The CFL officially heads into the stretch run as there are now five weeks left in the regular season. The games start to hold greater significance as the teams jockey for playoff position. The Calgary Stampeders are comfortably in first place in the West Division with a record of 12-1-1. The Winnipeg Blue Bombers are at 10-3, so it looks like the top two spots in the West won’t change very much barring some unforeseen circumstance. However, the bottom of the division is still up for grabs. The Saskatchewan Roughriders and the free-falling Edmonton Eskimos are both 7-6 while the B.C. Lions, who have also struggled of late, are 6-7.
In the East, it’s hard to believe but a pair of three-win teams sit in the basement as the Hamilton Tiger-Cats and Montreal Alouettes are virtually out of the picture. Meanwhile, Ottawa seems fairly “safe” in terms of making the playoffs at 5-9-1. The top team in the East is the Toronto Argonauts, who are a measly 7-7.
With that in mind, here is a look at the four games going down in Week 16.
Hamilton Tiger-Cats @ Winnipeg Blue Bombers
Odds: Blue Bombers -13
The action kicks off on Friday in Winnipeg, where the 10-3 Blue Bombers host the 3-10 Tiger-Cats, who are five points behind second-place Ottawa in the East division. The Blue Bombers are five points behind first-place Calgary in the West division, but the Stampeders are on a bye this week. The Blue Bombers are 4-6 SU and ATS in their last 10 meetings with the Tiger-Cats, but they’ve won and covered in each of the last three, including a 39-12 win in Hamilton in Week 8. However, this is a different Hamilton team and while they might not win, they’ll keep it closer than two touchdowns.
Pick: Tiger-Cats +13
Saskatchewan Roughriders @ Toronto Argonauts
Odds: Argonauts -2
The 7-6 Roughriders visit the 7-7 Argonauts on Saturday, and Saskatchewan is trying to hold on to the final playoff spot in the West as they’re tied with Edmonton on points and they’re just two ahead of British Columbia. The Argonauts have a three-point lead atop the East division, which means they’re not out of the woods yet. The Argonauts are 6-4 SU and 5-5 ATS in their last 10 meetings with the Roughriders, who won 38-27 over the Argonauts in Saskatchewan in Week 6.
The Argos have been tough to beat at home as they are 5-2 in front of their own audience. The Roughriders are just 3-4 in away games this season.
Pick: Argonauts -2
Ottawa RedBlacks @ British Columbia Lions
Odds: Lions -4.5
The 5-9-1 RedBlacks visit the 6-7 Lions, and Ottawa should be getting starting quarterback Trevor Harris back from a shoulder injury. The Lions are coming off a bye after losing at home to Hamilton, and things are starting to get a little concerning for British Columbia. They’re in last place in the West, although they’re still in it, and they can still get into the playoffs by getting to third in the East, or even fourth via the crossover rule. However, Saturday’s game has to be the start of a run for the Lions, who are 7-3 SU and 5-5 ATS in their last 10 meetings with the RedBlacks, who won 31-24 at home with the Lions in Week 10. The Lions are just 3-3 at home this season, though, so they’ll have to show better in this spot.
Pick: Lions -4.5
Edmonton Eskimos @ Montreal Alouettes
Odds: Eskimos -7
The 7-6 Eskimos visit the 3-11 Alouettes, who got mauled 59-11 in Calgary and they look like Hamilton did in the first part of the season, like they just don’t care anymore. That is good news for the Eskimos, who have lost six in a row and really need a win as bad as anyone in the league right. The Eskimos are 7-3 SU (seven wins in a row) and 7-3 ATS in their last 10 meetings with the Alouettes, including a 23-19 victory at home back in Week 2. This is the best possible time for the Eskimos to be heading to Montreal right now.
The Eskimos 347 points scored are now tied for the fewest in the West Division while their 382 points allowed are the most.
Pick: Eskimos -7
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