Perry Lefko

Perry Lefko keeps you connected to all the news in the CFL on Sportsnet.ca.

Back by popular - or unpopular - demand Perry's Peerless Predictions returns for another CFL season.

For those of you who have followed the picks and have used them as a means to invest, presumably you made a substantial sum last year by virtue of Perry's impeccable record.

That said, some critics of Perry pointed out that it was all too easy to select straight up instead of against the spread.

So Perry changed his strategy and began predicting against the spread and, yes, that proved to be a far more difficult proposition.

So with that in mind, Perry is selecting against the spread for the entire season.

But remember, this is purely opinion and to be used with extreme caution when wagering. If you experience headaches, nausea or a case of the double blues, we urge you to breathe deeply and remember it's only a game.

And away we go.

THURSDAY

Montreal at Saskatchewan

Great way to start the season with a rematch of last year's Grey Cup. We don't expect a similar finish to the Cup, though the 13th man, so to speak, will be out in full force at Mosaic Stadium, home of the most passionate fans in the country (I'm just trying to cuddle up to Rider Nation lest they pelt me with a rotten watermelon hat). Montreal used the pre-season to evaluate backups, so those games don't mean a thing. Starting quarterback Anthony Calvillo barely played, along with many other of the team's stars. For the most part, the Als are virtually the same team as last year, notwithstanding the retirement of centre-turned-coach-turned Sportsnet broadcaster Bryan Chiu. One key element will be the loss of returner Larry Taylor, who is trying to stick in the National Football League. He provided valuable field position. The Als have arguably the two best defensive ends in the league in John Bowman and the old reliable Anwar Stewart.

The Roughriders will dearly miss its ends from last year: John Chick and Stevie Baggs; and middle linebacker Rey Williams is gone to the NFL. Linebacker Kitwana Jones is moving into the defensive tackle position (also gone to the NFL) while defensive back Eddie Davis is retired. .

So it will be up to the offence to carry the load - and this is one of the best scoring units in the league - and the special teams with returner Dominique Dorsey back into green and white.

Als have the edge playing a Rider defence in transition.

Randle the Handle has Als favoured by one.

And the pick is: Montreal (cue the boos from Rider Nation).

Toronto at Calgary

The Argonauts make dits ebut under the banner of former Calgary coach Jim Barker, who has overhauled the roster from last year and comes into this opener with tons of changes in every aspect. The big question is quarterback: Cleo Lemon makes his regular-season debut in the Canadian Football League and didn't impress in the pre-season. He has a lot to prove, namely that he's not the latest NFL refugee to bomb in the CFL. Cory Boyd makes CFL debut at feature running back. Receiver Jeremaine Copeland faces his former team, but how much will he touch the ball if Lemon is on the run or struggling to read coverages. Expect the Stamps to mix it up. The defence has several new faces, too. This is a team that will need time to work together.

Calgary didn't live up to predictions last year - mine and many other wise-guys, who picked the Stamps to repeat. Playing at home in the opener the Stamps will be tough, but they have some major changes to fill on the offensive line. Joffrey Reynolds is the pick here as the best running back in the league, but he'll need the newly-built offensive line to prove itself.

I'm looking to see big production from Mike (The Former Refrigerator) Labinjo, playing at rush end, where he belongs. I think, he'll be hungry, so to speak, off the hop.

Stamps are favoured by a whopping 14 points. That's a ton; suggesting the Argos won't be competitive, even with the Barker/Copeland effect.

And the pick is: Calgary

FRIDAY

Hamilton at Winnipeg

I've gone on record saying the Tiger-Cats (possibly renamed the Tiger-Katz if Daryl Katz buys them) will win the East in the regular season. I am not wavering from that. This is a veteran team with many returning players and, arguably, the best linebacking corps in the league. There will be a focus on former Blue Bomber quarterback Kevin Glenn, who is the starter this year in Hamilton after claiming the spot midway through last season and lit it up against Winnipeg. Arland Bruce, another ex-Bomber, should begin this game with at least 100 yards. Running back DeAndre' Cobb should be even better than last year.

Rookie head coach Paul LaPolice begins an era in Bomberland with an assortment of new players, namely starting quarterback Buck Pierce and backup Steven Jyles. Fred Reid is right up there among the best running backs in the league.

The Bombers should be much better than last year under Mad Mike Kelly, but similar to other teams in transition it may take some time. The key in this game will be stopping the Ticats' blitz. It may be in Pierce's face all game.

Ticats favoured by one.

And the winner is: Hamilton

SUNDAY

B.C. at Edmonton

The Lions begin with various new faces on offence, but with Casey Printers and receivers Geroy Simon and Paris Jackson they are much better off at this point than a year ago. But the offensive line is under construction. Running back Martell Mallett, who is off in the NFL, will be replaced by ex-Argo Jamal Robertson. Canadian Jamall Lee will likely get some touches to prove himself as a possible starter. He has all the talent of Jesse Lumsden and could be a star in the CFL if given the chance. Rush end Ricky Foley is also trying out in the NFL, and he's a huge loss because he's a ratio changer as a Canadian. Former Alouette Keron Williams will be used along with rookie Dominie Pittman to fill that spot.

Who would have guessed one of the big story lines with the Lions is the battle at kicker with old reliable Paul McCallum and Sean Whyte.

The Eskimos struggled with consistency last year, but let's look at this season as the second with head coach Richie Hall, who takes over the defence after handing it off last year, and the first full one under offensive co-ordinator Kevin Strasser. It took him awhile to develop a relationship with quarterback Ricky Ray, but it should be better this year with more time to work together without having to do it on the fly. Running back Arkee Whitlock flashes all kinds of talent last year and showed the kind of maturity to suggest he'll be even better this year.

The only major change this year is in the defensive backfield, which the Lions may try to exploit.

Edmonton favoured by four.

And the winner is: Edmonton