My track record took a beating again last week at 1-3, so I have decided to pick this week without an emotional agenda. This week I will put aside my natural aversion to teams that don’t play in green and white uniforms and try to be objective. We’ll see how that works for a change.
The first game of the weekend is arguably the biggest game of the weekend as Saskatchewan visits Montreal tonight. The ’Riders match the Alouettes with four wins and one loss. Montreal’s only loss was in Saskatchewan.
All of this would indicate that Saskatchewan and Montreal will shoot out the newly renovated lights in a hotly contested rematch. That is the perfect scenario, but it won’t happen. I regret to inform my fellow ’Rider fans that our team is headed for disaster in Montreal.
The Alouettes are a football juggernaut right now and they are not pretenders to their 4-1 track record this year. Their offense is currently white-hot and they are likely too much for the ’Rider defense to handle tonight.
The ’Rider defense is too small to put pressure on Montreal quarterback Anthony Calvillo this time. Avon Cobourne has found his form as a run and pass threat out of the backfield, and Montreal has too many great receivers for a good secondary to cover- let alone the early 2010 ’Riders.
It is also asking too much for ’Rider quarterback Darian Durant to match Calvillo in another shootout.
The Alouette secondary is exploitable, but their front seven are better than Saskatchewan’s- a lot better. Durant has been elevated to superstar status, however the label is very premature and may never be accurately applied to him. He is a good quarterback, but I would bet against any future legend label. ’Riders lose this game.
Toronto plays Edmonton in tonight’s late game. The Eskimos will win this game. Toronto quarterback Cleo Lemon looks awkward in the CFL game. He holds onto the ball too long, plus he makes poor second and third receiver reads. Then he overthrows his open guys on the long ball. It is time to play Argo back up quarterback Dalton Bell for more than just a handful of series when Lemon gets clocked on the field.
The Eskimos have potential job loss motivation to keep their heads in the game. They should win this one fairly easily against a weak Argonaut offense that puts too much pressure on the Argo defense to keep them in games.
Hamilton hosts Winnipeg tomorrow in a tough game to call. The Bombers gave Calgary a run last weekend, largely because their defense held up well against the Stamps’ offense. Meanwhile Hamilton put up huge yards against the ’Riders last weekend. So now the teams play their strong suit against each other.
I pick the Bombers to win a close one in this game. All Bomber quarterbacks Steven Jyles (or possibly Buck Pierce) have to do are manage an adequate game. Then let the Bomber defense seal the victory.
B.C. plays Calgary in tomorrow night’s late game. The Stamps should blow the Lions right out of their temporary bargain basement den in this one. It won’t be pretty.
More of Jim Sutherland at mystarcollectorcar.com