After eight weeks in the CFL picks game:
Ted Clarke: 2-2 last week; 15-9 overall
Peter James: 3-1 last week; 21-7 overall
Sheri Lamb: 2-2 last week; 17-11 overall
Mark Nielsen: 4-0 last week; 18-6 overall
Lions (5-2) at Alouettes (2-5)
Tonight, 4:30 p.m. TSN
Clarke: The sad-sack Als have too many injuries. Pick: B.C. by 18.
James: The Alouettes had the worst offence in the league before losing Anthony Calvillo. Pick: Lions by 12.
Lamb: Anthony Calvillo will miss this week's game with post-concussion syndrome, which will only increase the margin of victory for the Lions. Pick: Lions by 10.
Nielsen: Between the jet lag and the distractions, a game in Montreal can usually be counted as a loss for the Lions, but as seen against Calgary, the Lions' swaming defence is just too focused. And the Als are just too banged up. Pick: Lions by 17.
Stampeders (5-2) at Argonauts (5-2)
Friday, 4:30 p.m. TSN
Clarke: This should be a barnburner. Ricky Ray and the Argos should prevail in Grey Cup rematch. Pick: Toronto by three.
James: Toronto's aerial attack has been virtually unstoppable in recent weeks, but it faces a stiff test against the league's second-best passing defence. Pick: Argonauts by two.
Lamb: Should be a gritty battle fought in the trenches and easily the game of the week. Home field will be the main
difference. Pick: Argonauts by three.
Nielsen: How will the Stampeders fare without team battering ram Nik Lewis? Not very well against a talented Argonauts, even if Edmonton gave them a scare last week. The Double-Blue will make the big plays at the right times. Pick: Argos by seven.
Blue Bombers (1-6) at Tiger-Cats (3-4)
Saturday, 10 a.m. TSN
Clarke: Henry Burris and Co. have
the Ti-Cat offence cooking with gas.
Pick: Hamilton by seven.
James: The Tiger-Cats may earn a home playoff game based solely on the fact they get to play Winnipeg four times this year. Pick: Ti-cats by four.
Lamb: The Blue Bombers will have Max Hall behind centre in his second career start, but home field, well Guelph University field, will propel the Ti-cats to sweep the home and home between the clubs.
Pick: Ti-cats by seven.
Nielsen: More often than not, back-to-backs end in a split, but the Bombers remain in disarray, while the Ti-cats are gelling into a Grey Cup contender. Pick: Ti-cats by 13.
Roughriders (6-1)
at Eskimos (1-6)
Saturday, 1 p.m. TSN
Clarke: No joy in Loserville. Riders will roll. Pick: Saskatchewan by 12.
James: After looking downright dominant early in the season, the Roughriders have been merely average in recent weeks. The Eskimos are getting better and are primed to pull off an upset. Pick: Eskimos by six.
Lamb: The Eskimos are slowly improving, but it's too slow for their powerful opponents in the west. Pick: Riders by three.
Nielsen: The Roughriders needed a late-game field goal to hold off the lowly Als, while the Eskimos gave the Argonauts a run in an entertaining track meet. This is the upset of the week. Pick: Eskimos by 11.
