Peerless Week 14 picks

Peerless does not believe 13 is an unlucky number, but he had to wonder what was up last week because the Canadian Football League produced some unusual finishes.

When the team with the worst record in the league beats the team with the best record in the league in a sloppily-played game, well, it truly was bizarre.

So the challenge for Peerless and all others who try to forecast the results of the games via the spread is to move forward and maintain one's confidence.

Peerless learned long ago not to guarantee results, so he found it quite amusing when Ejiro Kuale of the Toronto Argonauts guaranteed a victory over the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in the immediate euphoria of his team's upset victory over the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.

The Argos had a 2-9 record and the Bombers 8-3 going into the game, so beating Winnipeg likely gave Kuale the feeling that his team could beat Hamilton. To believe it is one thing, to proclaim it is quite another.

So for Ejiro Kuale and Runako Reth, whose play is reminiscent of a talented player named Arland Bruce, we give you Week 14 of Perry's Peerless Predictions.

Friday

Montreal (7-5) at Winnipeg (8-4)

The Alouettes come into this game hoping to beat Winnipeg to tie the Bombers for first. Als' quarterback Anthony Calvillo was knocked out of last week's victory over Edmonton but is ready to go. His backup, Adrian McPherson, played well in relief.

The receiving corps is the best in the league. Running back Brandon Whitaker has emerged as a difference maker running and catching the ball and leading in yards from scrimmage. Montreal lost 25-23 a couple weeks ago in a home game in which Winnipeg outplayed the Als.

The difference was Winnipeg quarterback Buck Pierce, playing with sore ribs and getting the job done. The defence also neutralized Als' top receiver Jamel Richardson. He rebounded last week because of a deliberate plan to put the ball in his hands early and often.

The Als' defence did their part against Edmonton by befuddling Eskimo quarterback Ricky Ray, who was terrible. The Als face Bombers' backup Alex Brink because Pierce's ribs have simply taken too much of a pounding. The Bombers are also minus featuring running back Fred Reid and backup Carl Volny, both sidelined for the season with knee injuries.

Overall, the Bombers had seven players injured against Toronto last Saturday and are playing on only six days' rest. Defensive linemen Doug Brown and Rodney Fritz are both sidelined with shoulder injuries.

The Bombers are already without star middle linebacker Joe Lobendahn, gone for the season. The injuries have really taken a toll on the Bombers defence, which was the team's strength, but there's been a huge dropoff in recent games and now the offence is missing some of its key players.

This is the biggest test of the season for the Bombers, who have lost three of their last four. The whole Swaggerville thing has been silenced. But if there is anything remaining from those glory days it will be incumbent on rush end Odell Willis -- remember him? -- to step up and make some plays.

The defence has to pressure Calvillo early. But we think Whitaker is the difference maker by far. He leads the league with 906 rushing yards -- an average of 6.4 per carry -- and has an additional 487 receiving yards, which is an average of 9.4. There are too many reasons to like the Als.

Als favoured by 6½.

And the pick is: Als to cover.

Edmonton (7-5) at B.C. (6-6)

Eskimos soiled the sheets against the Als, in particular Ray, who served up an interception that thwarted his team's momentum after producing a turnover and literally knocking out Calvillo. The Eskimos wanted to test the Als' wounded back end, but we think this time they will run the ball with Jerome Messam, who wasn't involved nearly enough in the last game.

We also expect the Eskimos to use max protection to guard against the Lions' improved pass rush and its strength up the middle. That means Edmonton can try and assert their physicality or try to mix it up with some quick-hitters to Fred Stamps or isolate Messam on some passes out of the backfield.

Eskimos are 2-2 since Labour Day and have had a pattern of a win followed by a loss. The Lions are the hottest team in the league. Everything is going their way and Friday night they return to the newly-renovated B.C. Place.

The place will be loud and that will impact on the Eskimos' signal-calling. B.C. beat Edmonton 36-1 in their last meeting, which wasn't a true indicator of the Eskimos, whose receiving corps was decimated. Earlier in the season, the Eskimos beat B.C. 33-17. The Lions' win began their current streak.

