Peerless Week 19 picks

It’s the last week in the 2011 Canadian Football League regular season and the pickings haven’t been easy this year. Peerless can attest to that.

What’s that new CFL expression, no lead is safe? How about, take cover? I’ve had to do that a few times this season -- and not always feeling good about it.

One of the best teams to choose has been the Toronto Argonauts, who have consistently played well as the dog. One of the worst teams to choose as the favourite has been Calgary, with Hamilton a close second.

I’m still hoping B.C. stays strong and goes all the way to the Cup and wins because that was my pre-season prediction to sip from Earl Grey’s Cup -- you know the one that broke that last time B.C. won it.

Peerless went 1-3 last week, but he says that’s not a bad thing. Every week he looks back on things with a clearer understanding. He thinks taking the Bombers by 8½ over Toronto was a huge mistake. That’s a lot of points for a team that started off 7-1 and has gone wonkier than Johnny Sears' hair since that time.

There is a lot to be decided in this final week of the regular season. So many playoff implications, but Peerless just wants to finish strongly going into the playoffs. There was some thought to taking the final week off and having Peerless Jr. do the picks, but he has decided to keep things as they are.

So, good luck with your picks, and a tip of the hat to my horse trainer friend Peter Ron Walder, who is saddling a starter in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint with 12-1 shot Force Freeze. May the force be with you, buddy!

Thursday

Hamilton (8-9) at Toronto (5-12)

Ticats are going into the playoffs and need to smarten up. They have been woefully inconsistent all season. Quarterback Kevin Glenn threw four picks in a 19-3 loss to Saskatchewan last week -- not all his fault -- and gets the call to start and stay at the helm. He needs to be more consistent and so do his teammates. They walloped the Argos in their last meeting but who knows what to predict with this team?

Hamilton’s playmakers simply need to step up and there’s no point in waiting for another week. My suggestion is simple: get the ball into the hands of Dave Stala. He’s been MIA for too many games in the second half of the season because of reasons known only to the team. And what’s with Hamilton’s receiving corps? It’s been so spotty. Chris Williams has made some plays, but there isn’t bona fide support and has been in flux all season -- another reason the Cats have underachieved.

Hamilton has a terrible secondary and they’ve given up a ton of yards on the ground in the second half of the season. That is the Argos’ strength. Have to think Argo quarterback Steven Jyles won’t be playing or starting anyway after taking that vicious hit last week by Johnny Sears that knocked him out. If Dalton Bell starts, well, he hasn’t done anything as a starter. He has been even less effective than Jyles. But all the Argos have to do is play smashmouth football.

Wouldn’t be surprised if third-stringer B.J. Hall gets some quality playing time or the Argos load up the run game with two backs and maybe employ twin tights. Why not? I would expect some razzle dazzle just to give the fans something to cheer. Receiver Maurice Mann should figure in some reps playing his former team. The Argos’ defence is one of the better ones in the league and they are ballhawks. Argos have actually played decently in the last few games.

Ticats favoured by 2½.

And the pick is: Argos and the points (I simply can’t -- no won’t -- pick the Ticats anymore).

Friday

Saskatchewan (5-12) at Edmonton (10-7)

Riders have nothing to play for except pride. This is Ken Miller’s final game with the organization as he heads into retirement. You know the team will want to win for him, but that may have been the case at home. And playing the inconsistent Ticats, well, that’s a different story. This will likely be the last game of the careers for some of Saskatchewan’s older stars. But what about backup quarterback Ryan Dinwiddie? He didn’t do much given the start last week and he’s playing on the road against a team that will be jacked.

Backup running back Brandon West lit it up against Hamilton. Don’t think he’ll have the fortune against Edmonton. Eskimos have a shot at first. They lost a tough one to B.C. last week by failing to capitalize on chances. It’s time to execute. Have to feel they will really try to get physical and pound the ball with running back Jerome Messam. They didn’t do that or couldn’t do that against B.C., so they tried the passing attack and Ricky Ray threw for more than 300 yards. He was a smidgen off on some of his throws, and there were some drops. There is simply too much on the line for the Eskimos to come up flat. I expect this to be their biggest effort of the season.

Eskimos favoured by 8½.

And the pick is: Eskimos to cover.

Saturday