3DownNation CFL picks: can the Riders’ playoff hopes survive the weekend?

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We’ve reached Week 20 of the CFL season and the league’s flagship franchise may not make it out intact. The Saskatchewan Roughriders remain in possession of the third and final playoff spot in the West Division entering the week, but could be eliminated entirely with a loss and a Calgary victory. The same is true of the Stampeders, who would see their playoff hopes die on the vine with a loss and a Saskatchewan win.

The stakes are slightly lower in our 3DownNation picks competition, wher J.C. Abbott holds a one-game lead over Joel Gasson, Santino Filoso and John Hodge. Against the spread, it is Filoso on top of Gasson by a one-game margin.

If you think you have the chops to match our experts, try 3DownNation’s new Pick’em game. It’s free to play with a $50 Amazon gift card up for grabs each game. All residents of Canada and the U.S. are eligible to participate, excluding Quebec.

Friday, October 20: Calgary Stampeders at B.C. Lions — 10:00 p.m. EDT

Friday marks the regular-season finale for the Lions but their dream of two consecutive weeks off and a berth in the West Final will remain alive with a victory. Meanwhile, Calgary is playing for their playoff lives, as a win could clinch the postseason or a loss eliminate them depending on the result the following day in Regina. Despite a knee injury suffered last week, Vernon Adams Jr. will start this game for B.C. and is expected to play the whole contest, needing just 347 yards to become the first CFL quarterback to pass the 5,000-yard mark since 2018. Defensive end Mathieu Betts could also set a new single-season Canadian sack record with a takedown of Jake Maier, something that may be a little more difficult with top target Reggie Begelton back in the lineup to throw to.

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DUNK: The Lions have had some letdowns at home.

Straight-up: LIONS. Against the spread: STAMPS.

HODGE: B.C.’s a top team. Calgary’s not.

Straight-up: LIONS. Against the spread: LIONS.

ABBOTT: VA is shooting for 5,000 and Calgary have a bullseye on their forehead.

Straight-up: LIONS. Against the spread: LIONS.

BALLANTINE: B.C. is the better team, but I wonder if they dumb down the playbook against a potential playoff opponent. They are better off playing Calgary in the WSF too….

Straight-up: STAMPS. Against the spread: STAMPS.

FILOSO: Calgary’s simply not in the same tier as B.C.

Straight-up: LIONS. Against the spread: LIONS.

GASSON: The Lions are not the Riders. 

Straight-up: LIONS. Against the spread: LIONS.

GRANT: B.C. would love to win and push Winnipeg to the very end, but their playoff lives don’t depend on it. Meanwhile, for the first time all season, Calgary can see a light. 

Straight-up: STAMPS. Against the spread: STAMPS.

HOSKINS: Calgary’s improving but B.C. is on a different level. 

Straight-up: LIONS. Against the spread: LIONS.

KLEIN: Calgary has a ton to play for but motivation alone isn’t going to help them against a Lions team that is a tier or two above them. 

Straight-up: LIONS. Against the spread: LIONS.

MCGUIRE: B.C. is better and B.C/ is at home. ‘Nuff said.

Straight-up: LIONS. Against the spread: LIONS.

SMITH: There is no good reason to pick the Stamps.

Straight-up: LIONS. Against the spread: LIONS.

TOTALS STRAIGHT-UP: B.C. 9, Calgary 2

TOTALS AGAINST THE SPREAD: B.C. 8, Calgary 3

Saturday, October 21: Toronto Argonauts at Saskatchewan Roughriders — 4:00 p.m. EDT

Saskatchewan’s second straight late-season collapse has now reached six consecutive losses and head coach Craig Dickenson has been reduced to offering trips to the bowling alley as potential solutions. But despite all that, the Riders could either be on the brink of clinching the playoffs or knocking on death’s door for this game, depending on what Calgary does against B.C. The first-place Argonauts have no such high stakes to worry about and haven’t for quite some time, but that hasn’t stopped them from continuing to run over opponents while entering the greatest team of all-time conversation. The status of quarterback Chad Kelly remains uncertain for this road contest, but running back A.J. Ouellette appears poised for one last stint in the starting lineup and needs just 41 yards to get over 1,000 for the first time in his career.

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DUNK: Toronto’s backups win a close one over Saskatchewan’s starters.

Straight-up: ARGOS. Against the spread: RIDERS.

HODGE: Saskatchewan won’t win another game this season, though they could keep this one kinda close if Chad Kelly doesn’t play.

Straight-up: ARGOS. Against the spread: RIDERS.

ABBOTT: No amount of bowling can save Saskatchewan from their fate.

