Week 15 of the CFL season has arrived and with a full slate of games Friday and Saturday, the stakes have never been higher.
Among a trio of divisional matchups, first place in the East could be decided in Ontario, the Stamps could ride into the post-season, and the Riders could earn the watermelon-clad faithful a pilsner-soaked home playoff game. Meanwhile in Montreal, the Bombers starters will begin to play spectator.
Without further ado, here are the picks.
Friday, Nov. 12 at 7:30 p.m. ET
Hamilton Tiger-Cats (7-5) at Toronto Argonauts (8-4)
Betting line: Argos -1.0
The Argos are expecting their biggest crowd of the season for their biggest game of the year, as the Ticats faithful flood up the QEW to take in this rivalry tilt. Toronto can clinch a first round playoff bye with a victory and currently have a 2-1 edge in the season series, but a pair of one-point victories means the Tabbies can steal first in the East Division with a win by any score.
DUNK: Black and gold, black and gold, black and gold. TICATS
HODGE: Hamilton is the true Beast of the East. TICATS
ABBOTT: Nothing Bethel-Thompson has done since being handed the reins deserves to be rewarded with a first round bye. TICATS
BALLANTINE: Ticats have played very well of late, but may trip here. ARGOS
FILOSO: Hamilton is the better team, but Toronto plays tough at home. ARGOS
GASSON: Hamilton is peaking at the right time. TICATS
HUDSON: If you ignore their slow start, Hamilton has been the better team for most of the season. TICATS
LUDWIG: Toronto is playing really badly. TICATS
MCGUIRE: Masoli has yet to show any sign he is capable of solving Toronto’s defence. ARGOS
SMITH: Hamilton in a close one. TICATS
TICATS: 7
ARGOS: 3
Friday, Nov. 12 at 10:30 p.m. ET
Calgary Stampeders (6-6) at B.C. Lions (4-8)
Betting line: Stamps -1.5
After six straight losses, it is finally do-or-die time for the B.C. Lions. Despite their horrific stretch of play, a win over Calgary would give the Leos the tiebreaker and keep them alive in the playoff hunt heading into the final week of the season. Unfortunately for them, the Stamps know they can clinch a 16th straight postseason berth with a victory and they’ve brought in star receiver Reggie Begelton to help make it happen.
DUNK: Something, something, Dave Dickenson bye week, something, something. STAMPS
HODGE: Calgary stomps out the last signs of life in B.C. STAMPS
ABBOTT: Reggie Begelton? In this economy? STAMPS
BALLANTINE: Remember a few weeks ago when Calgary had to beat B.C. to stay alive? Oh, the turntables! STAMPS
FILOSO: Calgary wins a shootout. STAMPS
GASSON: Tough scene in Vancouver right now. STAMPS
HUDSON: B.C.’s season is academic at this point. Reilly will play well at home, but Calgary is building for the playoffs. STAMPS
LUDWIG: Fingers crossed for B.C. to sneak into the playoffs at Calgary’s expense, but I can’t bet on it. STAMPS
MCGUIRE: Calgary has been showing signs of getting better. B.C. hasn’t. STAMPS
SMITH: Calgary punches their playoff ticket. STAMPS
STAMPS: 10
LIONS: 0
Saturday, Nov. 13 at 1:00 p.m. ET
Winnipeg Blue Bombers (11-1) at Montreal Alouettes (6-6)
Betting line: Bombers -7.0
These two teams battled to the wire a week ago with the Bombers coming out on top, but this looks like a much different matchup. With first place sewn up weeks ago, Winnipeg has directed MOP frontrunner Zach Collaros to the bench, with backup Sean McGuire taking over under centre. Meanwhile, Montreal still has a home playoff game to play for.
DUNK: Sean McGuire has something to prove. BOMBERS
HODGE: I suspect Winnipeg will be resting more players than just Collaros. ALS
ABBOTT: Montreal played Winnipeg’s starters tight. They’ll top the reserves. ALS
BALLANTINE: Winnipeg looks for one more good performance before resting for playoffs. BOMBERS
FILOSO: Montreal has so much more at stake. ALS
GASSON: Winnipeg is bound to lose again eventually. ALS
HUDSON: Winnipeg has nothing to play for, but they are playing a team with QB uncertainty. BOMBERS
LUDWIG: Winnipeg is so far ahead of the rest of the league that their B-team probably has even odds against anybody. BOMBERS
MCGUIRE: This league is so competitive that you have no shot of beating their one’s with your two’s. ALS
SMITH: Montreal needs this one more. ALS
ALS: 6
BOMBERS: 4
Saturday, Nov. 13 at 4:00 p.m. ET
Edmonton Elks (2-9) at Saskatchewan Roughriders (8-4)
Betting line: Riders -10.5
The biggest spread of the week, Edmonton surprised everyone by hanging with Saskatchewan last week, but got their last shred of home pride ripped away. Offensive stars James Wilder Jr., Greg Ellingson and Derel Walker are expected to be out of the lineup again for the Elks, while the Riders hope an offensive resurgence at home can bring the West Semi-Final back to Mosaic with a victory.
DUNK: E-LOL-ks. RIDERS
HODGE: Saskatchewan clinches second place in the West. RIDERS
ABBOTT: With their schedule, this is Edmonton’s last real shot at a win. They won’t deliver. RIDERS
BALLANTINE: Sask can clinch a home game with a win against the dumpster fire Elks. RIDERS
FILOSO: Edmonton is the worst team in the league. RIDERS
GASSON: It probably won’t be pretty. RIDERS
HUDSON: Edmonton is bad. RIDERS
LUDWIG: No, really, are we done yet? RIDERS
MCGUIRE: Get these garbage XFL quarterbacks outta here! RIDERS
SMITH: Edmonton sucks. RIDERS
RIDERS: 10
ELKS: 0
Records to date
Gasson 35-19
Dunk 35-19
McGuire 33-21
Hudson 33-21
Hodge 31-23
Ludwig 31-23
Ballantine 29-25
Smith 28-26
Abbott 25-29
Filoso 24-30
