Weekly Predictor: Busting the slump?

Jamie Nye

CFL.ca

@jamienye

It’s unlucky 13 for the Eskimos and Als, losers of six and seven in a row respectively. But something’s got to give when the CFL’s two coldest teams meet on Thanksgiving Monday.

Plus, while the Ticats have been a tough out for their foes the last few weeks, both Jamie Nye and the fans are showing some respect for the Blue and Gold. The Bombers have won eight of their last nine games and are bearing down on a home playoff game in the West.

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Without further delay, Nye makes his Week 16 picks.

Hamilton at Winnipeg
Friday | 8:30 p.m. ET

The Bombers’ D-line poses a tough test even for the surging Ticats’ rushing attack (The Canadian Press)

The Hamilton Tiger-Cats have certainly turned into a team you don’t want to play down the home stretch. After winning three of four, the Ticats almost upset the Toronto Argonauts, forcing it to go to overtime.

With C.J. Gable traded to Edmonton, Alex Green becomes the running back to watch. Green’s debut two weeks ago was eye-opening and the team is hoping for big things down the stretch.

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers are closing in on clinching a home playoff date and are also trying to keep the Calgary Stampeders within reach to get top spot in the West, although it doesn’t look like Calgary is going to lose any time soon.

As good as the Tiger-Cats have been, Winnipeg is the better team and at home.

PICK: WINNIPEG (90% confidence)

Saskatchewan at Toronto
Saturday | 4:00 p.m. ET

Trent Richardson will make his CFL debut against the Argos on Saturday (Riderville.com)

A few weeks ago, I would have had no problem picking the Roughriders on the road against Toronto, but not anymore.

James Wilder Jr. has become a big part of the offence and has Toronto on a three-game winning streak, which are the three games Wilder has become the feature back for the Argos.

Wilder has slowed down the opposing pass rush and with Ricky Ray getting more time to throw, it’s going to be difficult for any defence.

The Riders can’t stop the run as of late, allowing 500 yards rushing in their last four games. The Riders are trying to spark their own run game by playing Trent Richardson. I don’t feel he’ll make an immediate impact, but the bigger lift will be Naaman Roosevelt‘s return from the six-game injured list.

PICK: TORONTO (10% confidence)

Ottawa at BC
Saturday | 7:00 p.m. ET

The REDBLACKS will be thankful to have Trevor Harris back in their lineup this week in BC (The Canadian Press)

The good news for the Ottawa REDBLACKS is Trevor Harris appears ready to return after losing both games with Ryan Lindley starting at quarterback. William Powell was almost unstoppable for Ottawa last week against the Roughriders, despite the loss.

The BC Lions will be an urgent team, in a three-horse race with Edmonton and Saskatchewan for the two final playoff spots and right now the Lions are losing out. I’ve felt all year the Lions are a much more talented team than their 6-7 record indicates and the head coach agrees.

The Lions have lost six of their last eight games but I think will be able to find a spark this week at home.

PICK: BC (25% confidence)

Edmonton at Montreal
Monday | 2:00 p.m. ET

After being traded, C.J. Gable will make his Eskimos debut vs. the Als in Week 16 (David Chidley/CFL.ca)

At some point, the Edmonton Eskimos have to stop the bleeding and this would appear to be the most timely game of the season. The only team worse than Edmonton right now is the Montreal Alouettes, who have lost seven straight games. The Eskimos come in with a six-game losing streak.

C.J. Gable’s addition will be an interesting one for the Eskimos offence as Gable definitely has the ability and could be considered underutilized in Hamilton the last few seasons. The offence does have the weapons for Mike Reilly, as long as he can find them.

Montreal hasn’t been able to score more than 20 points in six of seven losses.

PICK: EDMONTON (75% confidence)

DRAFTKINGS: NYE PICKS HIS ROSTER

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Nye makes his picks below:

DraftKings Week 16 lineup

Look at Jonathon Jennings‘ numbers in the last three home games. All 23 points or more for the quarterback at the friendly confines of B.C. Place so I’m pairing Jennings with his highest-scoring receiver Bryan Burnham to do some damage against the REDBLACKS at home.

In the last two games with Ryan Lindley at quarterback, Diontae Spencer has gone from a 20-plus point-per-game player for a good chunk of time to a below 10-point guy. If indeed Trevor Harris is back at quarterback, I’m looking for Spencer to get the ball in his hands a little more and find the end zone against the Lions.

Andrew Harris continues to be the automatic start at running back with 20 points coming almost every week. C.J. Gable could be the big play this week in his debut with the Edmonton Eskimos against the Montreal Alouettes, but with Harris’ automatic points and seeing a possible shootout setting up in BC, I can’t find room for Gable.

James Wilder Jr. has been such a hard runner and the Riders can’t stop the run of late so that’s just a matchup I can’t avoid taking either.

Christion Jones is one of the better low value picks because he will get his hands on the ball and you saw the explosiveness he has in the return game. Jones is starting to remind people of Chris Rainey and while there aren’t a lot of offensive snaps for Jones, he could contribute a 10-point game with over 200 return yards this week.

Playing the defence against Montreal has been a fairly automatic play, which is why Edmonton comes in as the most expensive buy for defences this week.

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