Perry enters Week 9 in the CFL with an incredible 6-0 run of picks against the spread.
When things are going well, you don’t want to take a break. It’s been an incredible run for Peerless, who is 6-0 in his last six picks against the spread, even Randall the Handle is impressed – and that’s not easy.
Last week belonged to the have-nots – as in have not won a lot of games, the sliding Edmonton Eskimos notwithstanding – but this week goes to the haves.
There are only two games, but there are a lot of variables and storylines in both.
So for the receiver known as Runako Reth, who lit it up against the Eskimos as I knew he would and then promptly started sending me personal tweets which reminds of the things I used to receive from Arland Bruce, here’s this week’s edition of the Peerless Picks.
Friday
Hamilton (4-3) at Winnipeg (6-1)
Okay, Ticats’ receiver Dave Stala doesn’t think the Bombers should be calling themselves Swaggerville just yet and he might be in the minority. He has given the Bombers a little fuel for tonight’s game at Canad Inns Stadium and added ammo for the fans to give it to him.
Then again, if Diamond Dave scores a touchdown or two, he’ll know how to rub it in because this guy likes to celebrate and he happens to be leading the league in touchdown catches.
The Ticats are one of the hardest teams to read and the lines tend to be overrated or underrated with the Cats. They were heavily favoured to beat Toronto at home and failed to cover.
An interesting story line out of the Hammer this week talked about the Ticats’ rather impotent defence that has only recorded five interceptions and 12 sacks.
Rookie defensive co-ordinator Corey Chamblin came from Calgary, where blitzing was a big part of the plan and it led to big-time plays. Chamblin has yet to allow his playmakers to cut loose.
Rush end Stevie Baggs has been turned into a positional player, reminiscent of what the Argos tried to do years ago with Joe Montford. Baggs isn’t complaining, preferring to embrace the challenge. He has two sacks in seven games, compared to five in only seven games last year when he signed with the Cats as a free agent.
Calgary and Toronto racked up big yards against the Cats’ defence by throwing quick passes to the wideouts and dumping off the ball in the flat. The Cats need to create more pressure up front with stunts and jailbreaks to create confusion.
The offence will have its hands full trying to call plays while battling the noise and some of the rookie receivers may get harassed pretty good against a veteran defence that is absolutely flying these days.
The Bombers defence leads in 14 of 25 categories and you know they’ll be teeing off to get by the Hamilton tackles, which have had issues with performance and injuries.
That will mean running back Avon Cobourne will likely be spending a lot of time in the backfield as a blocker and I wouldn’t be surprised if the Cats use twin tights.
Bombers’ quarterback Buck Pierce is lighting it up on offence, which is another reason the Cats have to get after him quickly. Receiver Greg Carr gets into the lineup likely replacing Terence Jeffers-Harris, while defensive tackle Doug Brown is coming back after missing a couple games with a foot injury.
Sportsnet.ca blogger Henoc Muambe is scheduled to make his rookie debut on special teams and we wish him well.
I think the game will be fairly one-sided and the margin of victory seven or more.
Bombers are favoured by three.
And the pick is: Bombers to cover.
Saturday
Montreal (5-2) at Calgary (5-2)
Let’s see, we have a former Stamp facing his old team – cornerback Dwight Anderson – and a former Al facing his former team – returner Larry Taylor.
Anderson may be more of a factor as the Stamps know him well and you can be sure they will try to do something to throw him off his game. He’ll be trash-talking all over the place, but he’ll have his hands full with the Stamps receivers, who are turning it on these days.
The Als need to step up their game following two easy opponents. In fact, they really haven’t faced an upper-echelon team this year. This is clearly their biggest challenge.
The question is whether Montreal attempts to run the ball with Brandon Whitaker who is leading the league, but he’s had the benefit of facing some fairly soft defences.
Defensive tackle J.P. Bekasiak is back in the lineup after missing a couple games with a rib issue, which explains why the Als released non-import Luc Mullinder, who was picked up by Hamilton.
Former Bomber Moton Hopkins did okay when rotated in for his first game as an Alouette. Safety has been an issue for the Als because of injuries, and that may be an area the Stamps try to exploit.
The Stamps have been lousy at home this year, but they are playing well as an offence and picking up steam of late. Smilin’ Henry Burris is playing like Good Hank of late and the offensive line, which was an issue earlier in the season, is coming together. The dual-pronged running game is also gaining traction.
To beat the Als, I think Burris has to do some zone reads and try to go deep early, possibly with a pump fake, which he does well. He knows Anderson, so it wouldn’t be surprising if he attacks him vertically at the start.
Middle linebacker Juwan Simpson is back in at linebacker, so fill-in Robert McCune goes back to playing a variety of spots as the one of the designated imports.
All things being equal – and I think they are – the Stamps should be a three-point pick purely based on homefield advantage, even though they haven’t done well at McMahon this year.
Stamps favoured by two.
And the pick is: Stamps to cover.
Record last week: 2-0.
Record this year: 19-11.
