Week 10: Labour Day!
Well the unofficial half-way point of the CFL season is upon us in week 9 as the Labour Day Classics get underway this weekend. This will be short and sweet as I think most of us know our picks already (and since I'm leaving for my flight to WPG in two hours).
Game 1: BC at Montreal, Friday, 7:30pm ET. The worst in the West takes on the beast from the East to kick off the Labour Day weekend action. BC lost a hard fought game against Calgary last Thursday night and I think they'll be looking for some redemption. Stephan Logan ran all over the Calgary D and I think he'll do a similar job in Montreal. However, the Als are coming off of a bye-week and Calvillo has been remarkably consistent. While Logan will be the guy to watch in the backfield for the Lions, Avon Cobourne is the go-to guy for Anthony whether they need some short yardage or a big play. With AC playing so well and the Lions on a bit of a skid I think that BC won't come out of the Western basement for a while. Montreal wins.
Game 2: Winnipeg at Saskatchewan, Sunday, 3pm ET. If Luke thinks that I'm going to be driving back and forth from Winkler while the game is on, he is sadly mistaken. (But you'll be all moved in by then, right? Right!) Winnipeg is coming off of a big win against Hamilton and the Riders have dropped to 6-2 thanks to three poor starts by Marcus Crandell. But don't worry, the Riders have solved that problem. Enter Michael Bishop. Whether Glenn or Dinwiddie starts is irrelevant in this QB match up because it looks like Bishop will get the nod on Friday. If he doesn't start, Steven Jyles will lead us to a Labour Day win of Bulter-esque proportions. Dressler played well and even after the three lousy games Cates played, he's still the number 1 running back in the league. The Bombers are going to have to rely heavily on Roberts if they want to repeat the success they had two weeks ago against Hamilton. What else is there to say? The Riders always play a good game when clutch players get thrown into starter positions. The shakeup at QB is good for the Riders and bad for the Bombers. Saskatchewan wins.
Game 3: Edmonton at Calgary, Labour Day, 4pm ET. Calgary and Edmonton both played well against their opponents. Granted, Calgary had a bigger challenge last week, but Edmonton didn't look slouchy. They played a great defensive game and their special teams did well. Calgary had the running advantage and, as always, a whole host of aerial weapons for Burris to throw to. While I don't like seeing either team win, I think I'm going to have to root for Calgary. Calgary wins.
Game 4: Toronto at Hamilton, Labour Day, 7:30pm ET. I don't think that trading Michael Bishop to Saskatchewan will end Joseph's struggles in Toronto. The problems Joseph are facing are, in my opinion, growing pains. It'll take time for Joseph to get settled down and get really comfortable with their system. Bishop leaving will help this process, but it won't make KJ the best QB in the East overnight. Hamilton, whether people want to recognize it or not, is also going through a QB controversy. It's subtle and you have to really read between the lines to see it. Richie Williams is a fantastic QB. He's better than Printers with the team that they have and he rarely disappoints with his performance. Two weeks ago, the Bombers beat the Tiger-Cats because the Ti-Cats didn't play 60 minutes of football and Kevin Glenn did. WPG had more gas in their tank and Roberts ran over and around the Hamilton D. That won't be scene coming to Hamilton this week. Toronto has a weak running game and Joseph seems easily rattled. If Hamiton plays 60 minutes of football with Williams at the helm they'll move up to tie Toronto for second place in the East. Hamilton wins.
Chris Schultz is very late in making his Labour Day picks so you'll have to keep your eye on tsn.ca/cfl for that later in the week.
TSN Power Rankings see the Roughriders fall from grace and the Stampeders improve to the top spot:
Good luck. God speed!
Game 2: Winnipeg at Saskatchewan, Sunday, 3pm ET. If Luke thinks that I'm going to be driving back and forth from Winkler while the game is on, he is sadly mistaken. (But you'll be all moved in by then, right? Right!) Winnipeg is coming off of a big win against Hamilton and the Riders have dropped to 6-2 thanks to three poor starts by Marcus Crandell. But don't worry, the Riders have solved that problem. Enter Michael Bishop. Whether Glenn or Dinwiddie starts is irrelevant in this QB match up because it looks like Bishop will get the nod on Friday. If he doesn't start, Steven Jyles will lead us to a Labour Day win of Bulter-esque proportions. Dressler played well and even after the three lousy games Cates played, he's still the number 1 running back in the league. The Bombers are going to have to rely heavily on Roberts if they want to repeat the success they had two weeks ago against Hamilton. What else is there to say? The Riders always play a good game when clutch players get thrown into starter positions. The shakeup at QB is good for the Riders and bad for the Bombers. Saskatchewan wins.
Game 3: Edmonton at Calgary, Labour Day, 4pm ET. Calgary and Edmonton both played well against their opponents. Granted, Calgary had a bigger challenge last week, but Edmonton didn't look slouchy. They played a great defensive game and their special teams did well. Calgary had the running advantage and, as always, a whole host of aerial weapons for Burris to throw to. While I don't like seeing either team win, I think I'm going to have to root for Calgary. Calgary wins.
Game 4: Toronto at Hamilton, Labour Day, 7:30pm ET. I don't think that trading Michael Bishop to Saskatchewan will end Joseph's struggles in Toronto. The problems Joseph are facing are, in my opinion, growing pains. It'll take time for Joseph to get settled down and get really comfortable with their system. Bishop leaving will help this process, but it won't make KJ the best QB in the East overnight. Hamilton, whether people want to recognize it or not, is also going through a QB controversy. It's subtle and you have to really read between the lines to see it. Richie Williams is a fantastic QB. He's better than Printers with the team that they have and he rarely disappoints with his performance. Two weeks ago, the Bombers beat the Tiger-Cats because the Ti-Cats didn't play 60 minutes of football and Kevin Glenn did. WPG had more gas in their tank and Roberts ran over and around the Hamilton D. That won't be scene coming to Hamilton this week. Toronto has a weak running game and Joseph seems easily rattled. If Hamiton plays 60 minutes of football with Williams at the helm they'll move up to tie Toronto for second place in the East. Hamilton wins.
Chris Schultz is very late in making his Labour Day picks so you'll have to keep your eye on tsn.ca/cfl for that later in the week.
TSN Power Rankings see the Roughriders fall from grace and the Stampeders improve to the top spot:
- Calgary (Last Week: 3)
- Montreal (Last Week: 2)
- Saskatchewan (Last Week: 1)
- Edmonton (Last Week: 5)
- B.C. (Last Week: 4)
- Winnipeg (Last Week: 6)
- Toronto (Last Week: 7)
- Hamilton (Last Week: 8)
Good luck. God speed!
Labels: CFL, Labour Day, Week 10
posted by D at
4:38 PM
3 Comments:
This will be an epic week. Dyl is flying in in roughly 2 hours and I have decided that its time for me to take this seriously and get out of the basement! Im embarrassing myself.
Dyl dont worry, were NOT going to Winkler.
picks this week are:
Montreal (at home)
Saskatchewan (also because of home field)
Calgary just because
Toronto
Montreal
Saskatchewan
Calgary
Hamilton
Jamie picks (through text message to moi):
Montreal
Winnipeg
Calgary
Toronto
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