CFL WEEK 10: 14-21-1 // 20-16 // 10-5 TEASERS

SK +3 @ OTT

This is the last week the Riders will be without their offensive leader Trevor Harris. The Riders will be without 2 OL (they are on their 4th RT already this year) and also without Ouellette and their defensive leader Jameer Thurman. Between Ford, Leake and Rankin the Elks rushed for 276 yards against the Riders. Mace is a great coach and will correct the run defence in this one. Having Anthony Lanier back in the lineup will be a huge boost for the Riders who will shut down Ottawa's run game and make them one-dimensional tonight.

Ottawa is coming off their bye flying high and teams are 6-2 coming off their bye this year. They stamped the Stamps before going on their bye and have allowed the least PA this year (167). Their defence is playing lights out and Dru Brown is really fitting in nicely in Ottawa sitting 2nd with 21 big plays. Dandridge won't be in the lineup tonight. The RedBlacks are 4-0 at home this year but 1-4 against the Riders in their last 5 matchups. Riders win and cover, Ottawa comes out lethargic and one-dimensional coming off their bye not being able to run the ball. The Riders wake up tonight.

23-20 Riders

CAL @ TOR -2

Calgary is 4-0 at home and 0-4 on the road. 7 of Calgary's 8 games have been decided in the final 3 minutes and Dickenson is 12-2 VS the Argos. The Argos have won 12 of their past 13 games at home including their past 8 in a row against Western teams. Last weeks game was a tale of 2 halves. The first half the Argos got out to a 22-6 lead, and then were outscored in the 2nd half 21-1. Dedrick Mills is doubtful due to personal reasons which is a huge blow to the Stamps.

Dukes is a GTD and it looks like Arbuckle is starting this one. I like Toronto to bounce back at home even with Arbuckle at QB. Calgary will be very one-dimensional with no Mills in the backfield and it's hard to win back to back games against the same opponent. Toronto's great home record combined with Calgary's winless road record makes this a great spot for the Argos to bounce back, a game before Chad Kelly's supposed return.

24-18 Argos

HAM @ MTL -7.5

Hamilton had no answer last week against Montreal's #1 rated defence. Bo Levi and Butler couldn't get anything going and the game got away from them in the 2nd half. I know I just said it's hard to win back to back games against the same opponent, but not in this case. Montreal is far superior to Hamilton and Fajardo is back in the lineup. Look for more of the same in this one with Hamilton punting a lot and Montreal putting together sustained scoring drives.

It doesn't matter who Montreal rolls out at QB they just keep on winning. Now their QB1 is back against arguably the worst team in the league. The TiCats somehow are #1 with 378 net offence per game, and the Als have allowed a league low 320 yards per game. The Als are looking to start 8-1 for the first time in 20 years and will get it done and cover. Montreal is too strong for Hamilton.

31-19 Alouettes

BC @ EDM -2

What is going on with BC, coming off the bye and can't even score a single point against the Bombers all while VA got hurt after doing nothing before that point. I think it's time for Maksymic to go (BC offensive coordinator). BC has won the past 8 matchups VS the Elks and have not lost 3 straight games since 2021. Now Dolegala is starting for BC and I have no faith in him from watching him play in SK. If VA was playing I'd take BC but I am not confident in their offense producing much, and Tre Ford to do enough to pick up the win.

What a combo Ford + Leake can potentially be. Leake had 169 rush yards on 12 attempts and 3 TDs against the top run defence last week with Tre adding 46 yards on the ground. What a 1-2 punch. You worry about one and the other kills you. I like the Elks to steal this game at home coming off a huge win and bringing that momentum into this game breathing new life into a team with Tre starting. Elks win and cover.

27-23 Elks

TEASERS: 10-5 (13-5 including my 2nd pick)

TEASER: 7 pts

SK +10

I like the Riders to win and if not win definitely stay within +10. They will play much better on defence and keep this game close either way. This is potentially a low scoring defensive slugfest type game.

TOR +5

Calgary playing on the road without Mills after winning last week against the same team spells disaster for them, and you add a +5 point cushion onto that makes it even sweeter.

MTL -0.5

This one is easy, Montreal just needs to win. I like them to win by double digits.

TOP OFFENSIVE GRADE: Edmonton Elks - Ford and Leake tore apart the best run defence in the CFL quite easily.

TOP DEFENSIVE GRADE: Winnipeg Blue Bombers - The Bombers SHUTOUT the Lions. No more needs to be said.

MY POWER RANKINGS:

1)Montreal (1)

2)Ottawa (4)

3)BC (2)

4)Saskatchewan (3)

5)Calgary (6)

6)Toronto (5)

7)Winnipeg (8)

8)Edmonton (9)

9)Hamilton (7)

Every team changed position except for MTL. OTT jumped up 2 spots with both BC and SK losing convincingly. CAL hopped over TOR by beating them last week. WPG moved up 1 spot with a huge shutout win against BC. EDM also moved up 1 spot with a win over SK and HAM dropped 2 spots to last with a blowout loss to MTL.

Good luck!

Lanier is back?