Friday, September 17, 2010

This week in the CFL...

For what the CFL has lacked on on-field drama this season, the off-field business was certainly worthy of an Oscar bid and a starring role in M Night Shyamalan's next picture.

Defending top Canadian Ricky Foley was a Lion, then he wasn't a Lion, and then he was an Argonaut. The Eskimos hired Eric Tillman and the fans are not happy. Check out some of the comments from the Edmonton Journal's website:
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4:34 PM on September 16, 2010
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2:11 PM on September 16, 2010
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7:37 AM on September 16, 2010
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And so ad infinitum...

Elsewhere, Hamilton signed Stevie Baggs and we know it's official, lest Baggs end up with Bob Young's other team, the Québec City Tiger-Cats.

Then, as it seems, Noel Prefontaine took issue with a scripted comment made by Cris Collinsworth in Madden '11. The comment is funny and the game is great, its only fault a lack of a CFL add-on to the game.

Then, the Riders cut Prechae Rodriguez, and for some reason not Dominique Dorsey, instead putting the latter on injured reserve.

At the very least this week, there are a tonne of pre-scriped storylines the broadcasters can lean on when all four of the week's games end in total blowouts. Montreal playing Edmonton at home? Yeesh!

Calgary Stampeders (9-1) (-2.5) vs. Saskatchewan Roughriders (6-4) O/U 56
Today at 9:05 PM
Weather report: Cloudy - 8/-2

Calgary heads into this game as the strongest team in the CFL by a wide-margin, while Saskatchewan are on their heels, having dropped 2 of 3 and failing to sign NFL cut Stevie Baggs.

What's great about this game, other than having meaningful impact on the standings, is that it will be our first cold weather game of the season. Until a wide receiver stares longingly at an overthrown ball with his breath showing up in your living room, it isn't Canadian football season.

Take Calgary minus the points and the over.

Hamilton Tiger-Cats (5-5) vs. BC Lions (3-7) (-4) O/U 51
Saturday at 7:05 PM
Weather report: Rain - 16/11

Just so it's out of the way, Stevie Baggs had 15 tackles, 4 sacks and a forced fumble in four games against the BC Lions last year. I guess this is also a rematch of last year's 'Eastern Division semifinal' where BC won in overtime.

In that game Casey Printers threw for 360 yards. Now, on a bit of a hot-streak, and playing against a pass defense that's in the bottom half of the league in all defensive passing statistics, I can obviously see him lighting up a team that he's had lots of success against in the past to the tune of 500, maybe even 600 yards if Wally keeps him in the game into the fourth quarter.

Oh, what a two-game win streak can bring you.

Take BC minus the points and the over.

Winnipeg Blue Bombers (3-7) vs. Toronto Argonauts (5-5) (-1) O/U 52.5
Sunday at 1:05
Weather report: Domed stadium. Pussies.

Just keep it quiet, boys, and remember, whether you win or lose, it only matters whether or not you have fun!

Give Winnipeg the one point and the under.

Edmonton Eskimos (2-8) vs. Montreal Alouettes (7-3) (-10.5) O/U 52.5
Sunday at 4:05
Weather report: Mostly sunny - 18/8

So apparently Anthony Calvillo gets the start this week, returning from injury.

Score prediction: Montreal - considerable. Edmonton - considerably less than considerable.

Montreal to cover. Give them the over, too.

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