Straight-up: ARGOS. Against the spread: RIDERS.

BALLANTINE: Toronto’s backups are good enough to beat a Rider team that doesn’t seem to care anymore. 

Straight-up: ARGOS. Against the spread: ARGOS.

FILOSO: Toronto’s chasing history, but that’s a massive spread.

Straight-up: ARGOS. Against the spread: RIDERS.

GASSON: The Riders are who they are. They’ll need the greatest back-in of all time to make the playoffs. 

Straight-up: ARGOS. Against the spread: RIDERS.

GRANT: I’ve liked this Riders team on paper all year long, but they haven’t shown me anything on the field in a month and a half. They’ll have their hands full with the Argos defence.

Straight-up: ARGOS. Against the spread: ARGOS.

HOSKINS: Even while resting guys, the Argos are a better team. 

Straight-up: ARGOS. Against the spread: ARGOS.

KLEIN: The Riders desperately want this to be one of those “the Argos rest everyone” games. Even if it is, I don’t think that will help enough to keep them in this one. 

Straight-up: ARGOS. Against the spread: ARGOS.

MCGUIRE: Sounds like Chad Kelly is playing. ‘Nuff said.

Straight-up: ARGOS. Against the spread: ARGOS.

SMITH: Lol, no.

Straight-up: ARGOS. Against the spread: ARGOS.

TOTALS STRAIGHT-UP: Toronto 11, Saskatchewan 0

TOTALS AGAINST THE SPREAD: Toronto 6, Saskatchewan 5

Saturday, October 21: Edmonton Elks at Winnipeg Blue Bombers — 7:00 p.m. EDT

Winnipeg are coming off a bye and can clinch first place in the West Division with a victory in this game, though they needed a miraculous performance from Dru Brown off the bench to stage a comeback the last time these two teams played. Zach Collaros has historically struggled against Chris Jones defence and will not have top receiver Dalton Schoen at his disposal, though reports of a season-ending injury may have been premature. The Elks could be the first team to officially wrap up their season and will be hoping for another flash of Tre Ford promise to tide them over through a long offseason.

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DUNK: Must-win for Winnipeg.

Straight-up: BOMBERS. Against the spread: ELKS.

HODGE: Winnipeg clinches the West Final in style.

Straight-up: BOMBERS. Against the spread: BOMBERS.

ABBOTT: I smell a trap game.

Straight-up: ELKS. Against the spread: ELKS.

BALLANTINE: Winnipeg will win but may not need to blow the doors off depending on other results this weekend. 

Straight-up: BOMBERS. Against the spread: ELKS.

FILOSO: Winnipeg needs this one

Straight-up: BOMBERS. Against the spread: BOMBERS.

GASSON: Winnipeg still has something to play for. 

Straight-up: BOMBERS. Against the spread: BOMBERS.

GRANT: I took Edmonton last time and watched their 22-0 lead disappear. I love the Elks to cover, but Winnipeg knows how to close. 

Straight-up: BOMBERS. Against the spread: ELKS.

HOSKINS: The Bombers win to clinch home field. The Elks keep it closer as they continue to audition for 2024.

Straight-up: BOMBERS. Against the spread: ELKS.

KLEIN: Assuming the Lions win, the Bombers will still have a lot to play for in this matchup. That is bad news for Edmonton. 

Straight-up: BOMBERS. Against the spread: BOMBERS.

MCGUIRE: Winnipeg is at home, likely with lots to play for, and teams are learning to force Tre Ford to be a passer. ‘Nuff said.

Straight-up: BOMBERS. Against the spread: BOMBERS.

SMITH: Even without Dalton Schoen, the Bombers off a bye are automatic.

Straight-up: BOMBERS. Against the spread: BOMBERS.

TOTALS STRAIGHT-UP: Winnipeg 10, Edmonton 1

TOTALS AGAINST THE SPREAD: Winnipeg 6, Edmonton 5

Records to date (straight-up)

ABBOTT — 52-23
GASSON — 51-24
FILOSO — 51-24
HODGE — 51-24
KLEIN — 49-26
DUNK — 48-27
GRANT — 48-27
SMITH — 48-27
HOSKINS — 46-29
BALLANTINE — 44-31
MCGUIRE — 42-33

Records to date (against the spread)

FILOSO — 44-29-2
GASSON — 43-30-2
KLEIN — 42-31-2
ABBOTT — 42-31-2
SMITH — 39-34-2
GRANT — 39-34-2
DUNK — 39-34-2
BALLANTINE — 39-34-2
MCGUIRE — 38-35-2
HODGE — 37-36-2
HOSKINS — 36-37-2