The Peerless one has gone 8-0 over the last two weeks, so empty your savings and follow his lead.
Eight is not enough!
Gone 8-0 in the last two weeks in the Canadian Football League prognostications against the spread. If only I could learn how to do power rankings. But that's another story, and to my critics who gave it to me with both barrels over my mundane powerless picks, I will work hard to resolve that this week.
My mentor, Randall the Handle, told me to be proactive, not reactive.
And so I will.
But that will have to wait for a few more days, and will largely depend on the games this weekend, and my ability to forecast the results. Perry's Peerless Picks is looking forward to the game between Calgary and Saskatchewan in Regina. This will be a key game for many reasons. But you'll have to continue reading to find out how I'm analyzing this game. So away we go.
And remember, don't worry, be happy.
I think Bart Andrus said that.
Friday
Calgary (9-1) at Saskatchewan (6-4)
The Stamps are on a seven-game win streak and are hitting on all cylinders. It's always a treat when Henry Burris returns to Regina, so the people can boo him leaving the Green Riders to sign with the Horse Force. Burris had his best game of the season last week, so logically he will not repeat that. It's what known in horse racing as the "bounce theory." Or to put it in another way, play the best game of golf and then go out the next day and see if you play to the same level. It never happens.
What matters here is how much will Burris' production fall off and how much will the Roughriders' overall production rise? Forget about what Calgary's offence is doing, scoring all kinds of ways. Is there a better defence in the league? Is there one with more team speed? Is there one with better corners? Now apply that to the Roughriders. Their offensive line has fallen apart. Quarterback Darian Durant is having to run for cover or hurry his throws. He's on a nasty streak of throwing interceptions. To combat this, the Riders really need to develop the running game. It is the only thing that will help them neutralize the Stamps' blitz packages. The Roughriders might be best using twin tight ends on first down to provide more help from the pass rush coming off the edge. Either that or use two backs and flare one out and keep the other in for blocking purposes (i.e. Szarka and Wes Cates). Might even be useful to make good use of backup running back Hugh Charles, who will dress in place of Dominique Dorsey. Charles brings energy and enthusiasm. Dorsey has been placed on the nine-game injured list. Not sure he's actually hurt, but he's carrying a big salary and this provides cap relief and he's also struggling beyond belief in punt and kick returns.
This is gut-check time for the Riders. In fact, this may be the most pivotal game of the season after scoring only two points in the last game. Can it get any worse than that? Doubt it. Playing on only five days rest, this will be tough for the Roughriders physically, and they aren't a young team. And this is part of their problem. I think age is catching up to them. The Stamps are fresh. Roughriders dumped receiver Prechae Rodriguez, who really didn't fit in this offence and frankly was taking away opportunities for other key receivers. One key thing the Roughriders need now is a serious speed threat in their receiving corps to open up things underneath.
Randall has the Stamps by 3½.
Prediction: Stamps to cover.
Saturday
Hamilton (5-5) at B.C. (3-7)
Ticats had their three-game win streak snapped and are now back to reality. Receiver Maurice Mann is twittering that he's not getting the ball enough. Great team player. Quarterback Kevin Glenn threw craps in the last game, but that was bound to happen. He wasn't too keen about getting benched, but why should he be? Because he had that bad game, I expect him to rebound with a better one. The Ticats will need it because they're playing in B.C. where they haven't had a great record. Ticats have just added rush end Stevie Baggs. I've already stated I don't think it's a good move, regardless if Garrett McIntyre has an ankle injury. Defence isn't really the problem to me insofar as the Cats are concerned, but signing Baggs puts the money in that area. The Lions are on a roll. It's all about quarterback Casey Printers establishing his ability, which he didn't do in Hamilton. He's playing behind a porous offensive line that gave up eight sacks in the last game, but faced a team that had a porous offensive line as well because of injuries and replacements.
I think the Lions are gaining some confidence, in particular Geroy Simon, who leads this team. And how about that depth at running back? It's a great one-two punch and the Lions have one of the best return guys in the league now. The Lions beat up Montreal with an overrated backup quarterback starting and won last week because of a team going through some injury issues. The Ticats are better than Toronto, but I think B.C. is on the rise. I should have had the Lions higher up on the power rankings. Going into this game, I think they're better than Hamilton and Toronto. This game will either prove me right or send me back to power ranking school.
Lions favoured by four.
Prediction: Lions to cover.
Sunday
Winnipeg (3-7) at Toronto (5-5)
Bombers snapped a five-game losing streak with a solid effort against Saskatchewan in the back end of a home-and-home series. Their defensive line, which may be the nastiest in the league, simply overpowered the Roughriders' offensive line. The foursome just needs to stop taking dumb, overly-aggressive penalties. You saw what happened in the last game when players such as Adarius Bowman and Terrence Edwards focused on catching the ball. Then you have Fred Reid running with the kind of explosiveness he hasn't shown much of this year. The offensive line had some critical changes and it helped overall. Quarterback Steven Jyles played with poise. I think the team can build off of him, but as head coach Paul LaPolice said last week at halftime, the Bombers need to play for a full 60 minutes. If middle linebacker Joe Lobendahn plays like he did last week, watch out. He's a load when he's on his game. Once again, it will be the corners that will have to be smart. The Argos are simply beat up and will miss feature running back Cory Boyd, who is out with an injury. The running game hasn't done much in four games anyway. Quarterback Cleo Lemon will once again be under the gun. If the defence plays like it did last week, that is the Argos' best chance for victory. Right now, they need their defence and special teams to make up for the lacklustre offence.
Argos favoured by one.
Prediction: Bombers and the points.
Edmonton (2-10) against Montreal (7-3)
Well, it's the first game under a new general manager, Eric Tillman, and if that isn't a wakeup call for everyone - coaches and players - nothing is. Safety Elliott Richardson, defensive lineman Greg Peach and receiver Fred Stamps return to the lineup. I'm not crazy about the offence, especially with running back Arkee Whitlock sidelined for nine games, but his replacement, Brad Lester, will have had some more practice time along with Calvin McCarty. Stamps' return is huge. After missing two games with a shoulder injury, he's not 100%, but his services are badly needed. He was their best receiver before his injury. Return man Tristan Jackson make his second start off the nine-game layoff and should be fitter. The biggest problem with the Eskimos - and this is nothing new - is the offensive line. It needs to be totally overhauled; if not soon, certainly after the regular season. I think there's some grit left in the Eskimos and now is the chance to show it. They will have had sufficient rest following the last game to have some gas in the tank. They were out of gas in the last game, but tried as best as could be against the superior Stampeders. Als played well enough with Adrian McPherson in the last game to have confidence in keeping Anthony Calvillo out for another game, although there are reports that Calvillo is practicing this week and could play. There is less urgency because they're four points up on Hamilton and have beaten them in the season series. Montreal dominated Hamilton with defence, but also with a solid running game. This is what they need to do again. Montreal is one of the harder teams to handicap because even with Calvillo they throw craps at times. They're always tough at home.
Randall has the Als by 11½.
Prediction: Edmonton and the points.
Record last week: 4-0.
Record on the season: 22-17-1.
