Hosts hot picks for divisional clashes

HAMILTON AT OTTAWA Sunday at 11 a.m.

Everything seems to be coming up Redblacks for this tilt. First, they won the East Division title by sweeping the Ticats in a crucial, late-season homeand-home series. That gave them a week off to rest up and recover, not to mention the right to host the Eastern Final, in which home teams are 31-13 since 1973. Ottawa won all three games between the teams by scores of 21-15 and 30-13 in Hamilton as well as 35-31 in Ottawa. All that said, the Ticats are led into the nation’s capital by QB Jeremiah Masoli, who will probably be named the CFL’s most outstanding player during Grey Cup week in Edmonton. His mobility and strong arm makes him a difference maker. He threw a trio of TD passes last week as the Tabbies destroyed the B.C. Lions 48-8 in the East semifinal. Both defences are stout against the run, but susceptible to the passing game. Though Hamilton seems to have found a replacement for injured receiver Brandon Banks, a fireplug named Bralon Addison, their go-to guy is still Luke Tasker and he had two TD catches last week. The Redblacks counter with QB Trevor Harris and his three favourite targets — Brad Sinopoli, Greg Ellingson and Diontae Spencer. It should be a shootout. Ottawa is favoured by three. Redblacks by four

WINNIPEG AT CALGARY Sunday at 2:30 p.m.

It might surprise some, including Calgary head coach Dave Dickenson, to see the Stamps favoured by 41/2 points despite losing to the Bombers 29-21 in Winnipeg in Week 20. The Stamps won the only other game between the teams by a 39-26 count in Week 11 in Calgary. They were a whole lot healthier then and that could still be a deciding factor in this game. Receivers Kamar Jorden, DaVaris Daniels, Reggie Begelton, Eric Rogers and Marken Michel were all on the sidelines when the Stamps clinched the West Division title in Week 21 with a win at B.C. Place. Calgary QB Bo Levi Mitchell, the West nominee for most outstanding player, is developing chemistry with a fleet of relatively new receivers, including Markeith Ambles, Bakari Grant and Chris Matthews. The Bombers are healthier, though LB Adam Bighill, the West’s most outstanding defensive player nominee, didn’t finish the West semifinal in Regina. Winnipeg’s offence will run through RB Andrew Harris, who wasn’t much of a factor in their two games against Calgary. He had a combined 22 rushes for 99 yards and no touchdowns. So it may be up to QB Matt Nichols, who threw for 358 yards and two TDs in the win over Calgary. If it comes down to big-game experience, Calgary should be favoured, given that several Stamps have been to the previous two Grey Cups.

Calgary by three