yet to lose at home this year; Calgary is 5-2 ATS in Edmonton’s last seven trips to McMahon Stadium and 13-6 ATS in the past 19 overall. They might need a spatula to scrape up the Eskimos after this game.

Week 7 CFL Preview and Picks
By Charles-André Marchand

Thursday

B.C. Lions at Saskatchewan Roughriders (-8, 54)

According to sources, Jarious Jackson will be the starting QB for the Lions in the absence of Casey Printers and following the abysmal performances of Travis Lulay. That’s bad news for Wally Buono’s team, which goes up against the Grey Cup finalists who are more than focused to go back to the great November dance.

“We want to play at a higher level each week, despite who we are playing against” Roughriders coach Kevin Miller told the press. The Lions might have the same aim but they may lack the tools to achieve it.

Keep in mind that CB Davis Sanchez suffers from a hip injury and he could miss Thursday’s game for the Lions.

Pick: Saskatchewan

Friday

Hamilton Tiger Cats at Winnipeg Blue Bombers (-4.5, 54.5)

Believe it or not, this will be the fourth and final regular season game between these two teams. Winnipeg won easily in the first one, the Ti-Cats dominated the second showdown and the third one was a last-minute affair in favor of Hamilton.

The Blue Bombers fired kicker Alexis Serna and will now rely on 23-year-old Louie Sakoda. A huge challenge awaits him. This game could well be decided in the last minutes and a field goal might very well make the difference.

Quarterback Buck Pierce might be back under center for the Blue Bombers this week.

“I feel better” he said to journalists without speculating on is return.

Without a doubt, the Blue Bombers are bigger threats with an injured Pierce taking snaps, rather than Steven Jyles. But even if he is back, Pierce might not be enough against these hungry Tiger Cats.

Pick: Hamilton

Saturday

Montreal Alouettes at Toronto Argonauts (+7, 53)

Two weeks ago, the Alouettes solved the problem presented by the wonder-kid running back Cory Boyd. If the linebackers and the secondary keep finding a way to stop Boyd, the Alouettes will be fearless versus an Argos team that is still full of flaws on offence.

Als quarterback Anthony Calvillo is nursing a finger injury on his throwing hand but it didn’t show during training sessions this week. He should face the Argos Saturday.

“The ball arrives with full power. I know that he is experimenting to compensate for his injury but he is solid,” Montreal receiver Brian Bratton said of Calvillo’s condition.

Pick: Montreal

Sunday

Edmonton Eskimos at Calgary Stampeders (-8.5, 52.5)

The poor Eskimos seem to find new ways to shoot themselves in the foot every week.

“Sometime it works, sometime it doesn’t,” said offensive coordinator Kevin Strasser.

Right now, nothing seems to works for the Eskimos, who only scored 130 points in six games so far this season. Only the B.C. Lions’ offense, with 122, has been more pitiful.

The Eskimos are probably a better team than their 1-5 record shows but all will agree that the Stampeders fully deserve their 5-1 record.

The traditional Alberta Battle will likely be one-sided this time. Henry Burris threw only one interception in his last two games and Ken-Yon Rambo is back to catch his bullets.

The Eskimos will keep sliding.

Pick: Calgary

Week 7 CFL Games

Hamilton (2-4) @ Winnipeg (2-4)-- Bizarre schedule has these two clubs playing for 4th time already in Week 7, with home team winning the first three games. Bombers are 2-1 at home, scoring 49-47 points in wins vs TiCats and Eskimos- they lost 36-34 to Argos (they're scoring 43.3 ppg at home). Four of last five TiCat games stayed under total; Hamilton lost all three road games, by 20-23-13 points, giving up average of 41 ppg.

Montreal (5-1) @ Toronto (4-2)-- Gutty Argonauts lost 41-10 to Als in Quebec two weeks ago, their only loss in last five games, with all four of wins by 4 or less points. Montreal scored 36 ppg in its last three games; this is their first road game in four weeks (2-1 on road, wins by 10 and 4 points). Only third home game for Argo squad that won 27-24/24-20 as underdogs in previous home tilts. Last four Alouette tilts stayed under.

Edmonton (1-5) @ Calgary (5-1)-- Eskimos outscored 52-20 in first half of last three games; they're 0-2 on road (1-1 as road dog) losing 24-20 in Regina, 47-21 at Winnipeg. Four of last five Calgary games were decided by 5 or less points, with Stampeders winning last three, scoring 30 ppg. Three of last four Edmonton games were decided by 4 or less points. Stamps are 3-2 as favorites, 2-1 at home. Over is 3-1-1 in Edmonton's last five games.