Every home team is favoured in Week 18, including the Riders who were once 1-10 but now are touchdown favourites. Let’s see which home sides can get it done in a year where the road teams have won more games.
Hamilton Tiger-Cats (6-9) @ Ottawa Redblacks (7-7-1)
A Redblacks win clinches the East Division regular season title and ensures the Eastern Final gets played in Ottawa. Conversely, a Ticats victory nets Hamilton a guaranteed playoff spot and keeps them in contention for top spot in the East.
Brandon Banks’ self-inflicted two-game suspension for a failed drug test comes at a crucial juncture of the season. Kendial Lawrence, who signed with the Tabbies on Oct. 10, steps in to handle the bulk of the return duties with the reigning Most Outstanding Special Teams Player sidelined.
The 25-year-old made his CFL debut with Hamilton in 2013, playing in two games, but the team released the Missouri product after that. Some Ticats personnel men regret letting Lawrence go at that time and were elated to get him back to Steeltown following his release from Saskatchewan.
Hamilton could use a special teams jolt, especially coming off a late missed 47-yard field goal by Brett Maher with less than three minutes on the clock in Week 17 against Ottawa that would’ve given the Ticats the lead.
Line: Redblacks -3.5
Pick: Hamilton
Toronto Argonauts (5-11) @ Calgary Stampeders (14-1-1)
Ricky Ray returns for Toronto. The Argos No. 1 quarterback has healed from a deflated lung and fractured rib suffered in a Labour Day loss to Hamilton. It’s the second time Ray has been out for a period of time in 2016, the 36-year-old went down with a knee injury on July 25, which shelved the veteran passer for three games.
That continues an ongoing theme since Ray arrived in Toronto. Since 2012 there have been 88 regular season games played by the Argos, Ray has missed 38 (over 43 per cent) of them and recorded a 24-26 mark as a starter.
Calgary looks to become the seventh team in CFL history to complete the regular season with a perfect 9-0 home record. Combined that with Ray’s middling win percentage and aging body – the Stamps win for sure, by how much is the question.
Line: Stampeders -17
Pick: Calgary
Montreal Alouettes (4-11) @ Saskatchewan Roughriders (5-10)
Jacques Chapdelaine got his way and that meant giving Duron Carter his pink slip. Montreal’s interim head coach had enough of the outspoken receiver’s antics and sent a message to the Alouettes: If he’s the bench boss moving forward, he’ll make all the decisions.
After releasing Carter and Kenny Stafford, Vernon Adams was installed as the starting quarterback for Montreal in Week 18. The Eastern Washington and Oregon alum was acquired by the Als for a 2017 first-round pick in May. As it currently stands, BC would get the No. 1 overall selection in that trade.
Montreal believed Adams could be a franchise-type quarterback and Saturday’s matchup with Saskatchewan will give everyone the first extended look at the 23-year-old in game action.
Chris Jones’ defence has been stingy in the Riders’ four consecutive victories, that should provide a stiff test for Adams in his CFL debut.
Line: Riders -7
Pick: Saskatchewan
Edmonton Eskimos (8-7) @ BC Lions (9-6)
Adarius Bowman and Derel Walker have been exciting to watch since the latter broke out late last season. The league’s best receiver tandem is on the verge of becoming the second ever pair of teammates to both record 100 or more receptions in a season. CFL greats Allen Pitts and Dave Sapunjis did it in 1995 with the Stampeders.
That duo and Mike Reilly will be tough to deal with in perfect conditions at BC Place.
Line: Lions -2
Pick: Edmonton
Overall record against the spread: 39-29-1