CANADIAN FOOTBALL LEAGUE PICKS: WEEK 19
Hamilton Tiger-Cats at Ottawa Redblacks
Friday, 7 p.m. Hamilton (5-11) is 5-3 under interim head coach June Jones and 4-4 on the road following Sunday’s 43-16 win over Montreal. Ottawa (7-9-1) is just 2-5-1 at TD Place and last played Oct. 13 in a 33-32 decision over Saskatchewan. A victory would move the Redblacks past idle Toronto atop the East Division. Receiver Brad Sinopoli (shoulder) won’t play Prediction: Hamilton
Montreal Alouettes at Saskatchewan Roughriders
Friday, 9:30 p.m. Darian Durant makes his first visit to Regina since being dealt to Montreal in January. He had two TD passes in a 17-16 season-opening home win over Saskatchewan (9-7) but the Alouettes (3-13) have lost nine straight. Slotback Nik Lewis returns after missing three games (leg). Receiver Duron Carter will play cornerback for a second straight game. He scored on a 43-yard interception return versus Calgary to anchor the Riders’ third victory in four contests. Prediction: Saskatchewan
B.C. Lions at Winnipeg Blue Bombers
Saturday, 4 p.m. Justin Medlock and the Winnipeg Blue Bombers have another chance to clinch a home playoff game. Medlock’s errant 40-yard field goal attempt gave the Toronto Argonauts a 29-28 home win over Winnipeg on Saturday night. Had Medlock been successful, the Blue Bombers (11-5) would’ve cemented second in the West Division and their first home playoff contest since 2011. Winnipeg has another opportunity to do so Saturday afternoon when it hosts B.C. (6-10). The Bombers are 6-2 at Investors Group Field, including a 26-20 decision there over the Lions on Oct. 14 when Medlock made all three field goals he attempted. Since beating Saskatchewan 30-15 on Aug, 5 to improve to 5-2, the Lions have dropped eight of their last nine games. Prediction: Winnipeg
Calgary Stampeders at Edmonton Eskimos
Saturday, 7 p.m. Calgary (13-2-1) will host the West Division final but has looked out of sorts since a 59-11 win over Montreal on Sept. 29. The Stamps needed a late pass interference call to secure a 28-25 road win in Hamilton, then lost 30-7 last weekend to Saskatchewan, their first home loss in 18 games. Running back C.J. Gable and kicker Sean Whyte resumed practising for Edmonton (10-6), which has won three straight but is 0-2 this year against its provincial rival. Prediction: Calgary Last week: 3-1 Overall: 50-22-1 Dan Ralph, The Canadian Press All games on TSN