It’s another week so that means it’s time for another round of picks from our contributors for the Week 15 slate.
A truncated week will see a couple of QB headliners do battle on the West Coast, while the two worst teams in that league look to pull upsets over the league leaders. Anything can happen in the CFL, but excitement could be too much to hope for on Saturday.
Another dominant week of picks has Santino Filoso atop our standings with a three-game edge both straight-up and against the spread. Joel Gasson is in the trail position straight-up, while Ben Grant has lost a step on the against-the-spread race.
Here are our picks for Week 15 in the CFL.
Friday, Sep. 13: Toronto Argonauts at B.C. Lions — 10:00 p.m. EDT
Friday’s nightcap will be dominated by the parallels between the two quarterbacks, as B.C.’s Nathan Rourke and Toronto’s Chad Kelly both made rocky midseason returns under very different circumstances. There is likely to be no niceties between the pair, as Rourke was the most notable voice to criticize the CFL for their slow handling of Kelly’s suspension after allegations of sexual harassment surfaced this offseason. You can expect the shots fired to stay on the field in this one, as the bad boy in Double Blue has gone over 300 yards passing in each of his three starts this year, while Rourke has exceeded that mark in his last two. Looking downfield hasn’t always been positive though, as they’ve combined for 13 interceptions in the last four weeks.
ABBOTT: Sometimes the good guy wins… but the villain always makes it close.
Straight-up: B.C. Against the spread: Toronto.
BALLANTINE: B.C. has regained their mojo while Toronto seems lost.
Straight-up: B.C. Against the spread: B.C.
DURRELL: That trip from Ontario to Vancouver is never easy.
Straight-up: B.C. Against the spread: B.C.
FILOSO: The Argos will eventually get their ship in order, but not this week.
Straight-up: B.C. Against the spread: B.C.
GASSON: Something seems off in Toronto and traveling for a late start probably doesn’t help.
Straight-up: B.C. Against the spread: B.C.
GRANT: Toronto matches up extremely well against B.C. The Argos beat the Lions by eight without Kelly in Toronto, and I think they’ll squeak out a win in Vancouver.
Straight-up: Toronto. Against the spread: Toronto.
HERRERA-VERGARA: The B.C. Lions are on a hot streak and the Argos aren’t. The travel won’t help either.
Straight-up: B.C. Against the spread: B.C.
HODGE: Toronto’s defence hasn’t been the same without Wynton McManis in the lineup.
Straight-up: B.C. Against the spread: Toronto.
HOSKINS: Toronto has not been playing well and will now travel three time zones to meet a hot Lions team. B.C. gets another.
Straight-up: B.C. Against the spread: B.C.
KLEIN: B.C. is finding their groove and the Argos struggle on the road.
Straight-up: B.C. Against the spread: B.C.
TOTALS STRAIGHT-UP: B.C. 9, Toronto 1
TOTALS AGAINST THE SPREAD: B.C. 7, Toronto 3
Saturday, Sep. 14: Ottawa Redblacks at Hamilton Tiger-Cats — 3:00 p.m. EDT
This battle is between teams who recently shellacked the Argos, as the last-place Ticats pulled off an incredible Labour Day upset two weeks ago and Ottawa put a stranglehold on second in the East with their Week 14 statement. Hamilton will have the advantage of coming off a bye but the Redblacks could clinch a playoff spot with a victory and should get receiver Jaelon Acklin back on offence. Bo Levi Mitchell will need to continue his stellar play of late to overcome the long odds, but will have Taylor Powell breathing down his neck yet again.
ABBOTT: This ain’t Labour Day. The Ticats will come back to reality.
Straight-up: Ottawa. Against the spread: Ottawa.
BALLANTINE: Any more than this and I’d pick the Ticats to cover. They’ve lost some high-scoring games this season.
Straight-up: Ottawa. Against the spread: Ottawa.
DURRELL: I think the Tabbies keep this closer than some might expect but I have to go with the better team.
Straight-up: Ottawa. Against the spread: Ottawa.
