Argonauts have shot to right the ship vs. Als
FRIDAY
Montreal at Toronto, 5 p.m., TSN: It’s hard to find an example of a more chaotic, disjointed situation in professional sports than the one the Argos have had to deal with this season, with home games in Fort McMurray, Ottawa and now a second at Tim Hortons Field in Hamilton, the playpen of Toronto’s fiercest rival. Improbable as it may be, the Argos still have an outside chance to finish first in the East, and Friday’s game should get them back on track after a listless performance against Calgary. The Als’ offence is making a desperate attempt to get it together under new/old QB Kevin Glenn, but it’s probably too late.
Pick: Argonauts
Hamilton at B.C., 8 p.m., TSN: At the time slotback Courtney Taylor suffered a season-ending foot injury last season, the B.C. Lions were 7-4. Since that Sept. 13, 2014 game, the team has lost 16 of 23 starts. Taylor, now healthy, can’t get in the lineup — another peculiarity of the idiosyncratic Lions. As with most losing teams, B.C. does just enough to get close before making that one fatal mistake (a goal-line fumble by backup QB Greg McGhee last game) that keeps them from gaining traction. Still, they’re inching closer to a complete effort. Is this the point where they finally change their MO?
Pick: Lions
SATURDAY
Ottawa at Winnipeg, 2 p.m., TSN: Henry Burris is not only having a season for the aged (he’s 40), but his ability to stay upright and avoid the butcher’s bill of quarterback injuries makes him a true marvel. One wonders where the Blue Bombers would be if Drew Willy had escaped catastrophe with similar aplomb? His replacement, Matt Nichols, threw three picks last Friday in Ottawa, a game that wasn’t close, except on the scoreboard. Still, the Blue Bombers blew 12 of a possible 17 kicking points against the Eskimos on Oct. 3, their last home game, and lost by one. It’s time this desperate team returned the favour.
Pick: Blue Bombers
Edmonton at Saskatchewan, 5
p.m., TSN: Where would the Eskimos be without Sean Whyte? Probably not in a position to win their first division title since 2003. Cut loose by the Alouettes, the diminutive kicker contemplated retirement before being recruited by the Eskimos to replace the injured Grant Shaw. Whyte has been good on 90 per cent of his field goal attempts, including a 53-yarder to beat Winnipeg and six more in last Saturday’s 26-23 overtime win against the Lions. His one-time mentor/rival with the Lions, Paul McCallum, has been mothballed and replaced by Tyler Crapigna, 23, as the Roughriders look ahead to 2016.
Pick: Eskimos Bye: Calgary Last Week: 4-0 Season: 44-25