Dr J is taking a vacation and left me in charge. Sorry for the late start to this week. As always double check your score because when I totaled up everyone score I was drunk.... on POWER!! Muahaha! That's why I added 100 points to my score.
The weeks it's back to a full slate.
WEEK 10 (previews again curtesy of Reever. Thanks)
BC (4-4) @ Montreal (5-3) - Friday, August 29th @ 7:30 pm
Fresh off an at-home loss to Calgary last week, BC heads to Montreal this week to face a well-rested Alouette squad still jubilant from their 32-14 trouncing of the Argonauts in Toronto on August 15th. These teams last met in Week 6 with a final minute field goal to clinch the game for BC 36-34. No doubt the Lions are hoping for some of that same magic again this week against a resurgent Alouette team after a mediocre performance last week against the Stamps, while Montreal hopes to extend their winning streak to four games.
Winnipeg (2-6) @ Saskatchewan (6-2) - Sunday, August 31st @ 3:00
A faux Labour Day Classic, this meeting also has historic roots, though not held on Labour Day proper. Dating back to 1949, Saskatchewan has racked up 26 wins to Winnipeg's 17. After a ramshackle win on August 14th against Hamilton in which most game points were scored as a result of turnovers, Winnipeg needs to prove they have what it takes to win without relying whole-heartedly on game errors. Saskatchewan, meanwhile, is looking to stop the bleeding and a two game losing streak in it's tracks after an impressive 6-0 start to the season. This is the first meeting of these teams this season. Can Winnipeg capitalize on the momentum of their last game victory and translate that into points in a hostile Mosiac stadium in Regina? Or will Saskatchewan benefit from playing the second worst team in the league and cement their hold on first place in the West?
Edmonton (5-3) @ Calgary (5-3) - Monday,September 1st @ 4:00
Ah, Labour Day Classics. The real ones. "Come watch the team you love play the team you hate." Dating back to 1949, the Edmonton vs. Calgary Labour Day Classic has Edmonton on top with a 28-18-1 record vs.Calgary's 18-28-1 record. Both teams are coming off impressive victories last week against BC and league-leading Saskatchewan, respectively. Edmonton won the first clash between these two teams in Week 2 34-31: after taking a commanding lead, Calgary did charge back, but was not able to close the gap. Both teams have been determined and formidable opponents and come into this game with equal records. This one's going to be good!
Toronto (3-5) @ Hamilton (2-6) - Monday, September 1st @ 7:30
Probably the oldest profession football rivalry in history, the Labour Day Classic between Toronto and Hamilton dates back to 1873. It is only six years younger than Canada! The past 13 match-ups have seen Toronto take 5 games to Hamilton's 7, including an impressive five-year winning streak between 1998-2002 when Toronto could not win to save itself! Kinda like both of these teams this year! But, since someone has to win Hamilton looks the more impressive, coming into this game with both of thsier season victories coming againts Toronto, including the Argo Home Opener, and an impressive at-home 45-21 blowout in Week 7. The Argo's, meanwhile, have traded back-up QB Michael Bishop to Saskatchewan in an effort to boost the confidence of shaky starter, and 2007 league MVP, Kerry Joseph. Has the bye week and QB shake-down done anything to shake the Argo's out of their two game losing streak slump? Will Hamilton continue to have the Argo's number this season?
Good luck!
Montreal by 5
Saskatchewan by 16
Calgary by 6
Toronto by 17
Question for apoch/Dr. John. If someone selects the spread of the game correctly, even if they choose the losing team, are they entitled to a point for the spread? If so, I believe I should get a point for the British Columbia/Calgary game spread last week. My sincere apologies if my assumption is incorrect.
Great job, apoch and Reever-- thanks! (And yes, tommytrump is correct. Nailing the spread in a losing effort is worth one point.)
I get to leave the woods for about an hour this week. This is my hour.
Montreal by 6
Winnipeg by 9
Edmonton by 1
T... To... Tor... Hamilton by 14.
Back into the woods!
Sorry Tommy, you picked BC by 6, spread was 7.
