After some bad luck last week, Perry will have his hands full with more tough games on tap.
Dang.
Finished even last week, but with any luck could have been 3-1 similar to the last two weeks, but still on the plus side overall.
The killer was the Calgary/Saskatchewan game. The Stamps had to win by three and they covered. I kept hoping for the Riders to cut into the margin somehow or at least make it closer than three and maybe even pull out a win, but they ran out of time.
The Stamps might be the hardest of all the teams to handicap because this isn't the dominant Calgary team of years past.
So, in tribute to Arland Bruce/Runako Reth, now a member of the B.C. Lions, we present Peerless Picks Week Six edition.
Thursday
Montreal (3-2) at Toronto (1-4)
So the Als are on a two-game losing streak for the first time in a long time. We'll dismiss the first loss because Anthony Calvillo wasn't in the whole game. But we'll acknowledge the Cats were the better of the two in all facets when they played last week. But I think the Cats have a dynamite receiving corps, which was why they could afford to trade Bruce/Reth. Now compare the Cats' receiving corps to the Argos'. The Als throttled the Argos in Montreal, playing not to get beat long and Calvillo went to the short passing game and the run game. Will the Argos learn from that? The Als have been known to throw in the odd clunker playing in Toronto. The Argos have had everything going wrong for them and now they have Cleo Lemon back in at quarterback, following his best quarter of football since he's been in Toronto. Head coach Jim Barker won't hesitate about going to backup Dalton Bell if Lemon isn't doing the job. Clearly, the Argos' only hope - aside from getting some breaks from the officials - is to dominate the line on both sides of the ball. They have a great run game, and the Als' D-line is minus injured tackle J.P. Bekasiak, so they've picked up a player on waivers to fill the gap. Rush-end Anwar Stewart may be playing inside. With the kicking game uncertain due to the fact punter/place kicker Noel Prefontaine is a game-time decision, it's really hard to pick the Argos to win. The Als had a difficult time battling crowd noise in Hamilton. If the Argos' fans can make some noise, it won't hurt. They also need to win the battle of the turnovers.
Als favoured by four.
And the pick is: Als to cover.
Friday
Edmonton (5-0) at Winnipeg (4-1)
The Eskimos got all the breaks last week and in the end won with the better lineup. The offence is still incredibly balanced, which is good because Winnipeg can bring it so many ways against the pass or run. I expect a lot of max protection and Ricky Ray getting the ball off quickly to the slots. The Eskimos' O-line will face their biggest challenge against arguably the best front four in the league, but they've kept Ray upright and he's been able to avoid getting whacked. Winnipeg had an emotional game last week following the death of Richard Harris. Will the intensity be the same this week? You have to figure there's going to be a bit of a letdown. Overall, the defence is the best in the league. They are fast, physical and tough. The crowd can make the difference in this similar to what happened last week in Hamilton. It really threw off Calvillo and I think it could happen to Ray. As usual, the emphasis is on whether Buck Pierce can stay on his feet without getting whacked. Edmonton's defence doesn't have the name stars, but is a tough overall unit.
Eskimos favoured by one.
And the pick is: Winnipeg and the point.
Saskatchewan (1-4) at B.C. (0-5)
Maybe this week Darian Durant will be allowed to make plays with his feet. Keeping him in the pocket won't do it. He scored a touchdown last week running, but otherwise was a statue. The Riders scored their only win this year because Durant used his feet. Enough said. Similar to the Lions, the Riders' receivers have been dropping balls, and that hasn't helped Durant. Hugh Charles has given the Riders some jump at running back when Wes Cates hasn't been able to play. If Eddie (Money) Johnson can continue to provide the Riders with quality punting and field-goal kicking, it makes a world of difference. Lions have self-destructed all season. They keep changing receivers hoping to find the right combination. And they haven't had any luck winning at Empire Stadium. Both teams, in fact, have lost all their games at home. Special teams, in particular the return game, might help. Tim Brown has been a good find for the Lions, and he's also given them some energy at running back. B.C. is starting to develop the run game, but it seems quarterback Travis Lulay is more inclined to pass. Former Rider Tad Kornegay makes his debut for B.C., which continues to change its defence because of injuries. Lions owner David Braley has repeatedly stated that the job of general manager/head coach Wally Buono is safe. There's been no talk in Saskatchewan about rookie head coach Greg Marshall losing his job. Whichever team loses, the pressure will continue to rise.
Lions favoured by three.
And the pick is: Saskatchewan and the points.
Saturday
Hamilton (3-2) at Calgary (3-2)
Ticats are starting to play like a team that can be really tough overall in the league and overtake Montreal in the East. The passing game is starting to come together with the emergence of some new, young stars. The defence is doing its job, too, under the direction of Corey Chamblin, who faces his former team. He's seen the Calgary offence often enough in his time with the Stamps to know how to defend it. Now he has a chance to scheme against it, using some of the philosophies he learned from Stamps' defensive co-ordinator Chris Jones. Kicker Justin Medlock has given the Cats their best production in years. As usual, the accent is on Calgary quarterback Henry Burris, who is slowly getting some consistency in his game this year, but hasn't been able to truly dominate. Curiously, he's been throwing a lot to wideout Johnny Forzani instead of his usual targets, Nik Lewis and Ken-Yon Rambo. The Stamps' ground game is starting to get more work, even though I think Joffrey Reynolds still isn't being used enough. Stamps are winless in two home games this year.
Calgary favoured by 3 ½.
And the pick is Hamilton and the points.
Record last week: 2-2.
Overall record this year: 11-9.
