Weekly CFL picks
1. B.C. LIONS (1)
No shame in losing in an extremely tough stadium to play in, but the cracks are starting to show. Injuries are becoming an issue after B.C. went through the first 12 games relatively unscathed. And what was OC Jacques Chapdelaine thinking on that last possession?
2. CALGARY STAMPEDERS (3)
Few would have thought in July that the Stamps would be heading into Thanksgiving weekend with a chance to come out of it sharing top spot in the West. Balanced offence, dependable defence and air-tight coaching all major factors in the mid-season success.
3. SASKATCHEWAN ROUGHRIDERS (4)
Give it up to coach Corey Chamblin for righting the ship. After that five-game losing slide, the Riders have bounced back nicely by winning four of their past five games, and sent a strong message by beating B.C. last weekend.
4. MONTREAL ALOUETTES (2)
The Alouettes looked overwhelmed defensively by the Ticats last weekend, which kind of came out of nowhere, both for the Tabbies and the Als. More concerning was the lack of consistency on offence; Brandon Whitaker and Brian Bratton were certainly missed.
5. TORONTO ARGONAUTS (5)
Argos got some of their swagger back with the win in Winnipeg, using backup quarterback Jarious Jackson. Chris Jones’s defence walks a fine line when it comes to playing by the rules, but attitude is everything, and that’s a confident, nasty group to play against.
6. HAMILTON TIGER-CATS (7)
So why can’t the Ticats play like that EVERY weekend? Clearly, the tools are there, and when Burris plays within the system and doesn’t try to force things, he’s extremely hard to beat. Now, let’s see if they can do it back-to-back for a change.
7. EDMONTON ESKIMOS (6)
Desperation seems to be setting in; Kavis Reed’s decision to demote Marcus Crandell and take over the OC job doesn’t make a lot of sense from a distance. And it won’t help matters this weekend that middle linebacker J.C. Sherritt will miss Friday’s game against Hamilton.
8. WINNIPEG BLUE BOMBERS (8)
It’s thoroughly agonizing to watch the Buck Pierce soap opera play out. On the one hand, you can’t help but admire his guts, and you know the Bombers are a better team when he’s playing. But what happens 10 years down the road? Are a few more wins in an otherwise lost season worth it?