Colleagues and friends are often asking for my CFL picks. So each week I’ll share my thoughts on the upcoming slate of games, and choose winners against the spread. Lining your pockets with some extra money is the end goal, but it’s much easier said than done.
Week 9 in the Canadian Football League saw a big turnaround effort for my against-the-spread picks. A tidy 3-1 record boosted us back to even for the season, but mediocrity is not acceptable around these parts. It’s time to get on a Ticats-like roll and really step our game up to the next level. Let’s get it going.
Alouettes (3-5) @ Ticats (6-2)
Last week: Alouettes won 23–13 in British Columbia; Ticats won 49–20 in Edmonton
Jim Popp’s return to the sidelines comes against the league’s hottest team and in the current toughest stadium for an opposing team to visit, Tim Hortons Field. Hamilton has gone a perfect 10-0 at the donut box – nearing a baker’s dozen. The Tabbies have pounced on opponents early at home this season, outscoring them 49-0 in the opening quarter.
Overall, Hamilton has put up 124-48 point margin at home running roughshod against all competition so far.
Expect the Ticats to jump on a team under new direction in a hostile environment and produce a cover.
Line: Ticats -9.5
Pick: Hamilton
Argos (6-2) @ Eskimos (5-3)
Last week: Argos won 30-24 at home against Ottawa; Eskimos lost 49-20 at home against Hamilton
James Franklin has finally been freed. Edmonton’s rookie passer takes over for six-year veteran Matt Nichols, who started the last seven Eskimos games since No. 1 pivot Mike Reilly went down. Franklin infused energy into the offence when relieving Nichols in five games this season. He flat out produced more than Nichols – the six-foot-two, 225 lbs. frosh CFLer has a better completion percentage, TD-INT ration and QB rating in 2015, and he can make plays with his legs. Most importantly, Franklin has shown the ability to engineer drives late in games that put points on the board.
Edmonton has to be smarting after getting taken apart by Hamilton on their home field last week. Also, there is a revenge angle because the Eskimos suffered a 26-11 Week 1 defeat when Trevor Harris carved up the Green and Gold. Chris Jones won’t want to be swept by his old team either. Franklin plus redemption equals a victory for Edmonton.
Line: Eskimos -4.5
Pick: Edmonton
Stampeders (6-2) @ Bombers (3-5)
Last week: Stampeders won 34–31 in Saskatchewan; Bombers bye week
For a second straight week Calgary heads out on the road to face a team coming off the bye. The Stamps rode into Riderville and galloped out with a narrow three-point win against a pesky Riders team. A rested Bomber squad will likely give Calgary all they can handle again in The Peg.
Special teams gaffes – punt return fumble, blocked punt for a touchdown and two missed field goals – cost Winnipeg a victory when these two teams met in Week 4.
That day the Bombers had franchise pivot Drew Willy in the lineup, but this time around Robert Marve makes his second career start with Willy sidelined for six-to-eight weeks because of a knee injury. Marve looked comfortable in his CFL starting debut before the bye and played well enough to put Winnipeg in position for a win. In the familiar confines of Investors Group Field, Marve and the Bombers are capable of at least keeping this one close.
Line: Stampeders -5.5
Pick: Winnipeg
Riders (0-8) @ Redblacks (4-4)
Last week: Riders lost 34-31 at home against Calgary; Redblacks lost 30-24 in Toronto
Never has a team in the CFL’s modern era gone 0-fer for an entire season, so based on that it’s only a matter of time until the Riders get off the schneid.
Saskatchewan might be 0-8, but it’s not from a lack of effort. Corey Chamblin’s team has been competing hard right to the bitter end of every single one of their defeats – six of the Riders’ eight have come by four points or less. The Riders aren’t getting blown out each outing and eventually the bounces or calls are going to go their way.
If Saskatchewan rides its league-leading ground game that’s averaging a whopping 6.9 yards per rush the Riders can finally end a dreaded losing streak.
Line: Redblacks -2.5
Pick: Saskatchewan
Dunk’s overall record against the spread: 8-8