Football: CFL
Week 18 Predictions
By GREG HARRIS, MOP Squad Sports CFL Editor
Oct 26, 2007 - 3:31:46 PM

Last Week: 3-1
Season to Date: 43-21 (.672)

With two weeks left in the season, most teams have nothing to play for.  Not so for yours' truly, who's goal is to hit 70% on the season.  If I can get every game right for the next two weeks, I'll end up at .708 for the year.  Wish me luck!

It doesn't take much luck, or CFL knowledge, for that matter, to pick the first game of Week 18, which pits the BC Lions against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.  The Lions need a win to wrap up first place in the West, while for the Tabbies, their wish list for next season is longer than Bill Gates' kids' list at Christmastime.  But there's is some hope for Ti-Cat fans--next week, when they play host to the lowly Edmonton Eskimos.  That should be a pick 'em game, but this one'll be a rout.  Lions win big.

Speaking of the Eskies, they host the Saskatchewan Roughriders in the second half of the Friday Nite Football doubleheader.  While a BC win will cement the Riders in second place, the Lions game will be ending just as this one begins, so I'd expect Saskatchewan to be fired up, regardless.  Edmonton, while they still won't be mathematically eliminated from a crossover spot if they win, are more concerned with next season at this point.  They've placed quarterback Ricky Ray on the injured list, officially ending his season, and are benching Tyler Ebell, their leading rusher, in favour of recently-signed rookie Damien Anderson.  Unless the Riders decide to start Marcus Crandell, they should win this one easily.

And that brings us to the week's lone meaningful matchup, as the Winnipeg Blue Bombers travel into Toronto with first place in the Eastern Division on the line.  The Bombers lost to the Argos at Rogers Centre in Week 13, beginning a stretch in which they'd lose three out of four games, with a two-point win over Hamilton being their lone victory.  While they put an end to that skid by beating Calgary last week, they could possibly be without Charles Roberts, the East's leading rusher, in this one.  With Toronto boasting the league's top pass defence, the Bombers need to establish the running game in order to have a chance, and no Roberts means no running game for Winnipeg.  I'm taking the Argos.

Last, and quite possibly least, we have what'll probably be a battle of the backups in Calgary.  With the Stamps assured of third place in the West, they were quite content to start Ben Sankey last week, and didn't score a touchdown until the final minute.  Montreal, meanwhile, are forced to start Jason Maas since Anthony Calvillo has left the team to be with his cancer-stricken wife.  The Als need a win to ensure they make the playoffs, although an Edmonton loss on Friday will be just as good, and leave them with nothing to play for, either.  If they were hosting this game, I'd pick them, but since Calgary only ever wins at home, I'll give the Stamps my half-hearted vote of confidence.  Go Stamps.


CFL Editor Greg Harris can be contacted at gruesomegreg@toohightogetitright.com.   He desperately hopes that Calgary can spoil Rider Nation's celebration in the first playoff game in Saskatchewan since 1988.


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