Sorry Tommy, you picked BC by 6, spread was 7.
Isn't the range 5-9 though?
B.C. by 7
Saskatchewan by 3
Calgary by 5
Hamilton by 3
Isn't the range 5-9 though?
Not on the losing side ... the margin of error only works when you pick the winner. To get the single for the losing effort you have to nail the spread.
And thanks for fillin' in for DJE, apoch and Reever!
'cept, despite the way things tend to go in the CFL, this won't mean we'll have a "Pick 'Em Commish" controversy, will it!?!?!?
;)
Not on the losing side ... the margin of error only works when you pick the winner. To get the single for the losing effort you have to nail the spread.
Fair enough. Reasonable question though, right?
Montreal by 7
Saskatchewan by 14
Calgary by 9
Toronto by 12
Thanks for doing this
I'm hoping this is my break through week.
You know, not many good Canadian musicians tour Australia. Montreal by 12. I've been waiting years to see Neil Young, for instance. Saskatchewan by 9. Or even Sarah McLachlan live. Edmonton by 7. But do you know who did visit us last week? Toronto by 15. Pamela Anderson. Thanks, Canada.
Montreal by 7
Sassy by 14
Calgary by 10
Hamilton by 6
Montreal by 5
Saskatchewan by 7
Edmonton by 4
Hamilton 10 (...I'm not getting fooled again...)
Montreal by 6
Saskatchewan by 10
Edmonton 3
Hamilton by 11
This is the first time I picked against Toronto, but I dont see how I could reasonably expect them to win against Hamilton this season - Labour Day Classic or no Labour Day Classic...
Monty by 12
Sassy by 15
Eddie by 3
Hammy by 5
Watch for chiggers, Doc.
Bring a song and a smile for the banjo
Montreal by 6
Better get while the gettin's good
Saskatchewan by 14
Hitch a ride to the end of the highway
Edmonton by 1
Where the neon turns to wood
Hamilton by 3
Montreal by 17
Saskatchewan by 10
Calgary by 6
Toronto by 17
Montreal by 10
Saskatchewan by 7
Calgary by 21
Hamilton by 14
Montreal by 7
Saskatchewan by 10
Edmonton by 5
Hamilton by 16
Here's my dream scenario for this CFL season:
BC finishes fourth in the west, but higher than the 3rd place team in the east, so they crossover for the playoffs. They go into Montreal for the Eastern Final and clean 'em up to go on for an all-western Grey Cup. Yep, that's the way I see it playing out. However, for BC to finish 4th in the west, and for Montreal to have that confidence that will make their unraveling in November all the more dramatic, the Als need to win this week. But it'll be a close one. Montreal by 2.
Start pluckin' those banjos, boys! Does Winnipeg start coming together? Does Saskatchewan keep falling apart? Or does this Bishop trade actually fire up the Riders? They're gonna have to put some points on the board if they're gonna win this week. I'll say they score just enough to eke out a win. Saskatchabush by 1.
Game of the week. Stamps are impressive, back up in the rankings where the prognosticators had them in the first place. But Edmonton is, in my opinion, the most under-rated team in the league. They've got the weapons. I think they steal one in Cowtown. Emotions run hot. Tempers flare. In the end, it'll be cool-headed/hot-handed Ricky Ray who shines the brightest. Edmonton by 15.
Doh ... I don't have a gut feeling about this game at all. Nothing. As such, I'll do that "pick a tie" thing just 'cause I'd be flippin' a coin the other way. This way, if I'm right, at least it could pay off. Tie ball game.
Oh the back'n'forth in this BC-Montreal game!?!? The Als totally dodged a bullet at the end. Oh the suspense!!!
When does week 11 start?
Just updating my master spreadsheet, apoch, and it looks like you forgot to give yourself credit for nailing the Calgary game. You picked Calgary by 7. (Also, I nailed the losing spread in that game, so I'm up one more point than the chart shows.)
Week 11 Picks
Calgary by 5
B.C. by 8
Toronto by 1
Saskatchewan by 5
