Weekly Predictor: Who wins in Week 18?

By Jamie Nye

In the East Division the playoff picture is nearly crystal clear.

The Tiger-Cats and REDBLACKS will be at home watching, while it’s pretty certain Toronto will host the Eastern Semi-Final and Montreal will host the Eastern Final.

The only thing we do not know is which of Saskatchewan, BC, Winnipeg, and Calgary will be travelling East via the crossover.

Out West, Edmonton is closing in on clinching a home playoff game and then from there, it’s more or less mayhem.

With four weeks left in the season, Edmonton has clinched a playoff spot and that’s all we know.

The race for the other three playoff spots is going to be something to watch down The Final Stretch!

Week 18 gets us started with the four West teams battling for position all in action, while Edmonton gets a week to rest.

HAMILTON AT OTTAWA

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 2 7:00 P.M. ET TSN, CFL+

The Tiger-Cats have just been dealt the final blow to their playoff chances with the two-point shootout overtime loss to the Elks.

Ottawa was dealt another blow to their chances at a first win with the Stampeders’ dominant win last weekend.

Who will have more motivation to get the win on Friday night?

I have to believe it’s the REDBLACKS. There is no one in that locker room who wants to be the CFL record holder for worst start to the season, nor be part of a team that goes 0-18.

There is too much pride in professional football players to allow that to happen.

Hamilton gave up seven field goals in regulation before Vincent Blanchard hit two more to break the CFL record in overtime. That tells me the Elks were in scoring position eight times last week as the Tiger-Cats defence continues to struggle.

Ottawa’s offence has been able to put points on the board and it’s time to put this streak to an end. Or is picking Ottawa (again) just me being stubborn?

PICK: OTTAWA

CALGARY AT SASKATCHEWAN

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 2 9:30 P.M. ET TSN, CFL+

The Riders pretty well sealed away a playoff spot with a win against the Stampeders on Friday night at home.

The Roughriders are in a bit of a lull to their season. They’ve won only two of their last six games, with all four of their losses coming on the road and their two wins were at home.

The good news for the Riders is they are back at Mosaic Stadium on Friday night with the home crowd behind them and Kian Schaffer-Baker and A.J. Ouellette back in the lineup for their second game since returning from injury. They were noticeable, but not brilliant in the loss to the Lions.

The Stampeders come into this one without a win over a playoff contending team since July. They have four wins since they beat the Bombers on July 4, but they were two wins each against Hamilton and Ottawa.

The Stampeders defence hasn’t found their game yet, as they’ve allowed over 30 points in every game except for two this season.

The flip side of that is that the Stamps do have the highest scoring offence in the CFL.

I just give the edge to the home team, with the better defence on what will be a chilly Friday night under the lights at Mosaic.

PICK: SASKATCHEWAN

BC AT TORONTO

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 3 3:00 P.M. ET TSN, CTV, CRAVE, CFL+

Two of the hottest teams in the league square off in Toronto. The Argonauts, winners of four in a row and five of their last six, take on the BC Lions, winners of seven of their last eight.

The game also features two of the most improved defences in the CFL in the last half of the season and the last two Most Outstanding Players squaring off with Chad Kelly and Nathan Rourke going head-to-head.

The Argonauts did beat BC, which was the start of a run of seven wins in the last nine games, but the Lions have only lost once since.

I’m very torn on this one because the Lions have looked absolutely unstoppable against everyone except for Montreal. The Argonauts have not lost at BMO Field since they returned mid-season with a 4-0 record.

The issue is Chad Kelly can’t stop throwing interceptions and while his aggressiveness hasn’t bitten him too badly recently, I think it will against the Lions.

PICK: BC

WINNIPEG AT MONTREAL

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 3 7:00 P.M. ET TSN, RDS, CFL+

The Blue Bombers clearly need to be the most desperate team on Saturday evening with the Western teams brawling over the final playoff spot. But the Alouettes will want to sink their teeth into their final four games to be as crisp as possible for the playoffs.

The Alouettes are also coming off a bye week and Montreal has only lost twice coming off a bye week under the direction of Jason Maas in the last four seasons. That’s a 9-2 record, if you’re keeping track.

The Bombers come in with the uncertainty around quarterback Zach Collaros, though Dru Brown was alright as his replacement against Toronto.

Yes, the Bombers looked impressive against the Alouettes four weeks ago in a 44-28 win. The Bombers outscored the Alouettes 20-7 in the second half.

You’ll also notice in that game, Davis Alexander threw four touchdown passes.

I have to pick Montreal here as I do not see the Alouettes losing back-to-back games against anyone with how prepared they’ve looked this season.

Oh, and there is that 7-0 record at home we can’t ignore for Montreal.