The Canadian Football League has entered its final week and there is still a lot on the line before the final game.
We were 3-0 up last week so let's see if we can finish strong as we have four games to choose from last week.
Ottawa Redblacks vs. Hamilton Tiger-Cats – Friday, October 24, 7:00 pm ET.
The Hamilton Tiger-Cats hope to take first place in the East Division as they take on Ottawa, who are looking to move up from last place to… connected for last place.
This week can be very challenging, so it's important to rely on what we know for sure, and this is a prime example of that. We don't have to worry about resting players or motivating them or anything like that – both teams have very black and white scenarios for this game.
With that said, I don't understand how Ottawa supports this game. The Red-Blacks have lost five in a row and seven of their last eight. Four of those seven losses were by double digits, contributing to the seven losses of nine or more points they have suffered this season. It was a memorable year for Ottawa.
They play Hamilton's team, who want to make it a year to remember. While the Tubbies are hoping to secure the top spot in the East, they are also just trying to get back on track as they are 77-23 overall in two of their last three.
I know the Tigercats aren't playing their best football right now, but I can't see how they won't win this game by a wide margin given what's on the line. My main concern with such a high spread is that Hamilton gets up enough to rest his starters and Ottawa slips into backdoor cover, but I'll take my chances with a team looking to have a first-round bye.
PICK: Hamilton -13.5
Calgary Stampeders vs. Edmonton Elks – Friday, October 24, 9:30 p.m. ET.
In the third part of the Battle of Alberta, “Moose” tries to play spoiler against Calgary.
There are many different scenarios for the Stamps heading into the final week of the season, but all they care about requires them to win this game. So this is another game where one team has a lot on the line and the other doesn't.
The Stampeders' last game against Edmonton was a Labor Day rematch in which the Moose beat Calgary, sending the Stamps on a four-game losing streak. Calgary recently overcame this with two dominant wins over Hamilton and Toronto.
Meanwhile, Edmonton's playoff hopes were dashed against the Lions. This is another game where we don't have to go too deep into the statistics to analyze it. Edmonton has nothing to play for and lost last week, but Calgary has something to play for and has scored 81 points in their last two games.
I expect Vernon Adams Jr. to put an exclamation point on his first season in Calgary with a strong performance against a defense that Nathan Rourke just torched last week.
PICK: Calgary -5.5
Montreal Alouettes vs. Winnipeg Blue Bombers – Saturday, October 25, 3:00 pm ET.
The Winnipeg Blue Bombers will host the Montreal Alouettes in a game that will likely make a difference, but exactly how much is yet to be determined.
If Hamilton wins on Friday, Montreal will finish second in the East and Winnipeg's playbook is a little unclear, but we should have some clarity on that based on the Calgary game.
There is some uncertainty that I mentioned earlier and that I was trying to avoid. However, I saw Winnipeg play last week and that was all I needed to see. This was one of the worst performances from a team I have seen in a must-win game in a long time.
Even if Montreal decides to rest their starters based on the outcome of the Hamilton-Ottawa game, I'm not sure Winnipeg will dominate this game. Saskatchewan's reserves came close to beating them last week, and Montreal's reserves have played quite a bit this year due to various injuries.
I don't think Jason Maas' team will completely give up even if their playoff fate is sealed. They are currently on pace with over 30 points in four of their five games on their current winning streak. On defense, they have the second-most sacks in the league this year. Obviously, many of the players who contributed to this strong showing may not end up in the lineup depending on how things go, but Winnipeg has tried their best all season to protect their QBs, no matter who is on the other side.
There's a very real chance I'll let one game cloud my judgment, but this was a really bad game. I also liked the way Montreal played throughout the season despite any injury issues, so I think they can keep this going.
PICK: Montreal +5.5
