CFL Picks, Week 17
After 16 weeks in the CFL picks game:
Ted Clarke: 2-2 last week; 31-21 overall
Peter James: 2-2 last week; 37-19 overall
Sheri Lamb: 3-1 last week; 35-21 overall
Mark Nielsen: 3-1 last week; 36-16 overall
Stampeders (12-3) at Eskimos (3-12)
Today, 6 p.m. TSN
Clarke: See Jon Cornish run. See him shred the Eskimo defence and close in on the Stamps all-time season rushing record. See heart-and-soul quarterback Mike Reilly punished for his team's lack of O-line production. See Kavis Reed in one of his last sideline appearances before the coach gets fired. It won't be pretty for the fans at Commonwealth. Pick: Stamps by 12.
James: The Eskimos have the worst run defence in the league, the Stampeders have Jon Cornish. Pick: Stamps by 11.
Lamb: Two teams moving in opposite directions as one preps for the playoffs and the other plays for jobs next season. The playoff-bound team will prevail. Pick: Stamps by 10.
Nielsen: With games against the Roughriders and the Lions still to come, this could be a trap game for the Stampeders. The Eskimos will look to their near win over the Roughriders and the Blue Bombers upset of the Alouettes last week for inspiration - along with the hope of landing contracts for next season. Pick: Edmonton by three.
Argonauts (9-6) at Blue Bombers (3-12)
Saturday, 12:30 p.m. TSN
Clarke: Still recovering use of his injured win (shoulder), Ricky Ray did not look like the CFL's top QB last week against the Ticats. After a frustrating loss last week, Ray and the Boatmen will be shipshape again and the Bombers will bear the brunt. Pick: Argos by 10.
James: After losing a home-and-home with Hamilton, the pressure is on the Argonauts to right the ship before the playoffs. Pick: Argos by nine.
Lamb: The Bombers slim playoff chances are snuffed out here as the Argonauts need a win to fend off the Ticats if they want a bye to the Eastern final. Pick: Argos by six.
Nielsen: Consider the Blue Bomber's one game win streak over as an Argonauts team, smarting from their loss last week to the Tiger-Cats, will not let this one and their slim hold on top spot in the East slip by. Pick: Toronto by 10.
Lions (9-6) at Roughriders (10-5)
Saturday, 4 p.m. TSN
Clarke: The 'Riders were three feet short of embarrassment last week, but their last-second goal-line stand preserved a narrow win over Edmonton. They'll be a lot better than that against the Lions, knowing they can lock up a home playoff date with a win. Stefan Logan is back from the NFL to help the Lions' run game, but on this day it won't be enough. Pick: Riders by three.
James: The Roughriders are the only home favourite this week and will make the most of it. Pick: Riders by four.
Lamb: Playoff implications are written all over this one - if the Lions want to avoid another trip to Regina in November they need a win. Pick: Lions by two.
Nielsen: Despite DeMarco's late-game interception, the Lions do not have a quarterbacking problem, they have a penalty problem. The Riders, meanwhile barely pulled out a win against the Eskimos, suggesting the shine that came with the return of Korey Sheets is already off. Pick: B.C. by seven.
Tiger-Cats (8-7) at Alouettes (6-9)
Sunday, 10 a.m. TSN
Clarke: With Anthony Calvillo still out with a concussion, this is Troy Smith's coming-out party, but the former Heisman Trophy winner won't be able to tame the Tabbies. The Hamilton defence, which held the Argos to just 37 points in their last two games will keep first-place hopes alive. Pick: Hamilton by six.
James: The Tiger-Cats are playing their best football down the stretch. Pick: Ticats by seven.
Lamb: The Ticats appear to be peaking at the right time and they should have no trouble beating the mistake-prone Alouettes to keep the pressure on the Argos for top spot. Pick: Ticats by eight.
Nielsen: The Alouettes conceded seven turnovers in their loss to the Blue Bombers last week. Their play won't be as sloppy when they face the Tiger-Cats, but they will have a leapin' C.J. Gable among Hamilton's arsenal of offensive weapons to contend with. Pick: Hamilton by 10.
