Our picks for the games this week
THURSDAY, 6:30 P.M. Toronto (+3.0) at Winnipeg
Can we, uh, pass? Three failed predictions so far and two of them have involved Argonauts games. Had there been opening-week predictions, this visionary would have erroneously picked Hamilton to defeat Toronto, so it really is a complete mess. Ergo, we are killing time in an attempt to avoid making a prediction … crickets … (musical interlude) … Winnipeg faltered in its home opener and the Argos are an early-season surprise … Marc Trestman (Toronto) is a better coach than Mike O’Shea (Winnipeg) … Toronto has a nicer skyline. Winnipeg has a better baseball team. So, what to do? …
Argos by five (The smart money is now on Winnipeg)
FRIDAY, 5 P.M. Calgary (-5.5) at Montreal
This one is easier, theoretically. Montreal’s offence is only marginally better than that of its 1987 version — and that Alouettes team folded as the regular-season opener loomed. Calgary, by contrast, is Calgary. The safest bet is that Calgary’s Kamar Jorden will reach the end zone. He leads the league in touchdown catches (four) and also has a rushing major to his credit. Touchdowns so far this season: Jorden 5, Montreal offence 4. Jorden rules. Stampeders by 12
FRIDAY, 8 P.M. Ottawa (+6) at Edmonton
This should be the week’s most entertaining game. Ottawa quarterback Trevor Harris loves to air it out, and Edmonton’s Mike Reilly is one of the league’s elite passers. The Eskimos are undefeated (2-0), whereas Ottawa has yet to register a victory (two losses, one tie), but the suspicion here is the defendingchampion Redblacks are due for a breakout game. Redblacks by three
SATURDAY, 5:30 P.M. B.C. (-3.0) at Hamilton
Lions quarterback Jonathon Jennings, who has only two touchdown passes in three games, has to erupt one of these weeks. Where better than at Tim Hortons Field? Hamilton’s secondary has more holes than, well, a noted Tim Hortons product. The Tiger-Cats’ offence, hampered by abysmal pass protection and injuries to key receivers Andy Fantuz and Terrence Toliver, has become as predictable as a cheap doughnut joke. Undisciplined penalties, such as contacting an official, also have been part of the Tiger-Cats’ early season unravelling. How can this be a Kent Austin-coached team? Nothing seems to add up — with the likely exception of the losses. Lions by eight
Last week: 3-1 Overall: 5-3