The Lions' front four has been ripping it up since going to the 40 front and will try to expose the Eskimos' offensive line. There is every reason for the Lions to simply dominate this game. If they win, they move into a tie for first.

I'm sure they will win, but the Eskimos have a lot of firepower and I don't think last week was truly an indication of their ability. The Lions haven't been favoured much this season, but they've done well. I picked the Lions prior to the start of the season to win the Cup. I'm still holding to it because now all the pieces are in place.

The only thing I'm concerned about tonight is emotion may work out against them because of all the hype and hoopla in the new building. The Lions are second in the league in giveaway-takeaways with a plus-10, but Edmonton is right behind at plus-6.

Edmonton's defence is not that bad overall and its rush ends are quite good. I assess this game as Edmonton wasn't nearly as bad in their three-game swoon and the Lions weren't nearly as bad during their 0-5 start.

I like B.C., but…

B.C. is favoured by 5½.

And the pick is: Eskimos and the points.

Saskatchewan (4-8) at Calgary (7-5)

The Riders' three-game win streak ended with a 42-5 loss to B.C. It was essentially over early because of time of possession in the first and the turnovers in the second. Perhaps the Riders were due for some humility in the new Ken Miller era. Riders are 0-5 in games against West Division opponents and are 2-3 on the road.

Quarterback Darian Durant had a tepid game in the last after some strong play in the previous three games. I see significant improvement from Weston Dressler, taking some of the heat off of Chris Getzalf. Cary Koch makes his second start and Dallas Baker is likely out.

In various categories, there is not a lot of difference between these two teams. The Riders have actually been a more effective team on the road this year, while home has been a killer for Calgary. The tension is high right now among the Stamps for the first time since John Hufnagel became head coach/GM in 2008.

Benching Joffrey Reynolds didn't help last week. The Ticats ran roughshod on the Stamps, so it will be interesting to see what the Roughriders do, and whether Durant will try to move the pocket. The Stamps need to do a better job of securing the ball, and it all begins with quarterback Henry Burris.

This is his biggest game of the year. The fans will be restless and will boo him mercilessly if he doesn't produce. He's already been yanked in his last two games. The Stamps have been brutal since Labour Day, while the Riders have been decent.

More than just Burris, the Stamps have to find a way to get the running game going. Both teams were absolutely blown out in their last game, so it's time for one of the two to step up.

As I've stated too often this year, the Stamps have been incredibly hard to predict and are terrible against the spread. Even if they win, they haven't always covered.

Stamps favoured by 5½.

And the pick is: Riders and the points.

Hamilton (6-6) at Toronto (3-9)

Ticats put it all together beating Calgary in Moncton with a few new wrinkles, including using running back Marcus Thigpen as a slotback (remind you of a guy named Pinball and what he did?). They also got some production out of their overall run game out of veteran Avon Cobourne and newcomer Terry Grant, the Alabama Slama.

The key was Thigpen, whose speed makes it difficult for a linebacker to cover him one-on-one. The Cats' speed element in the receiving corps is a major plus as long as there is consistency. They have also taken the wraps off of their defensive ends.

Justin Hickman and Stevie Baggs are making some plays. In fact, Hickman is second in sacks. The Argos' offensive line is incredibly beat-up, so it's time for the Cats to throw multiple looks at them and apply pressure on Steven Jyles, whose passing has been bad -- worse than Cleo Lemon.

The Cats are weak in the back end, but getting the ball to his receivers will be a challenge for Jyles. One-time Cat Prechae Rodriguez makes his debut for Toronto replacing Brandon Rideau, but does it really matter? Prechae is making the CFL circuit. This is his fifth team.

Toronto has to try to move the ball on the ground first. Argos lead the league in team rushing, while the Cats are last. But I think last week's game provided the Cats with some new ways to generate yards on the ground.

We think the Argos got lucky last week with a gift from the football gods. We don't see that happening again.

Cats favoured by four.

And the pick is: Cats to cover.

Record last week: 1-3

Record this season: 27-20-1

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