Toronto Argonauts at Hamilton Tiger-Cats (-2)
Sunday, November 15: 1:05 PM ET
I feel sorry for the Ti-Cats. As I said on this week’s Blue Bomber Talk Podcast, Hamilton simply peaked at the wrong time. Entering 2015 on a major upswing from an impressive (albeit unsuccessful) 2014 Grey Cup performance, the Tabbies were the CFL’s best team until Zach Collaros went down with a torn ACL seven weeks ago. Back-up Jeff Mathews did a respectable job keeping the team afloat in Collaros’ absence, but, with the kid from Cornell currently out with a concussion, I’m ready to write the Ti-Cats off. Which, again, is a shame — in a perfect world, injuries wouldn’t decide football games. They’ll decide this one. Give me the double blue by nine.
Pick straight-up: Toronto
Pick against the spread: Toronto
BC Lions at Calgary Stampeders (-8.5)
Sunday, November 15: 4:35 PM ET
The race for the third and final playoff spot in the West Division was a dud from day one. The ‘Riders never got out of the gate, the Bombers stunk (again), and the Alouettes never found a quarterback who could string two quality starts together. As such, I don’t believe the Lions so much earned a playoff spot as merely found one. Even with rookie sensation Jonathon Jennings at the helm, the Leos simply don’t belong on the same field with the Stamps. Give me Calgary by 16.
Pick straight-up: Calgary
Pick against the spread: Calgary
Season record straight-up: 48-33
Season record against the spread: 44-36-1
John Hodge, Blue Bomber Talk
Twitter: @BlueBomberTalk
Email: [email protected]
