After 19 weeks in the CFL:
Ted Clarke: 2-2 last week; 40-24 overall
Peter James: 2-2 last week; 46-22 overall
Mark Nielsen: 0-4 last week; 40-24 overall
Sunday
Montreal (8-10) at Hamilton (10-8)
TSN 9 a.m.
James: The Alouettes played musical quarterbacks for a while after Anthony Calvillo's season-ending injury, but they've found their man in Troy Smith for the playoffs. Pick: Alouettes by seven.
Clarke: The Ticats' world rests of the shoulders Henry Burris and he will deliver them to the promised land despite a revived Als offence, with Troy Smith now calling the shots. This one will go down to the wire. Pick: Ticats by one.
Nielsen: On Oct. 20, the Tiger-Cats lost 36-5 to an Alouettes team quarterbacked by their new find, Troy Smith but bounced back to edge them 27-24 in the rubber match six days later. Expect Burris to show some post-season discipline and at least match Smith's performance. The difference will be Hamilton's Leapin' C.J. Gable in a close one. Tiger-Cats by three.
B.C. at Saskatchewan
TSN 1 p.m.
James: There's nothing like an outdoor game on the prairies in November to make things interesting. Look for the Roughriders to use their superior ground attack to grind out a win. Pick: Riders by four.
Clarke: Mosaic Stadium will be a madhouse and that bodes well for the 'Riders, who will need to look like Grey Cup contenders again to fend off the hard-charging Lions. Let's hope weather plays a factor, it makes it a lot more fun to watch from the comfort of our recliners. Pick: Riders by six
Nielsen: Yes, Saskatchewan will be playing at home in subzero weather against a team used to the cozy indoors and yes, last week's games were meaningless. But the Lions looked in good form last week against the Stampeders while the 'Riders lost to the woeful Eskimos. Not only that, the Lions went the entire contest without taking a penalty, overcoming a problem that's plagued them all season. I'm going with the boys in flagging tape orange. Pick: Lions by 10.
