CFL Picks: Postmedia makes its predictions for this week’s games

Thursday, 4:30 p.m. Winnipeg (-2.5) at Montreal

The Alouettes are an enigma. At various points this season, there have been reasons to believe that Montreal is poised for a roll — only to end up reeling. The Alouettes split a home-and-home set with the Argonauts, winning 21-9 in Montreal before losing 38-6 in Toronto. Over the last six quarters, the Alouettes have scored a mere nine points, with the only touchdown being produced by the defence. Winnipeg, meanwhile, has just knocked off the CFL’s top-ranked team (Edmonton). Bombers by nine.

Friday, 5:30 p.m. Saskatchewan (+7) at Edmonton

The Roughriders are hoping to win a West Division road game for the first time since Sept. 7, 2014. This will be a barometer game for the Chris Jones-coached Saskatchewan side, which has shown signs of progress but has yet to snap a protracted divisional road drought. The Eskimos are banged up, so the opportunity is there. But as long as Mike Reilly is healthy, you have to go with Edmonton. Bill O’Reilly’s show has been cancelled but, in Edmonton, there is still the always-powerful Reilly Factor. (Yes, that was awful.) Saskatchewan is 3-1 at home this season, but 0-3 away from Regina. In terms of road games, the Roughriders won’t be able to say that “the tailspin stops here.” (That was even worse.)

Eskimos by six.

Saturday, 12:30 p.m. B.C. (+1) at Ottawa

What does one make of the Lions? This team is so flaky that it should be sponsored by Head & Shoulders. Some pre-season prognosticators figured that the Lions would consistently be head and shoulders above the opposition, but B.C. is an unremarkable 5-4-0 (and 2-4-0 against West Division opponents) after back-to-back losses. There is a wealth of talent, but something is missing. The Redblacks could say the same thing, given that they are 2-6-1 despite having a potent offence. This is the toughest call of the week. When in doubt, go with the home team. How revolutionary.

Redblacks by two.

Saturday, 6 p.m. Toronto (+9.5) at Calgary

Calgary has won its last 13 regular-season home games. Don’t expect that streak to end unless the Stampeders face a top-tier opponent, a description that does not apply to the Argonauts — despite the presence of Ricky Ray. Toronto leads the East Division at 4-5-0, but is 0-for-4 against the West and has been outscored 231-223 this season. Stampeders by 13. Last week: 4-0. Overall: 25-8.