It’s another week so that means it’s time for another round of picks from our contributors for the Week 13 slate.
This round of rivalry matchups could have major implications for the playoff standings, as the Riders and Bombers head in opposite directions on the prairies, the Stamps and Elks battle for the bottom of the West, and the Ticats look to regain respectability against the Argos. All after the Lions try to stop their spiral in the inaugural Touchdown Pacific game.
Santino Filoso sits atop our standings straight-up at 33-14-1, coasting to another perfect week. Filoso also sits atop our standings against the spread at 29-19 but he’s tied with Ben Grant, who just needs one slip-up to pull ahead.
Here are our picks for Week 13 in the CFL.
Saturday, Aug. 31: Ottawa Redblacks at B.C. Lions — 7:00 p.m. EDT
The Redblacks wiped the floor with the Lions’ defence last week, but the two teams could not have changed more dramatically before Touchdown Pacific. B.C. beefed up their pass rush with the re-addition of the league’s Most Outstanding Defensive Player, Mathieu Betts, while Ottawa will be without three key starters, including two receivers. What remains to be seen is whether that will be enough for the Leos to snap a five-game skid in Victoria — the birthplace of struggling QB Nathan Rourke and hometown of deep-pocketed owner Amar Doman.
ABBOTT: It’s tough to beat a team twice — let alone one that added the league’s best pass rusher.
Straight-up: B.C. Against the spread: B.C.
BALLANTINE: If this game was in Ottawa, I’d be picking the Redblacks. However, cross-country travel often wreaks havoc on Eastern teams.
Straight-up: B.C. Against the spread: B.C.
DURRELL: Simply put, Ottawa is the better team right now.
Straight-up: Ottawa. Against the spread: Ottawa.
FILOSO: The Redblacks are banged up and eventually Rourke will have a get-right game, but I still think that’s at least a week away.
Straight-up: Ottawa. Against the spread: Ottawa.
GASSON: I like Ottawa, I like Dru Brown. But six losses in a row is a lot.
Straight-up: B.C. Against the spread: B.C.
GRANT: I’ve incorrectly picked seven straight games in which Ottawa has been involved, so take this with a mountain of salt, but I like B.C. to run away with this.
Straight-up: B.C. Against the spread: B.C.
HERRERA-VERGARA: In any league, beating an opponent twice in two games is hard. Nathan Rourke should bounce back as well
Straight-up: B.C. Against the spread: B.C.
HODGE: It’s time we put some respect on the Redblacks.
Straight-up: Ottawa. Against the spread: Ottawa.
HOSKINS: Rourke continues to improve but Brown is further along and Ottawa’s defence is better right now.
Straight-up: Ottawa. Against the spread: Ottawa.
KLEIN: With a couple of obvious exceptions, it did look better for Rourke last week. I expect him to keep getting better and for B.C. to get the W.
Straight-up: B.C. Against the spread: B.C.
TOTALS STRAIGHT-UP: B.C. 6, Ottawa 4
TOTALS AGAINST THE SPREAD: B.C. 6, Ottawa 4
Sunday, Sep. 1: Winnipeg Blue Bombers at Saskatchewan Roughriders — 7:00 p.m. EDT
The Riders are winless in their last five games and will face a difficult test at home against their prairie rivals, as the surging Bombers have won three straight. That’s a far cry from the situation when Saskatchewan knocked off Winnipeg in Week 7, though both teams still boast terrific defences. They also have struggling quarterbacks, as Zach Collaros overcame three interceptions in last week’s victory and Trevor Harris threw two bad ones in his team’s loss.
ABBOTT: In a battle of exceptional defences and struggling offences, I trust Brady Oliveira to get the hard yards.
Straight-up: Winnipeg. Against the spread: Winnipeg.
BALLANTINE: Zach hasn’t been at his best this season and the Riders love to take the ball away from guys like that.
Straight-up: Saskatchewan. Against the spread: Saskatchewan.
DURRELL: This is a coin toss for me but I like the Riders at home.
Straight-up: Saskatchewan. Against the spread: Saskatchewan.
FILOSO: The Blue Bombers were less than impressive last week, but Zach Collaros isn’t 6-1 in Labour Day Classics by accident. I like the Bombers in an upset
Straight-up: Winnipeg. Against the spread: Winnipeg.
GASSON: Besides the Labour Day reasons, I think the Riders match up well with Winnipeg.
Straight-up: Saskatchewan. Against the spread: Saskatchewan.
GRANT: The Riders are great at stopping everything Winnipeg does well. I think the Bombers will struggle to score.
Straight-up: Saskatchewan. Against the spread: Saskatchewan.
HERRERA-VERGARA: Betting against the Riders on Labour Day weekend is a bad idea.
Straight-up: Saskatchewan. Against the spread: Saskatchewan.
HODGE: You always pick the Riders on Labour Day.
Straight-up: Saskatchewan. Against the spread: Saskatchewan.
HOSKINS: Winnipeg was lucky to get a W last week. It won’t happen against Riders at home.
Straight-up: Saskatchewan. Against the spread: Saskatchewan.
KLEIN: The Riders match up really well with what the Bombers want to do. And that crowd on Labour Day weekend is just a different animal.
