MY CRYSTAL BALL SAYS ROUGHRIDERS FINISH THIRD
Today, dear reader, it’s your sheer misfortune to endure my lamest CFL predictions since last year.
For starters, let’s review the much-recycled column of June 22, 2017, in which readers of the Regina Leader-post were assured that ...
“Roughriders are destined for an eight-win season.”
That was the headline. Sure enough, the Saskatchewan Roughriders did win eight games ... and then nine ... and then 10
... plus another victory in the playoffs.
“Saskatchewan has the misfortune of playing in the ultracompetitive West Division. Considering the landscape, it’s a tall order to expect the Roughriders to double their victory total and hit double digits.” Printing error. Onward ... “GREY CUP: Calgary 29, Hamilton 27.”
Well, at least the Calgary Stampeders got to the CFL’S championship game before losing 27-24 to the Toronto Argonauts.
As for the Hamilton Tigercats, they enjoyed a stellar 0-8 start and, naturally, missed the playoffs.
“Kevin Glenn should provide the Roughriders with solid quarterbacking.”
That he did. Things are looking up.
“Defensively, expect the Green and White to take a significant step forward under secondyear head coach, general manager and vice-president of football operations Chris Jones.”
That they did! (Now humming Leonard Bernstein’s Lucky To Be Me.)
Now, let’s re-examine last year’s predictions ...
WEST DIVISION: 1. Calgary (correct); 2. B.C. Lions (finished fifth); 3. Winnipeg Blue Bombers (second); 4. Saskatchewan ( bingo!); 5. Edmonton Eskimos (third).
EAST DIVISION: 1. Hamilton Tiger-cats (third); 2. Ottawa Redblacks (correct); 3. Toronto Argonauts (first); 4. Montreal Alouettes (correct ... but my sister’s 113-year-old cat could have nailed that purr-diction).
Ahhh, why not? Let’s review the 2016 predictions ...
WEST: 1. Edmonton (finished fourth); 2. Calgary (first); 3. Saskatchewan (fifth); 4. B.C. (second); 5. Winnipeg (third).
EAST: 1. Hamilton (third); 2. Ottawa (first); 3. Toronto (fourth); 4. Montreal (second).
In other words ... 0-for-9, people!
On a positive note, I’m trending upward after last year’s glorious 4-for-9 showing. So, with that in mind, here are this year’s predictions — which, as always, are suitable for framing ...
WEST DIVISION
1. Calgary: Never bet against the Stampeders until the playoffs.
2. Edmonton: Eskimos pivot Mike Reilly will battle Calgary counterpart Bo Levi Mitchell for CFL most-outstanding-player honours.
3. Saskatchewan: Defence will continue to evolve in Year 3 under Chris Jones. Bounce-back year needed from Zach Collaros.
4. Winnipeg: Losing Matt Nichols to injury for at least four games is a huge blow.
5. B.C.: The Lions aren’t discernibly better after last year’s last-place showing. EAST DIVISION
6. Toronto: Ricky Ray plus James Wilder Jr. plus Marc Trestman equals first place.
7. Hamilton: Johnny Manziel will be a sensation as a first-year CFLER.
8. Ottawa: Better than Montreal. Not exactly the ultimate compliment, but ...
9. Atlantic Schooners: Now that’s just rude.
10. Montreal: Might surprise people by rising to fourth.
GREY CUP: First presented in 1909, the coveted trophy has come to symbolize excellence in Canadi ... (EDITOR’S NOTE: Get on with it!)
LET’S TRY THIS AGAIN: Calgary
36, Toronto 28.
And now, for some good predictions, we turn to former Roughriders general manager Brendan Taman — the Leaderpost’s newest guest columnist.
WEST DIVISION
11. Calgary: Consistently solid. Will be a tight race, but Stamps prevail.
12. Saskatchewan: Defence carries Riders to home playoff game.
13. Edmonton: Hurt by tough losses on offence during the off-season.
14. B.C.: Watch for a strong start for the Lions, who will finish ahead of Winnipeg because the Bombers begin their season without Nichols.
15. Winnipeg: Losing Nichols puts Bombers in a free-fall.
EAST DIVISION
16. Toronto: Better than last year. Football operations had a full off-season to properly prepare.
17. Ottawa: Stability at quarterback. Defence improved. Underrated squad.
18. Hamilton: Best team to follow through the season. Scary matchup in playoffs.
19. Montreal: Over/under on wins — 4.
GREY CUP: Argos and Ricky Ray end the year in Edmonton with a win over ... Saskatchewan.