Perry Lefko

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

Coach Lefko makes his picks for Week 7 and has a plan to turn the Lions around.

Who let the dogs out? Who? Who?

Last week, underdogs won half of the games as both Montreal and Edmonton failed to live up to their role as favourites. If you didn't know it by now, I play the favourites.

After watching the Als blow a 14-point lead and win by four, I was deflated. I had the Als by 4½. Fortunately, there was another game that night. I had the Eskimos by six over Toronto. I was downtrodden after the first half of the Eskimos' game, watching the Argos walk all over Edmonton. But my mentor Randall the Handle told me it's the CFL and anything can happen. When the Eskimos pulled ahead in the second half, Randall emailed me, "Hehehe."

I never heard back from him when the game was over, which saw the Argos win by one, thanks to some questionable officiating that led to the Argos' scoring a late touchdown,

May I remind Randall, that's also the CFL for you!

I now know that Randall, who graduated with honours from the Harvard School of Handicapping, is an expert. He graduated Phi Beta Lot. But he's not right all the time.

The Ticats and the Stamps both covered to give me a two-for-four weekend. It being summer and all, a two-four isn't too bad, but I'm into four-for-four.

As they say, there's always next week.

So for those of you who can't get enough of the Ticats and Blue Bombers, who conclude their best four of seven this week, we give you another week of Perry's Peerless Prognostications.

Thursday

B.C. (1-5) at Saskatchewan (4-2)

You think Darian Durant felt bad last week because of the bad chicken he ate in B.C. three weeks ago? Well, the Lions are 1-5 and are not feeling too good. At least Coach Lefko will get his wish when the Lions play quarterback Jarious Jackson. He can go deep - or as onetime CFL writer Ken Peters used to say, "launch the leather."

It has been lacking since Casey Printers was shelved with an injury. Travis Lulay didn't do the job, so give Jackson a shot. Maybe he can get receiver Geroy Simon untracked. He is beyond upset with what's happening with the Lions. The guy looks like he is going to explode. Fellow receiver Paris Jackson has done well in the past with Jarious (no relation). If the offence doesn't get going, the defence won't be of much help. Jarious Jackson has more mobility than Lulay, especially when he airs it out, forcing the defensive backfield to backpeddle, thus opening things in the middle or with quick hitches. If he goes long early and creates a completion, it will play into this. He has to test the Riders' back end because they've been giving up way too many points.

Clearly, the wideside cornerback spot has become an area to exploit. I think Jackson should use a variety of zone reads, either running with the ball or faking to running back Jamal Robertson and going vertical. Coach Lefko believes this is the Lions' only chance. The Lions are playing their second road game in six days. They've lost by an average of only four points in their last four games. It's never easy playing in Regina, especially after the Roughriders have lost. Presumably, Durant will be feeling a little better this week. Finishing strongly against Montreal should carry through to this week. The Riders' only two losses have come against Montreal and Calgary. Saskatchewan manhandled B.C. 37-18 in Week 2 following their emotional win over Montreal, They run the ball well and B.C. has problems in run defence. There may be more of a sense of urgency for Saskatchewan with Calgary in first. It's a no-brainer to pick Saskatchewan, but the Lions have been rather stingy so far in points allowed and average points per game.

Randall has the Roughriders by 8½.

And the prediction is: Roughriders to win, but take B.C and the points.

Friday

Hamilton (2-4) at Winnipeg (2-4)

Man, it never gets dull seeing these two teams play. Okay, enough of the smart-ass talk. There's actually football going on in Hamilton, although the stadium issue is really the big story.

Believe it or not, there were actual rumblings that head coach Marcel Bellefeuille's job was in jeopardy. He grew a goatee last week and because the team won, he's sticking with it. The Ticats are a one-dimensional offence, throwing the ball and lately it's been to Arland Bruce. Not that it's a bad thing. Forget about the running game if you can score points via the pass.

