Weekly Predictor: Can the Ticats do it again?

Jamie Nye

CFL.ca

@jamienye

An upset in the Hammer!?

Well, we did see the once thought to be immortal Stampeders get slain by Saskatchewan in the main event of the Week 10 schedule. Crazier things have happened, right?

Total CFL Pick ‘Em is back in 2018 and if you can pick the winners with regularity, you’ll have a chance to win $5,000. *View rules regarding streaks and prizing.

With the first game tabbed to kick off on Friday, here are my picks for Week 10 of the CFL season.

EDMONTON @ HAMILTON

Thursday | 7:30 p.m. ET

His first game when he returned to the CFL came against the Eskimos, a game in which the Ticats won. Can Delvin Breaux make a similar impact on containing a high-powered Edmonton offence? (Adam Gagnon, CFL.ca)

This is a great matchup of strength against strength. The Tiger-Cats defence allows the fewest yards through the air, while Mike Reilly is on pace for a 6,000-yard season.

The Tiger-Cats were able to go to Edmonton early in the season and get a victory. However, the Tiger-Cats play hasn’t been as crisp as it was back then, especially offensively. We’ll see if a bye week helped rejuvenate the Tabbies attack.

One of the biggest things hampering Hamilton is they give up a lot of sacks, and getting to the quarterback has been a strength of Edmonton so far this season.

I’m back and forth on this game but I thought I saw some improvement in Hamilton’s play before they went on the bye week. I like their chances to slow down Mike Reilly. And I think Masoli and company can score against this Eskimos defence.

PICK: HAMILTON (20% confidence)

TORONTO @ MONTREAL

Friday | 7:30 p.m. ET

Word has yet to be said as to whether or not Johnny Manziel will be ready to return in time to face the Argos on Friday. (Johany Jutras, CFL.ca)

McLeod Bethel-Thompson has led two comebacks now but in a game against the struggling Alouettes, I think he won’t need any fourth quarter magic in this one.

Whether Johnny Manziel plays or not, I’m seeing the progression we saw from the Argonauts last season after a slow start and that should carry over this week.

The one thing you notice, however, is Montreal may be last in many statistical categories but the Toronto Argonauts are 8^th in many of those same stats. The only thing you can see to give hope for Montreal is their game two weeks ago when they held in against the top team in the East, Ottawa.

But….

PICK: TORONTO (75% confidence)

WINNIPEG @ CALGARY

Saturday | 3:30 p.m. ET

Can Matt Nichols and the Bombers draw up a similar game plan to take down the Stampeders as the Roughriders did last week? Afterall, we now know they’re not as immortal as we may have thought. (The Canadian Press)

Two teams coming off bad losses will be ready to get back into the win column at McMahon Stadium. While the Stampeders did lose three straight games at the end of the 2017 regular season, it’s been a rare occurrence to see them drop consecutive games in recent history. Aside from last year’s late-season drought, you have to go back to 2012 to find another two-game losing streak.

Winnipeg though can create turnovers and Matt Nichols can play a similar ball-control style that had the Riders have success against the Stampeders in Week 10.

However, I don’t see the Stamps getting taken advantage of twice in a row as Bo Levi Mitchell won’t likely throw for under 40% in the first half like he did in Saskatchewan.

PICK: CALGARY (50% confidence)

SASKATCHEWAN @ B.C.

Saturday | 10:00 p.m. ET

The Roughriders defence seems to be picking up heat and riding high following a surprise victory over the Stampeders, handing them their first loss of the season in Week 10. (Arthur Ward, CFL.ca)

The B.C. Lions are 3-0 at home and 0-5 on the road. So they’ll be happy this game is at B.C. Place with a huge divisional game against the Riders.

Yes, Travis Lulay has played better than Jonathon Jennings but the Lions are up against one of the best defences in the league.

The offences of these two teams are comparable this season, although the Lions have been able to find the end zone a lot more consistently.

The biggest difference for this matchup is the Riders defence has been better than the Lions. The Riders defence will find another level as Zach Collaros helps them stay fresh with longer drives on offence.

PICK: SASKATCHEWAN (33% confidence)

TSN Fantasy Picks

First off – here is my theory for the Saskatchewan Roughriders offence. I see improvement with Zach Collaros back and in his third game returning from injury, I do see them finally finishing drives with touchdowns rather than field goals. Maybe you can buy low on Riders going into Week 11.

QUARTERBACK – ZACH COLLAROS – He’s finding a groove with some young receivers and that should start opening things up to find a connection with the best receiver on the team, Naaman Roosevelt. Collaros is being protected better and he’s against a defence that does allow nearly 300 yards/game

RUNNING BACKS – JAMES WILDER JR AND ALEX GREEN – Against the Alouettes, there will be lots of chances for Wilder to kick his second half of the season into gear. We saw Shaq Cooper have a big game last week for the Eskimos, and Wilder is far more proven to be able to put up big numbers. Alex Green has played two games and has four touchdowns for the Tiger-Cats. I even anticipate more action in the receiving game for Green after the bye week in the form of screens.

RECEIVERS – KAMAR JORDEN AND NAAMAN ROOSEVELT – As mentioned above, I think the week Jordan Williams-Lambert had last week could open things up for Roosevelt to get in on the action for the Riders offence. Even when the Stampeders lose by 13, Bo Levi Mitchell throws four touchdown passes. Kamar Jorden has been consistent all season, as he has five touchdowns in eight games and he has only one week where he had fewer than five catches (4 in Week 1).

FLEX – TRE MASON – As Tre Mason plays more for Coach Jones, the more action he’s been getting. He’s also had 10 catches in two games with Collaros at quarterback and B.C. has given up 12 rushing touchdowns this season.

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