Cue up the barbeque and start the tailgate party. A new season begins tonight in the Canadian Football League.
It's not just a new season of football north of the border, but a new era as well. This season marks the 101st season of aerial attacks and ground games in Canada.
The Toronto Argonauts won the 100th Grey Cup last November and will be looking to repeat the feat in 2013. The Argonauts victory marked the second straight season the Grey Cup host emerged the winner -- B.C. Lions fans might remember their team's 2011 win over the Winnipeg Blue Bombers at B.C. Place.
Saskatchewan Roughriders fans are crossing their fingers that the home turf win streak continues when they host the Grey Cup in November.
But first there are 144 regular season games, plus two semifinal and two final games that need to be played before anyone can start thinking about holding the Grey Cup over their heads.
This season the Citizen is wading into the prediction game of wins and loses to test our knowledge of what teams will succeed this season and what teams should start preparing for next year.
Each week, The Citizen's Ted Clarke, Peter James, Mark Nielsen and Sheri Lamb will offer up their 'expert' predictions on the outcomes of the games.
Before we get to the Week 1 predictions, the Citizen staffers have reached into their crystal balls to see how the East and West divisions will play out and what team will be sipping from the Grey Cup at Mosaic Stadium in Regina, on Nov. 21.
James picks B.C. to win the West, followed by Calgary, Saskatchewan and Edmonton while in the East, Toronto will finish first, followed by Montreal, Hamilton and Winnipeg. Grey Cup: Montreal beats B.C.
Lamb picks Calgary to win the West, followed by B.C., Saskatchewan and Edmonton, while in the East Toronto will finish first followed by Hamilton, Montreal and Winnipeg. Grey Cup: B.C. beats Hamilton.
Clarke picks Calgary to win the West, followed by Saskatchewan, B.C. and Edmonton. Hamilton will win the East, followed by Toronto, Montreal and Winnipeg.
Grey Cup: Calgary beats Hamilton.
Nielsen picks B.C. to win the West, followed by Edmonton, Calgary and Saskatchewan. In the East, he predicts Toronto will finish first, followed by Hamilton, then Montreal, then Winnipeg.
Grey Cup: B.C. defeats Toronto.
Week 1
James:
Montreal at Winnipeg (tonight)
Montreal's air attack will best Winnipeg's ground game and the Alouettes will spoil the Bombers' regular-season debut at Investors Group Field. Pick: Als by 10.
Hamilton at Toronto (Friday)
No Grey Cup hangover for the defending champs as the Argonauts will get early season bragging rights against their provincial rivals. Pick: Argos by seven.
B.C. at Calgary (Friday)
The Stampeders will show off Calgary's resiliency in the face of a natural disaster. Pick: Stamps by three.
Saskatchewan at Edmonton (Saturday)
The CFL is a quarterbacks' league and the Roughriders have a more experienced pivot in Darian Durant. Pick: Riders by 12.
Lamb:
Montreal at Winnipeg (tonight)
It's a sold out house for the opening of Investors Group Stadium in Winnipeg but it'll be the Alouettes leaving the building with a giddy feeling. Pick: Montreal by 11.
Hamilton at Toronto (Friday)
The party's on in the Big Smoke as the Argos raise their Grey Cup banner but the Ti-cats steal the thunder, giving Kent Austin a win in his first game as Hamilton head coach. Pick: Hamilton by six.
B.C. at Calgary (Friday)
Expect these two teams to battle all season for home field advantage in the playoffs but on this night the Stampeders give their beleaguered fans something to cheer about after a week of cleaning up their flooded city. Pick: Calgary by 10.
Saskatchewan at Edmonton (Saturday)
The Eskimos use home field to draw first blood in what should be a seesaw rivalry between two teams fighting for a playoff spot all season. Pick: Edmonton by one.
Clarke:
Montreal at Winnipeg (tonight)
Brand-new stadium will give Bombers plenty of lift. Pick: Winnipeg by 10.
Hamilton at Toronto (Friday)
Chad Owens and Ricky Ray are dynamite together but here's another upset in the making. Pick: Hamilton by five.
B.C. at Calgary (Friday)
New haircut, new lease on life for Calgary QB Drew Tate. Pick: Calgary by six.
Saskatchewan at Edmonton (Saturday)
No time better than now to start looking like Grey Cup hosts. Pick: Riders by seven.
Nielsen:
Montreal at Winnipeg (tonight)
The Bombers will be on an emotional high as they open the season in a new stadium but Paul LaPolice will get the last laugh from his new perch at TSN. Als by 17.
B.C. at Calgary (Friday)
The Lions will bring out the mops and exact sweet revenge for last season's Western final loss. Lions by 14.
Hamilton at Toronto (Friday)
The Argonauts will pick up where they left off last year, although Hamilton will put up a fight. Toronto by three.
Saskatchewan at Edmonton (Saturday)
Judging by his exhibition performance last week Mike Reilly could turn out to be the Lion who got away. Rider Nation can look forward to another season of disappointment. Eskimos by 10.