What is really troublesome is the Cats' defence. They almost allowed the Bombers to tie the last game on the second-last play of the game. Their back end is still giving up too many points on medium to long plays. At least their kicking game showed signs of improvement. That said, don't be surprised if playing in Winnipeg tests the Cats' rookie punter. Will Winnipeg go with quarterback Buck Pierce, who was sidelined after Week 3 with a sprained knee against Hamilton? Steven Jyles isn't doing a bad job, but is 1-2 as a starter. He took some wicked shots last week, but showed some pluck. It's time to cut loose with Fred Reid. He is fourth overall in rushing, but with the least amount of carries among that group. Fred X needs the rock. Let's hope the Bombers can line up with enough healthy bodies. They sorely miss standout rookie Terence Jeffers-Harris. Rookie Jamayel Smith may start. Pending how the ratio goes, Canadian Luke Fritz may line up at tackle. Bombers axed kicker Alexis Serna, who was struggling, and signed Louie Sakoda, dropped by Saskatchewan as a punter. Sakoda's specialty is kicking. Serna struggled his entire time in Winnipeg and cost the Blue Bombers valuable points. It's time the Bombers got this area straightened out. The odds suggest in back-to-back games, the team that lost in the first game should win the next one. Winnipeg is decent at home. Ticats' only wins have come against Winnipeg in Hamilton.

Bombers are favoured by 3½.

And the prediction is: Bombers to cover.

Saturday

Montreal (5-1) at Toronto (4-2)

The Als had another scare against Saskatchewan. Anthony Calvillo injured a finger on his throwing hand in the win, but has been throwing darts in practice according to Eagle Eye Herb Zurkowsky of the Montreal Gazette. Even if Calvillo isn't at his best, running back Avon Cobourne is a load to stop. Randall has the game circled because of Calvillo's status.

The Als trounced the Argos in Montreal, giving Toronto a dose of reality. What the Als will do in this game is mess with quarterback Cleo Lemon's head. They play zone a lot after getting torched in their first two games, but have to mix things up to test Lemon. He played well against Edmonton, but so what. The Eskimos' defence hasn't done much. And we wonder if Als' punter Damon Duval will draw another roughing penalty? He does it better than anybody. It hurt the Argos the last time the two teams played. This is the Als' first road game after a 3-0 homestand. The Argos are loving life. Lemon's breakout game against Edmonton quieted the "ignorant media" - coach Jim Barker's words, not Coach Lefko's - but Lemon still has to prove himself against a qualify defence such as the Als'. He was stopped last time by Montreal, and that negated running back Cory Boyd, who is leading the league in rushing. So expect the Argos to use Boyd on swing passes, tosses and the like to get Lemon in a groove. They should try him in the Wildcat offence. The big thing is getting Lemon comfortable. I expect at least one shovel pass. The Argos have won by coming back a lot this year, but I don't see that happening this time. I don't think Calvillo will be as generous as Henry Burris, who tossed four interceptions in a loss to the Argos. But who knows? Maybe the miracle kids will continue this roll.

Als are favoured by 7.

And the prediction is: Als to cover.

Edmonton (1-5) against Calgary (5-1)

The Eskimos simply need to find some defence. It's killing them, which is interesting given that their head coach is the defensive co-ordinator. Defensive tackle Andre Coleman was released. Defensive back Randee Drew was added. Offensive tackle Joe McGrath was dropped and wide receiver Tremayne Kirkland added. Expect a team that is 1-5 to make all kinds of moves. What scares me is what this team will do offensively without receiver Fred Stamps, who is sidelined with a shoulder injury. Kelly Campbell is the lone true threat receiving. That means the Eskimos will have to rely heavily on running back Arkee Whitlock. He's one of the best, but the Stamps can crowd the box and force the Eskimos to beat them via the pass.

Ricky Ray was dinking and dunking against the Argos before trying the long ball. But now Stamps is out. The Stamps (as in Calgary) are solid on the corners, so I think it will be hard for Ray to try the wideside throws. The receiving corps is getting better with the addition of Ken-Yon Rambo. Nik Lewis has been unconscious. The only thing that worries me in this game is the Stamps' inability to really put the boots to an opponent. Aside from the victory over Saskatchewan, they haven't done it enough. But I like this team's evolvement on a week to week basis since that loss in Toronto.

Stamps are favoured by 9.

And the prediction is: Stamps to cover.

Record last week: 2-2

Record to date: 10-13-1