The Canadian Press photo
Welcome to Week 13: The calendar has flipped fully into September, nights are getting cooler and playoff races are beginning to take shape.
The #TotalPickEm grand prize race is also heating up: Burzmiester5 remains in the lead after a solid 3-1 week, with former leaders ron4158 and eyeofthetigercats sitting in third- and eighth-place respectively.
Players are competing for a $5,000 end-of-season cash prize. In addition, the best predictor each week wins two tickets to any 2018 regular-season CFL game of their choice.
So, whether you’ve been invested in this from day one, or you’re just creating your profile and locking in your first picks of the season: You have something to play for.
Let’s tee up Week 13’s matchups.
Friday | Ottawa at BC
Two teams under very different kinds of pressure will open up the week at BC Place, as the Ottawa REDBLACKS (6-4) visit the hometown Lions (3-6).
Rick Campbell’s Ottawa outfit was booed off the field in a 21-11 loss at home against Montreal last week, and has Hamilton breathing down its neck; Wally Buono’s BC team is a loss or two away from falling dangerously far out of the West Division playoff race.
Do the REDBLACKS have too many offensive weapons to repeat as poor a showing as they had against the Als? Yes.
Was BC lacking high-end receiving options, even before Manny Arceneaux was placed on the six-game injured list? Also yes.
But…
PICK: BC…because the Lions are 3-1 at home, and a Wally Buono-coached team will not let the opportunity to gain ground on two divisional opponents slip past. Keep in mind: Neither team has been consistent this season.
Saturday | Hamilton at Toronto
Round Two of the QEW Battle goes at BMO Field on Saturday afternoon, as the Toronto Argonauts (3-7) host the Hamilton Tiger-Cats (5-5) in a pivotal East Division matchup.
The Tabbies scored a decisive 42-28 decision in the first leg of the home-and-home set last week, showcasing their various offensive weapons and largely blanking Toronto’s offence.
Make no mistake: These are two squads trending in very different directions. Hamilton is hot, while the Argos are not.
Toronto’s offence has sputtered in recent weeks, and the Ticats defence is one of the top units in the CFL.
PICK: Hamilton…because the Ticats defence dominated last week, and Toronto QB McLeod Bethel-Thompson has thrown just two touchdowns over his last three starts.
Saturday | Saskatchewan at Winnipeg
The red-hot Saskatchewan Roughriders (6-4) trek across the prairies for the Banjo Bowl in Winnipeg against the Blue Bombers (5-6) on Saturday afternoon.
Winnipeg has lost three in a row, and a loss at home on Saturday would set them on course for a battle over the crossover playoff spot; Chris Jones, meanwhile, has whipped the Riders into shape and quieted the doubters in Regina.
Home-field advantage is massively important in rivalry games, no doubt. But the Bombers were blown out by Ottawa in their last outing at IGF, and Saskatchewan is a not-terrible 2-2 away from Mosaic.
PICK: Saskatchewan…because Winnipeg QB Matt Nichols has thrown two touchdowns against four interceptions in his last two games, and the Riders defence is generating serious QB pressure.
Saturday | Calgary at Edmonton
The back end of the Battle of Alberta doubleheader goes Saturday evening in Edmonton, where the Eskimos (6-5) host the high-flying Stampeders (9-1).
A final-play Rene Paredes field goal handed Calgary a narrow 23-20 victory on Mark’s Labour Day Weekend, solidifying the Stamps’ grasp on first place.
Mike Reilly and the Edmonton offence were held out of the end zone in the second half for a second-straight game last week in Calgary; the Stampeder defence is strong, yes, but the Esks’ offensive issues run deeper than this home-and-home series.
PICK: Calgary…because we’re over halfway through the season and Edmonton’s discipline issues are still happening, and the Esks had the Stamps on the ropes last week and couldn’t close it out.
Season: 28-18 (.609)
