VICKI HALL

Heads will almost certainly roll on the bye week in Montreal should the Als not buck up and win at home. Both teams are coming off short turnarounds and neither have much reason for optimism after a 1-3 start to the season. Still, the Eskimos, with Mike Reilly at the controls, are a team on the rise. As the Anthony Calvillo era wanes, the Als are on the decline. Edmonton.

This clash features two banged-up teams with crowded infirmaries in desperate need of rest. While the status of the starting QB for Calgary is still up in the air (Drew Tate? Bo Levi Mitchell?), the Stamps are 3-1, mainly because of the impressive body of work of the injury replacements. As for the Bombers, well, they’re a work in progress with Buck Pierce injured (again) and Justin Goltz at the controls. Calgary.

The (modest) goal for the Tiger-Cats this week is to actually put some points after falling 37-0 last week in Regina to these very same Riders. Optimism abounds in Saskatchewan given the absolute firepower (Darian Durant, Kory Sheets, Weston Dressler) on offence and the sheer dominance on defence (Renauld Williams, Keith Shologan, John Chick). The score won’t be as ugly this time but ... Saskatchewan.

In this the latest instalment of the Braley Bowl, the Lions are riding a three-game win streak and looking every bit the powerhouse they were expected to be. The Argos are in major injury trouble with both QB Ricky Ray and tailback Chad Kackert on the sidelines. Add in the sudden departure of Brandon Isaac, and the good ship Argonaut is taking on water. B.C.