Weekly Predictor: Can the Bombers widen the gap?

Jamie Nye

CFL.ca

@jamienye

Can the Bombers widen the gap in the West Division? A win vs. the Eskimos would create a six-point divide between second and third with every team having five games remaining.

Week 15 is here and it will go a long way in determining the West. If Edmonton can end its five-game losing streak and the Riders go on the road to beat Ottawa, only four points would separate the Bombers, Eskimos and Riders.

That’s not all. In the East, the Ticats could make things very interesting by beating Toronto and taking the season series at Tim Hortons Field.

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Without further delay, Nye makes his Week 15 picks.

Saskatchewan at Ottawa
Friday | 7:00 p.m. ET

Kevin Glenn had a tough time against the Stampeders’ smothering defence in Week 14 (Matt Smith/CFL.ca)

The Saskatchewan Roughriders defence is one to fear in the final third of the season, as they showed they can keep pace with the best defence in the league in Calgary.

The Riders take to the road for the next two weeks. Last year, their back to back visits to Ottawa and then Toronto — like they are once again — yielded back to back wins.

Ottawa again has some doubt at quarterback, although it appears Drew Tate will start. They’ll need to be able to establish the run like Calgary did last week against Saskatchewan if Ottawa wants any chance to win.

The biggest doubt for me is the injuries in Saskatchewan. Kevin Glenn‘s hand isn’t quite 100 per cent, neither is Duron Carter‘s ankle and Naaman Roosevelt is out.

PICK: SASKATCHEWAN (35% confidence)

Montreal at Calgary
Friday | 9:30 p.m. ET

Bo Levi Mitchell looks to help the Stamps win their 10th straight contest (Matt Smith/CFL.ca)

The Montreal Alouettes are the only team to beat the Calgary Stampeders, but that was two months ago and much has changed since then. Also, that game was in Montreal.

The Stampeders have outscored opponents 36.5 to 14.6 in home games and are 6-0 at home.

Montreal on the road is 0-6 and has been outscored by 13 points.

This isn’t matching up well unless you’re taking Stampeders in fantasy football.

PICK: CALGARY (99% confidence)

Toronto at Hamilton
Saturday | 6:30 p.m. ET

James Wilder Jr. leads the Argos into a key divisional clash with the Ticats (Johany Jutras/CFL.ca)

The Hamilton Tiger-Cats have won three of their last four games and it all started with a win on Labour Day over Toronto. The Argonauts return to Tim Hortons Field after a two-game winning streak following that Labour Day loss.

The Argonauts have handed the ball to James Wilder Jr. in these two games and have 331 yards to show for it. Meanwhile, the Tiger-Cats found their own new running back that surprised when Alex Green ran for 140 yards last week against the BC Lions.

Not many would have predicted that these two teams would be the hottest teams in the East. I just think with Wilder’s addition of a run game and Ricky Ray throwing the ball gives the Argos a much more well-rounded attack.

PICK: TORONTO (50% confidence)

Winnipeg at Edmonton
Saturday | 9:30 p.m. ET

Mike Reilly (pictured) and Matt Nichols highlight this week’s marquee matchup (Johany Jutras/CFL.ca)

The Edmonton Eskimos are coming off a bye week and a win would definitely create some positive momentum for the rest of the season. A loss and a six-game losing streak would continue to deepen the doubt that the Eskimos can turn this season back around.

I’m looking forward to this one! There are a lot of playmakers on the field and the defences are 7th and 8th in the league in points allowed. I hate to predict a 35-33 type game, but that’s what this game is shaping up to be. My apologies if this turns into a 20-17 defensive battle.

The Bombers’ offence has scored more 30 points in all but three games this season and the Eskimos have allowed more than 30 in four of their five on this losing streak, while scoring over 30 just once in the same stretch.

The trends say Winnipeg but I think the Eskimos will be better after the bye week.

PICK: EDMONTON (10% confidence)

DRAFTKINGS: NYE PICKS HIS ROSTER

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Nye makes his picks below:

DraftKings Week 15 lineup

A week off and a week to assess what more the Edmonton Eskimos offence can do I believe means big things for Mike Reilly this week. Derel Walker also gets a week in the film room after quickly flying in and being inserted into the lineup without much practice time.

Walker is picking up where he left off but I think can find another level in the final six weeks of the season.

I also think this western battle will be high scoring and with the Eskimos defence giving up some rushing yards, Andrew Harris is another play as he seems to be a hard option to drop in favour of someone else.

Jerome Messam is the other back I’m going with after a 120+ performance against Saskatchewan. The Stamps are up against the team with the worst run defence in Montreal. I think the Stamps will be running the ball with a second half lead. It’s also Messam’s time of year in a playoff push.

Reggie Begelton has been targeted 11 times in the last two games and while Marken Michel is getting more targets, Begelton in the slot feels like the potential to get a touchdown for the second time in three weeks.

The Stamps defence is the best in the league and with Drew Willy potentially filling in for Darian Durant, it’s even more favourable, although playing the defence that plays Montreal has been a good option the last few weeks.

Finally, with Naaman Roosevelt out and Duron Carter not at 100 per cent, I feel it’s either Bakari Grant or Caleb Holley that is going to have a big day catching the ball for the Riders. The deep sleeper play is Antwane Grant out of this group.

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