Oct 20, 2014
Risky Business: Week 18 predictions in the CFL
TSN football analyst Chris Schultz is back with his Week 18 selections in the CFL. The Big Man finished 3-1 in Week 17, and sits at 46-23 on the season. Now Schultz is ready for more action.
TSN football analyst Chris Schultz is back with his Week 18 selections in the CFL. The Big Man finished 3-1 in Week 17, and sits at 46-23 on the season. Now Schultz is ready for more action.
Montreal Alouettes at Ottawa Redblacks
One team is auditioning football players for future employment, the other is trying to wrap up first place. And Montreal might just do it. Noel Thorpe as a coordinator has a defence that is playing its best right now. If you go back to four full games to evaluate; they held Calgary to 15 points, Ottawa to seven, Saskatchewan to nine and last week Toronto to 12. That is a consistency that gives you confidence that that side of the football is well taken care of. And this week they play an Ottawa team that has only scored 231 points over 15 games. That averages out to 15 points a game approximately. Also they could have their best defender, Kyrie Hebert, back this week. Henry Burris has only thrown nine touchdown passes this year so I can't expect a touchdown pass explosion come Friday night. But what I do expect is Montreal to keep grinding away and win again making it eight wins and eight losses with two games to go. Montreal over Ottawa.
Saskatchewan Roughriders at Calgary Stampeders
The Riders are 9-7 with not three but only two games to go as they have a bye week in Week 19. They have to win this one as BC is 8-7 but has three games left so BC and Saskatchewan could easily be tied for third in the West if both teams win out. I would start Kerry Joseph as he may not be the same athlete as in the past but he does have a calming demeanour based on experience. Where Jon Cornish leads the league with 977 yards, Anthony Allen is second with 849 yards. Still I expect Cornish to continue to have more rushing success in the head-to-head battle than Allen. Bo Levi Mitchell back at quarterback also makes a difference, a deep ball difference. Calgary over Saskatchewan.
Hamilton Tiger-Cats at Toronto Argonauts
It's their second meeting in three weeks and it may be different this time around. Hamilton led 30-13 at one point but then were outscored 21-3 and lost. The Ticats will review that tape and not let the previous set of circumstances repeat. Also the Montreal Alouette video will be beneficial to watch. Montreal held Ricky Ray to 202 yards - no small achievement as he presently leads the CFL with 4,063 yards passing. What they did and how they did it is a teaching tool to absorb and learn from. How effective will Nick Grigsby be? I have no idea. Depends on how much he studies and absorbs and how confident he is in with what he studies and absorbs. This is a tough one as Toronto usually responds well after a loss. Still Hamilton should have extreme confidence. Toronto is desperate. I'll take desperation over confidence. Toronto.
BC Lions at Winnipeg Blue Bombers
Playoffs still a possible experience for Bomber football but I do not think the players believe it. Watch Solomon Elimimian at linebacker in this game. He has 121 tackles and may break JC Sherritt's single-season record. The defensive player of the year award is waiting. Robert Marve did look good in relief but is it worth a look with only two games to go? (Bombers have a bye in Week 20). Well, we all know what Drew Willy can do and it has been good. Brian Brohm may not be healthy and is a work in progress. May not be a bad idea depending on how the game goes. Either way have to go with the bye week-rejuvenated BC Lions. With as many injuries as they have had on offence if they get healthy they can surprise. Can they go a fourth game in a row without a touchdown allowed? We will find out Saturday night. BC.