CFL WEEK 3 PREVIEW & PICKS

BY ADAM GREENE

Our ridiculous 21-week slog of CFL is now, officially, two games in and, so far, we’ve not experienced any surprises. The two best teams last year, the Toronto Argonauts and Winnipeg Blue Bombers, look, by far, like the two best franchises this season. The mediocre teams have looked thoroughly mediocre and the bad teams, well, you see how it’s working.

Still, it’s an interesting week on the schedule with a playoff rematch and a couple of games that could have playoff seeding implications down the line. And we, as always, have the lines, odds and totals with which to make watching all this unfold a lot more fun.

I will say, after months of watching the XFL and USFL, it’s refreshing to see the kind of quarterback play unfolding in the CFL. Guys like Vernon Adams, Jr., Zach Callaros, Jake Maier and Trevor Harris all look like they could make an NFL roster as a backup. Looking at some of the pay scale in the CFL, it looks like all the QBs are making six figures, with Collaros topping out at $600,000 in maximum value. In the NFL, Case Keenum, who backs up Josh Allen, made $6 million last year. Mason Rudolph got $5.08 million and Nick Foles $3.1 million. The Kansas City Chiefs No. 3 QB, Shane Buechle, made $660,000 and was the lowest paid QB in the league. I can appreciate wanting to play and respect that, but some of these CFL guys are obviously leaving money on the table.

POWER RANKINGS

1. TORONTO ARGONAUTS (1-0)

Here’s a shocker. After sitting out the first week of the season on their first bye, the Argonauts showed up rested, relaxed and ready to embarrass somebody. The Hamilton Tiger-Cats earned were delivered the proper pants-ing in front of their home crowd as Toronto opened the year 1-0, shocking no one. Last week: No. 1

2. WINNEPEG BLUE BOMBERS (2-0)

Winnipeg kept its record perfect, looking impressive as they ran roughshod over the Saskatchewan Roughriders. If any of these mid-range teams can catch the Blue Bombers or the Argos, they didn’t show it in Week 2. Last week: No. 2

3. BC LIONS (2-0)

The Lions kept their record spotless thanks, in large part, to a fruitless visit from the worst team in the league, the Edmonton Elks. BC did not allow the Elks to score a point in a double digit win. Last week: No. 3

4. MONTREAL ALOUETTES (1-0)

Thanks to a free week to sit back and watch the rest of the league bash each other, the Alouettes face a hungry Tiger-Cats squad in Week 3 desperate for their first victory. Last week: No. 4

5. CALGARY STAMPEDERS (1-1)

After coming up short a week ago against the Lions, the Stampeders cruised to their first win of the season thanks to a solid 332-yard day from quarterback Jake Maier. The real test comes this week when they face the Saskatchewan Roughriders in a game that could have postseason implications down the line. Last week: No. 6

6. SASKATCHEWAN ROUGHRIDERS (1-1)

Saskatchewan has a ways to go before they can stand toe-to-toe with the CFL elite as they were absolutely dominated by the Blue Bombers in Week 2 in spite of putting 27 points on the scoreboard. Last week: No. 5

7. HAMILTON TIGER-CATS (0-2)

Have the Tiger-Cats just had a tough draw to open the season or are they just, once again, the best of the bad teams in the CFL. We’ll find out Friday night when they take on the Alouettes in a playoff rematch. Last week: No. 7

8. OTTAWA REDBLACKS (0-2)

The Ottawa Redblacks will have plenty of time to ruminate over their latest loss and they go into the first of their three byes winless. There’s hope on the horizon, as they host the Edmonton Elks in Week 4.  Last week: No. 8

9. EDMONTON ELKS (0-2)

You know how to dig yourself out of the bottom spot in the CFL Power Rankings? It begins with scoring some points, something the Elks did not do last Saturday as they were shut out by the Lions. Last week: No. 9

WEEK 3

Bye: Ottawa Redblacks

THURSDAY

BC LIONS AT WINNIPEG BLUE BOMBERS (-6.5, O/U: 49)

While every other team in the CFL has three byes this season, BC got an extra week off thanks to a no-show from the Edmonton Elks. The Lions completely mauled the Elks in a shutout victory, 22-0. Vernon Adams, Jr. had another solid outing at quarterback, going 25 of 35 for 312 yards, one touchdown and an interception. He scrambled twice for 11 yards. Taquan Mizzell led the team with 18 rushes for 93 yards and added four receptions for 23 yards. Justin Mcinnis caught four passes for 79 yards, Dominique Rhymans had four grabs for 63 yards and a score. Jevon Cottoy caught five passes for 54 yards. Ayden Eberhardt caught three for 47 yards and Alexander Hollins had five receptions for 46 yards. Boseko Lokombo recorded seven tackles and a tackle for a loss. Mathieu Betts had four tackles and a sack. Quincy Mauger had two tackles, one forced fumble and a fumble recovery. Jevon Cottoy had one tackle, one forced fumble and a fumble recovery.

