This will truly be the week that tests the proficiency of Perry's Peerless Prognostications.
While I have picked some upsets in recent weeks, notably Winnipeg beating Edmonton last week and B.C. beating Montreal, I will admit that it is generally easy to pick the winners. Then again, I'll put my record up against any other public pundit of the Canadian pigskin game.
Excluding the Argos and Saskatchewan tilt, three of the four games this week are truly a challenge. So for the countless numbers of people who have profited from my picks - and that includes a gentleman named Sunny, who tells me he has made some serious coin off of my selections - here are the clues to help pad your wallet.
Friday
B.C. (6-7) at Edmonton (6-7):
The Lion-hearted put up a brave fight last week against Saskatchewan, and yet they have made a significant change for this week, activating veteran kicker Paul McCallum feeling the kicking game needs some improvement. Sean Whyte appears to have lost his confidence. But what of quarterback Buck Pierce? Will he make it through this week in one piece? He continues to impress. With the Eskimos' defence in physical tatters due to injury, this could be the chance to go hard on the ground with running back Martell Mallett. The receiving corps picked up the pace last week with big games from Geroy Simon and Paris Jackson. But Paris is out this week with an injury, and that's a big loss because Edmonton can double-team Simon. The Eskimos are a mess. The quarterbacking has gone south - Ricky Ray has come undone in the last 10 quarters - as has the receiving. The pressure is on new offensive co-ordinator Kevin Strasser, who is 1-3 after Rick Worman received the pink slip because of "philosophical differences." Methinks he put a hex on the team. Meanwhile, the defence is playing with new recruits. The return game has fallen apart with Tristan Jackson, who has a wonky knee and really struggled in the last game. He will likely be replaced for this game by Skyler Green, who has the perfect name for the Green and Gold. The weather is expected to be nasty and the footing isn't slated to be ideal. By all accounts, the Eskimos should lose, and if they do the critics will be out in full force. I think the key in this is Edmonton's running game with Arkee Whitlock. He has the potential to run wild against the Lions' defence. Randall the Handle has pesky Eskies by 4½.
Winner: Edmonton.
Saturday
Toronto (3-10) at Saskatchewan (7-6):
The big mystery, who will be the Argos' starting quarterback come game time? Does it really matter? The offence has yet to do anything, largely because of the head coach, the guy who was supposed to light it up. Instead, he has flamed out. If Kerry Joseph starts - and it says here he will, unless the Bart has other ideas - the team will at least have a chance. Cody Pickett can't go vertical, holds on to the ball too long and doesn't inspire fear with his running. So at least try to build the offence around the running game, using Jamal Robertson and Joseph, particularly off the zone read. Saskatchewan is tough off the edges, so try to create situations to cause them to crash inside. That's Coach Lefko's game plan. If the defence holds tough as it did against Montreal, the Argos have a slight chance to post an upset. But I don't see it happening. Saskatchewan is coming off a dull effort. The offence simply couldn't get it going - Darian Durant was in a funk the whole game, and maybe the threat of alternating with Steven Jyles will inspire him. The defence will be downright ornery after failing to hold back B.C. on its final drive. I hardly think the same thing will happen against Toronto - regardless of who is playing quarterback for the Argos at the end, although Joseph will make for an interesting story in Regina. It will be cold at Mosaic Stadium, and right now the Argos are ice cold. Look for onetime Argo head coach Gary Etcheverry, now the Roughriders' defensive co-ordinator, to throw everything at his old team. The Rand Man has Green Machine by 10.5.
Winner: Saskatchewan (you let me down last week, Green Machine. Don't go it again).
Monday
Calgary (8-5) at Montreal (11-2):
What's the deal with the offence? Is it Henry Burris? Is it the receivers? Is it the Grey Cup jinx? The Stamps were life and death to hold on against Hamilton and now face an infinitely tougher challenge. The Stamps need to find a way to rebound. Beating the Als in Montreal would be a huge confidence booster. Pounding the ball with Joffrey (All World) Reynolds is the only consistent positive aspect of the Stamps' offence in recent weeks. The team needs to find a way to get Nik Lewis involved early and often and into the end zone. Throwing the all-out blitz against the Als won't work with the same precision as it did against Hamilton. Anthony Calvillo is too good at reading the blitz and going to the hot read, but without running back Avon Cobourne, who is a key runner and blocker, there might be hope. The Stamps' defensive line is a force and even stronger with Mike Labinjo back in the lineup. The Argos sacked Calvillo four times in the first half, so it's not as if the Als' offensive line is indomitable. The Als have clinched first and have nothing on the line, except pride. With Brandon Whitaker slated to replace Cobourne, this is a huge dropoff in production, but the Als have backup Canadians who can do the job. This is really about how bad the Als want it and how much the Stamps are willing to play through their funk. The Als have played without Cobourne before at this time of the year and won and their defence and special teams are solid now. Als picked by Randy to prevail by 6½.
Winner: Montreal.
Winnipeg (5-8) at Hamilton (6-7):
Yes, the Bombers are on a roll. They have found some life on offence to help the defence, which has been solid for most of the year. Michael Bishop is starting to emerge as a leader on the team and he has some decent receivers now, notwithstanding they are still dropping balls. But the Tiger-Cats' defence is strong, much better than the one the Bombers faced last week against Edmonton. I'd like to see Winnipeg try to run the ball with Fred Reid. The Ticats have run hot and cold the last few weeks, but are now on a two-game slide. This is gut-check time. Quarterback Quinton Porter needs to be more in control of the situation. I like when he runs the ball, but it's his passing that is the issue. And what has become of DeAndre' Cobb? The Cats need to get that running game going to alleviate the pressure on the passing game. We recall the last time these teams met and how Kevin Glenn proved to be the hero against his former team. I wouldn't be surprised if Glenn is in the game again. The difference is, the Bombers are a much improved team from the one the Cats played in Steeltown weeks ago and Hamilton seems to have hit a bump in the road. The key here could be the kicking game. Winnipeg is solid with punter Mike Renaud and kicker Alexis Serna, who has rebounded big time from last year. Something is amiss with punter/kicker Nick Setta. He is either injured or in a terrible mental slump. Kicking may ultimately make the difference in this game. Randy has Cats by 6½. Does any team actually win by half a point?
Winner: Winnipeg (hey, the Blue came through for me last week)
Record last week: 3-1
Record to date: 35-17 (best in the land).
Record picking Winnipeg: Not bad of late.