Straight-up: Saskatchewan. Against the spread: Saskatchewan
TOTALS STRAIGHT-UP: Saskatchewan 8, Winnipeg 2
TOTALS AGAINST THE SPREAD: Saskatchewan 8, Winnipeg 2
Monday, Sep. 2: Toronto Argonauts at Hamilton Tiger-Cats — 2:30 p.m. EDT
Despite a valiant effort last week, the Tiger-Cats are still the laughing stocks of the CFL. On the other hand, the Argonauts got a huge shot in the arm from the return of Chad Kelly and he can only get better after another week of practice. But the QEW rivalry is built different and Hamilton has already upset Toronto once this season. If Chris Jones can keep the takeaways coming on defence, anything is possible.
ABBOTT: Why are we even talking about this?
Straight-up: Toronto. Against the spread: Toronto.
BALLANTINE: Chad Kelly didn’t look great last week against a tough Riders defence. Hamilton doesn’t have one of those though.
Straight-up: Toronto. Against the spread: Toronto.
DURRELL: Hamilton will show up because it’s Labour Day but Argos will win this game.
Straight-up: Toronto. Against the spread: Toronto.
FILOSO: The problem is that nothing about Hamilton inspires confidence.
Straight-up: Toronto. Against the spread: Toronto.
GASSON: Hamilton might hang around but Toronto is just better.
Straight-up: Toronto. Against the spread: Toronto.
GRANT: Toronto has blown Hamilton out in each of the last two Labour Day games, and this time they have a score to settle from last month’s loss in the Hammer.
Straight-up: Toronto. Against the spread: Toronto.
HERRERA-VERGARA: Toronto has a loss to avenge.
Straight-up: Toronto. Against the spread: Toronto.
HODGE: This could very well be a blowout.
Straight-up: Toronto. Against the spread: Toronto.
HOSKINS: I know this is likely impossible but I can’t pick the Argos.
Straight-up: Hamilton. Against the spread: Hamilton.
KLEIN: The Argos are one of the most talented teams in the league. The Ticats… aren’t.
Straight-up: Toronto. Against the spread: Toronto.
TOTALS STRAIGHT-UP: Toronto 9, Hamilton 1
TOTALS AGAINST THE SPREAD: Toronto 9, Hamilton 1
Monday, Sep. 1: Edmonton Elks at Calgary Stampeders — 6:00 p.m. EDT
Tre Ford will be back in the lineup for the Battle of Alberta but he won’t get the start, as McLeod Bethel-Thompson gets another crack after a scoreless second half against Montreal. The Stampeders should be relatively healthy coming off a bye and have added returner Chandler Worthy, while Edmonton could be without prolific middle linebacker Nyles Morgan.
ABBOTT: Tre Ford doesn’t appear to be starting, so Edmonton will squander this.
Straight-up: Calgary. Against the spread: Edmonton.
BALLANTINE: the Stampeders were able to hold M.O.P. candidate Vernon Adams Jr to his lowest passing total of the year to that point. Look for them to do the same against either Elks’ QB.
Straight-up: Calgary. Against the spread: Calgary.
DURRELL: If Tre Ford plays, Edmonton will win. If he doesn’t, they won’t.
Straight-up: Edmonton. Against the spread: Edmonton.
FILOSO: This is a coin-flip for me, so I’ll take the team that’s looked more dangerous in recent weeks
Straight-up: Edmonton. Against the spread: Edmonton.
GASSON: Edmonton is still trending in the right direction and I don’t believe in Calgary.
Straight-up: Edmonton. Against the spread: Edmonton.
GRANT: I really like what I’ve seen from Edmonton these past few weeks, and I still don’t think the Stampeders are a good football team this season.
Straight-up: Edmonton. Against the spread: Edmonton.
HERRERA-VERGARA: McMahon doesn’t provide much home-field advantage.
Straight-up: Edmonton. Against the spread: Edmonton.
HODGE: I am a certified Stampeders skeptic.
Straight-up: Edmonton. Against the spread: Edmonton.
HOSKINS: I think MBT starts and we may see Ford later on. Seems eerily similar to 2015 with Michael Reilly. The difference is, they win this one
Straight-up: Edmonton. Against the spread: Edmonton.
KLEIN: I keep trying to believe in Calgary and they keep letting me down. I think they take this one at home but in a nail-biter.
Straight-up: Calgary. Against the spread: Edmonton
TOTALS STRAIGHT-UP: Edmonton 7, Calgary 3
TOTALS AGAINST THE SPREAD: Edmonton 9, Calgary 1
Records to date (straight-up)
FILOSO — 33-14-1
GRANT — 30-17-1
ABBOTT — 29-18-1
HERRERA-VERGARA — 29-18-1
GASSON — 29-18-1
DURRELL — 27-20-1
KLEIN — 27-20-1
HOSKINS — 27-20-1
BALLANTINE — 25-22-1
HODGE — 24-23-1
Records to date (against the spread)
FILOSO — 29-19
GRANT — 29-19
DURRELL — 27-21
GASSON — 25-23
HERRERA-VERGARA — 25-23
HODGE — 23-25
HOSKINS — 23-25
BALLANTINE — 21-27
KLEIN — 19-29
ABBOTT — 18-30
