WEEK 15 IN THE CFL
FRIDAY HAMILTON TIGER-CATS (5-8) AT EDMONTON ESKIMOS (5-8)
Commonwealth Stadium, 9 p.m. (TSN) An Eskimos loss at home could help three teams clinch playoff berths. Montreal, Calgary and B.C. would all lock up post-season spots with victories, combined with an Edmonton loss to Hamilton. Injury plagued throughout 2012, Edmonton has dropped five in a row — including last week’s 39-15 thumping by Calgary. Middle linebacker J.C. Sherritt, the Eskimos’ leading tackler, is out with a knee injury. Hamilton is coming off of a 41-28 win over the East-leading Alouettes and demolished the Eskimos 51-8 in Steeltown Sept. 15. The Cats have been struggling with consistency all season, even though quarterback Henry Burris needs just one TD pass to tie Kevin Glenn’s single-season, franchise-record of 33.
Who wins? Hamilton
SATURDAY CALGARY STAMPEDERS (8-5) AT B.C. LIONS (9-4)
B.C. Place, 10 p.m. (TSN) A four-point tilt in this best of the West battle with B.C. leading Calgary by two points. Though they own the CFL’s best record , the defending Grey Cup-champion Lions have looked ordinary all too often this season and are coming off a 27-21 loss in Saskatchewan last week. Quarterback Travis Lulay is having a mediocre year compared to least season’s MVP campaign. Slotbacks Geroy Simon and Arland Bruce are both doubtful for the game. Calgary, beaten by the Lions 34-8 in July, is coming off a 39-15 win over the Eskimos last week. Calgary’s offensive line is gelling into a dominant force and has helped power homegrown running back Jon Cornish, who rushed for 180 yards against Edmonton, to six Canadian player of the week citations this season.
Who wins? Calgary
MONDAY WINNIPEG BLUE BOMBERS (3-10) AT MONTREAL ALOUETTES (8-5)
Percival-Molson Stadium, 1 p.m. (TSN) A first vs. worst matchup, Montreal should be a cinch to avoid back-toback losses for the second time this season. Quarterback Anthony Calvillo connected with Jamel Richardson for 69 yards and a touchdown in Hamilton last week. But the Als will have to up their running attack, which generated only 41 yards in the 41-28 loss to the Tiger-Cats. Winnipeg, losers of five of their last six, will be without quarterback Buck Pierce who suffered a concussion after a vicious hit by Argo linebacker Brandon Isaac in the team’s 29-10 home loss last week. Backup Joey Elliot — 20 for 30 for 173 yards but also three interceptions after Pierce went down — will get the start. Who wins? Montreal
MONDAY SASK. ROUGHRIDERS (7-6) AT TORONTO ARGONAUTS (7-6)
Rogers Centre, 4:30 p.m. (TSN, Radio 1050) It’s not known whether Turkey Day will see the Argos serve up starting quarterback Ricky Ray, who missed last week’s game against Winnipeg with a strained MCL in his left knee. Ray did some light throwing Wednesday and but was still day-to-day after scrimmaging Thursday. Replacement Jarious Jackson did a workmanlike job against the woeful Bombers, but will have to air it out more often against a much more accomplished Riders D. Jackson, making his first start in two years, attempted only nine throws for 52 yards in the second half of the Winnipeg game, but has the arm to take it downfield and the feet to avoid a strong Rider rush. Jackson took all the first-team snaps during Thursday’s practice. Running back Chad Kackert is doubtful. The Riders have won four of last five, including a 27-21 victory against West-leading B.C. last week. Running back Brandon West will replace the injured Jock Sanders and says he’s determined to make amends for some substandard pre-season play that cost him his starting role. Who wins? Saskatchewan Joseph Hall