Week 10 has great storylines. Can the Bombers stay undefeated? They “play it back” against the Alouettes in a battle for air supremacy, this time in the ‘Peg. The Lions roar into Calgary to battle with the Horsemen in an effort to see which squad will get a leg up in the race to become the top contender to challenge Winnipeg’s dominance. The Boatmen head down the QEW to rematch the ‘Cats, where a DoubleBlue victory would give the Argos some space atop the east heading toward Labour Day. And, if the Elks can put in their best performance at home against a somewhat disappointing Riders, they can put themselves in a position to be a legitimate contender for a potential cross-over spot.
Let’s get on with the picks.
Alouettes @ Blue Bombers
These replay games can produce some interesting results. Like the “series” in baseball, the “sweep” is seldom as certain as it can appear.
The unbeaten Bombers are heavily favoured, of course. So, as we did with some success last week, let’s pair the prohibitive favourite (-540 and -11.5), on the money line, in a parlay.
This week I’m going to parlay the Bombers on the money line with the over (46) in the Friday night game.
Argonauts @ Tiger-Cats
Is home cooling enough to turn the tides of Lake Ontario in Hamilton’s direction in the second installment of the eastern black ‘n blue series?
The Tabbies have pulled off a couple of close wins against Eastern Conference foes at Tim Horton’s Field, but their fourth-quarter play has bounced between shaky and atrocious. Whatever the outcome, again, I’m sticking with the over (46) which pays -110. Let’s see if the QEW rivalry can produce 47+ points two weeks in a row. I think it can.
Also, since we are playing a two-leg parlay for the Thursday and Friday games, the stakes are going to be equal to a standard wager for two games
Lions @ Stampeders
There’s not a lot to separate this pair, sitting not just second and third in the West Division standings, but in nearly every CFL power ranking as well.
It’s the kind of game that handicappers hate. Even the over/under is suspect. Will the high-powered offences turn the scoreboard into a turnstile? Or, will it be a tilt featuring the running game where the stingy and ball-hawking Stampeder defence make it largely played between the 30-yard-lines?
Perhaps resting the outcome on which kicker can convert on field goal attempts?
With Calgary at home and an underdog (+1), I’m going to take them on the money line (+105) to get a little extra on the payday, if they can win this.
Roughriders @ Elks
Edmonton has started the season poorly again, but with flashes of strong play, and at least as many victories as every eastern team, save for Toronto. The Riders have been disappointing, inconsistent, undisciplined and injured. Three of their losses have come at the hands of eastern squads.
One question for this game is whether Chris Jones is more interested in continuing to build and test for the future, or has seen what he needs to and is ready to make what many now would see as an improbable push to the Grey Cup (the Elks were +5000 to reach the big game in this week’s futures markets).
Both teams have considerably talented pieces on offence. The Riders’ defence can still be a menace as well. But with Edmonton +5 at home (-115), against the spread, I’m not only going to take the Elks and the points. I’m going out on a limb and making this one Play of the Week.
This week’s picks are based on Tuesday lines from DK sportsbook and I do sometimes make plays other than in this column. Also, while we’ve been having a great season so far, past performance does not guarantee future outcomes.
Enjoy your late summer football!
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