FILOSO: The Redblacks haven’t won in Hamilton since 2018, but Dyce’s squad takes care of business to lock up a postseason berth
Straight-up: Ottawa. Against the spread: Ottawa.
GASSON: Ottawa keeps on rolling and gets into the playoffs.
Straight-up: Ottawa. Against the spread: Ottawa.
GRANT: Ottawa is a better team, but I think we’ll see a letdown this week after a huge win against Toronto. If Hamilton can protect the ball, they’ll win.
Straight-up: Hamilton. Against the spread: Hamilton.
HERRERA-VERGARA: I don’t see the Tiger-Cats being competitive for 60 minutes
Straight-up: Ottawa. Against the spread: Ottawa.
HODGE: The Redblacks win a tight one to earn a playoff berth.
Straight-up: Ottawa. Against the spread: Hamilton.
HOSKINS: Every time I say it will be close with Ottawa, they blow up the scoreboard. With it being in Hamilton, it is close this time but the RedBlacks gain the playoff spot
Straight-up: Ottawa. Against the spread: Ottawa.
KLEIN: Hamilton has been better at home, but not better enough to put them on Ottawa’s level right now.
Straight-up: Ottawa. Against the spread: Ottawa.
TOTALS STRAIGHT-UP: Ottawa 9, Hamilton 1
TOTALS AGAINST THE SPREAD: Ottawa 8, Hamilton 2
Saturday, Sep. 14: Montreal Alouettes at Calgary Stampeders — 7:00 p.m. EDT
After being benched last week, Jake Maier will get back in the saddle as the Stampeders’ starting quarterback in this one. Calgary has fallen into the West Division basement with him at the reins, while head coach and general manager Dave Dickenson seems overwhelmed and at a loss for answers. Those won’t get clearer against a league-leading Alouettes team that will be highly motivated after just their second loss of the season.
ABBOTT: You know it’s bad when Ballantine is taking someone other than Calgary.
Straight-up: Montreal. Against the spread: Montreal.
BALLANTINE: Jake Maier is back after his benching. Will the rest of the team show up this week?
Straight-up: Montreal. Against the spread: Calgary.
DURRELL: The Alouettes will be in a foul mood after last week. This one could get ugly.
Straight-up: Montreal. Against the spread: Montreal.
FILOSO: The Alouettes are very good and Calgary is not. That’s still a big spread though.
Straight-up: Montreal. Against the spread: Calgary.
GASSON: The Als can’t be thrilled after last week and Calgary is Calgary.
Straight-up: Montreal. Against the spread: Montreal.
GRANT: Montreal didn’t look like themselves last week, but they’re in a different tier than Calgary who have been searching for answers for weeks.
Straight-up: Montreal. Against the spread: Calgary.
HERRERA-VERGARA: An angry team versus a lost team at the moment? I don’t see how the Als can drop this one.
Straight-up: Montreal. Against the spread: Montreal.
HODGE: The Alouettes roll over the floundering Stampeders.
Straight-up: Montreal. Against the spread: Montreal.
HOSKINS: This should be the blowout of the week. I pick Calgary…to lose…again.
Straight-up: Montreal. Against the spread: Montreal.
KLEIN: The Stamps have been playing some awful football lately and Montreal should be re-focused after last week.
Straight-up: Montreal. Against the spread: Montreal
TOTALS STRAIGHT-UP: Montreal 10, Calgary 0
TOTALS AGAINST THE SPREAD: Montreal 7, Calgary 3
Records to date (straight-up)
FILOSO — 38-17-1
GASSON — 35-20-1
GRANT — 33-22-1
ABBOTT — 32-23-1
HERRERA-VERGARA — 32-23-1
HOSKINS — 32-23-1
DURRELL — 31-24-1
KLEIN — 30-25-1
BALLANTINE — 28-27-1
HODGE — 27-28-1
Records to date (against the spread)
FILOSO — 35-21
GRANT — 32-24
DURRELL — 31-25
GASSON — 31-25
HERRERA-VERGARA — 29-27
HOSKINS — 28-28
HODGE — 27-29
BALLANTINE — 24-32
KLEIN — 24-32
ABBOTT — 23-33
