The Picks return as our CFL analyst tries to beat the spread for every CFL game.
It's the start of a new season and time again for Perry's Peerless Picks. Last year was a humbling season, aside from a two-week undefeated streak. Randall the Handle kept hammering home the point not to pick favourites because they don't cover. The advice was to bet the underdog because even if they lose, they could still win if the favourite doesn't cover.
So it's been a long six months. I went for a two-week refresher course at Randall the Handle Boot Camp, where he spent every day booting me. No pain without gain.
But everyone starts off the season full of confidence and with a perfect record.
Thursday
B.C. at Montreal
Lions finished off strongly last season after starting out 1-7. Travis Lulay is entrenched as the starting quarterback. Big addition this year is Ben Archibald at left tackle. The Lions identified him as a key priority and it's significant. Lions didn't have too many noticeable injuries in pre-season. Starting safety is still an unknown. Lions defence is strong, using a 3-4 and 4-3 front. Hope to see David Hyland in the back end. He lays the wood.
Als got clobbered in final pre-season game, but it was largely with backups. Receiving corps is a work in progress to start the season, as is the running back spot. Als rarely lose at home, but they may need a few games to work out some kinks with new players. They are favoured by 6½.
Perry's Pick: Lions and the points
Join Perry Lefko for a live chat at 11:30 a.m. ET. as he will answer all your questions about the new CFL season. Join the chat here.Friday
Winnipeg at Hamilton
Bombers offence showed little in pre-season. Yeah, they were working on timing routes, but that shouldn't be the primary focus. Need to see the Bombers stretch the defence using their receivers, who are underrated overall. Quarterback Buck Pierce started off strongly last season before injuries slowed him down, beginning with the one in Hamilton. Bombers were close on so many games last year, so they can't be totally written off to start the season.
Tiger-Cats are learning a new offence and defence. They need to finish off drives. Much attention will be on Avon Cobourne because the Cats were too inconsistent in the run game last year and he's the big free-agent signing. But it will be Arland Bruce who will be the big playmaker this year. Get the ball in his hands early and often. The defence could play a major role in this game with at least two, and possibly three, new in the back end. That's something Winnipeg will try to exploit. New Ticats' co-ordinator Corey Chamblin didn't show much in the pre-season aside from the odd blitz, essentially saving his schemes for the opener. The front seven is solid - especially at middle linebacker with new addition Rey Williams - but if they fail to get to quarterback it's pressure on the five behind them playing man-to-man. Confidence will be skyhigh following the blowout over Montreal, but it looked better than it actually was. Ticats have to get into the end zone. It's that simple. Ticats are favoured by 10 - and that's too much in my opinion.
Perry's pick: Bombers and the points.
Toronto at Calgary
Argos begin a new season and this time they won't be nearly a surprise. Cleo Lemon is back at quarterback, looking to prove himself and the faith head coach/GM Jim Barker has in him. Lemon looked good in the pre-season, but not great, and the Argos didn't face the kind of overall depth the Stamps have. Right away the issue will be running back Cory Boyd and his ability to dominate the defence, which he did often last year. Not sure what happened in the final pre-season game, but he was stopped cold. If you shut down Boyd, you stop the Argos. Argos may need a few games to get their defensive line going. The interior is re-shaped. Claude Wroten is new to the team, while Kevin Huntley had two off-season surgeries and didn't play in the pre-season.
Argos have historically not been good playing in Calgary. But they'll face a newly-built offensive and a rebuilt back end, so this is the time to take advantage of some potential early weaknesses with the Stamps. That said, the Stamps' receiving corps is better than the Argos' by far - is there a better one-two tandem than Ken-Yon Rambo and Nik Lewis? - and the solid running back combination of Joffrey Reynolds and Jon Cornish takes away the Argos' impact with Boyd. And there is absolutely no contest when it comes to the two quarterbacks. Stamps favoured by 7½. The half point is scary, but…
Perry's pick: The Stamps to cover.
Sunday
Edmonton at Saskatchewan
The Eskimos are just too hard to gauge at this point with a new offensive co-ordinator, defensive co-ordinator and special teams co-ordinator. While they finished strongly last season, it's going to take time for this team to mesh together. Learning Rich Stubler's match defence will take time and trust. The Eskimos are still trying to identify two offensive tackles - and protection is paramount for quarterback Ricky Ray. This year is clearly a defining point in his career because the success or failure of the team falls on his shoulders.
The Riders are going through changes of their own. The receiving corps is rebuilt. Chis Getzlaf gets a chance to become a major player. I'm a huge fan of Cary Koch. Along with Weston Dressler, that's still three good go-to guys. Koch, in my opinion, is a stud player who will record 1,000 or more yards this season. The kicking game is suspect, converting only one of six tries in the pre-season, but we'll give them a mulligan on the first game due to the wind conditions. Darian Durant needs to be more selective with his throws, which was a problem in the last pre-season game. Moreover, I think he needs to make greater use of his legs to open up the offence. Riders are awfully tough at home and are a seven-point favourite.
Perry's pick: Saskatchewan to cover.