The Blue Bombers came up just short in the Grey Cup against the Argonauts a year ago and now they’re making it everyone’s problem. Winnipeg took its nickname literally and bombed the Saskatchewan Roughriders off the field last Friday, 45-27. Zach Collaros was an efficient 23 of 31 passing for 293 yards and two touchdowns with no interceptions. He added three scrambles for 17 yards and a score. Brady Oliveira led the team rushing with 10 carries for 42 yards. Dalton Schoen caught eight passes for 145 yards and a TD. Drew Wolitarsky had five receptions for 66 yards and a score. Nic Demski hauled in five catches for 56 yards and Carlton Agudosi had three grabs for 19 yards and a touchdown. Adam Bighill, Evan Holm and Malik Clements all finished with five tackles apiece, with Clements adding a sack and five tackles for a loss. Calestin Haba had three tackles, a sack, a tackle for a loss and a fumble recovery. Jamarion Grant scored on a 90-yard punt return.

BC has looked good to open the season, winning their first two games in impressive fashion, but no team has looked better in 2023 than Winnipeg. They have destroyed both teams they faced. This game was close in the Division Finals last year, with the Blue Bombers taking it by eight. I see a similar battle unfolding Thursday. Blue Bombers 27, Lions 20

FRIDAY

MONTREAL ALOUETTES AT HAMILTON TIGER-CATS (pk, O/U: 43.5)

Montreal enjoyed an early bye in Week 2 after slugging out a 19-12 victory over the Ottawa Redblacks in Week 1. In that game, Cody Fajardo finished 14 of 21 for 261 yards. He added five rushes for 15 yards and a TD. William Stanback rushed 16 times for 42 yards. Austin Mack caught four passes for 120 yards. Kaion Julien Grant had two receptions for 62 yards. William Stanback caught four balls for 46 yards. Avery Williams ended his day with eight tackles. Najee Murray had seven tackles, two for a loss and a pick. Tyrice Beverette had five tackles. Jamal Davis II had three tackles and a sack.

The Tiger-Cats didn’t go down without putting up a little bit of a fight, but down they still went. Hamilton dropped its second game of the season, 32-14, to the defending Grey Cup Champion Toronto Argonauts. Bo Levi Mitchell didn’t help his team at quarterback, finishing 16 of 24 for 161 yards, no touchdowns and two interceptions. He scrambled twice for eight yards. James Butler rushed 16 times for 60 yards and a TD. D’haquille Williams caught six passes for 102 yards. James Butler finished with seven receptions for 57 yards. Tim White caught five balls for 44 yards. Ynde Adeleke wrapped with six tackles, all for a loss. Richard Leonard and Chris Edwards had five tackles each, with Leonard notching two for a loss and Edwards claiming a sack. Mahamed Diallo had a tackle and a sack.

In 2022, these were the two worst teams to make the playoffs, with Montreal coming in at 9-9 and Hamilton 8-10. Considering most of the league makes the cut, this year could see a return for both, with similar unimpressive records. In this one, I like the Tiger-Cats to take the early lead to being “mid,” as the kids say. Tiger Cats 20, Alouettes 17

SATURDAY

SASKATCHEWAN ROUGHRIDERS AT CALGARY STAMPEDERS (-3.5, O/U: 45.5)

The Roughriders played next level offense in Week 2, but unfortunately the defense must have missed the plane. Saskatchewan was blown out by the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, 45-27, last Friday. Trevor Harris had a fantastic day at quarterback, going 29 of 41 for 413 yards and three touchdowns and no picks. He led the team in rushing with three carries for 23 yards. Shawn Bane, Jr. hauled in six passes for 132 yards. Tevin Jones had nine grabs for 121 yards. Samuel Emilus caught seven balls for 78 yards and all three touchdowns. Trevor Harris ended his night with 10 tackles and three tackles for a loss. Pete Robertson recorded five tackles and a sack. Rolan Miligan had four tackles, with three for a loss.

Calgary put up points in every quarter as they coasted to their first victory of the 2023 campaign, 26-15, over the Ottawa Redblacks. Jake Maier ended his Thursday night 22 of 33 for 332 yads, one touchdown and an interception. He added two scrambles for five yards and a score. Dedrick Mills rushed 19 times for 102 yards and a TD. Reggie Begelton caught eight passes for 141 yards. Malik Henry had seven grabs for 108 yards and a touchdown. Cameron Judge led the team with seven tackles. Micah Awe had five tackles, a sack, an interception and a fumble recovery. Brenden Dozier had two tackles and a forced fumble. Darius Williams had a forced fumble and Jordan Herdman-Reed had a fumble recovery.

On paper, this one easily looks like the best game of the week. Both these teams will be fighting for a playoff spot all seasons and both of them will be looking up at Winnipeg and the Argonauts the whole way. I like Saskatchewan to break through in this one. Roughriders 27, Stampeders 23

SUNDAY

TORONTO ARGONAUTS AT EDMONTON ELKS (+7, O.U: 44.5)

Toronto made the most of its extra week of rest and relaxation, all but putting the Hamilton Tiger-Cats away in the opening half before cruising to a 32-14 victory last Sunday. In his first start, Chad Kelly looked pretty good, going 14 of 23 for 238 yards, no touchdowns and no interceptions. He rushed five times for 28 yards and three scores. AJ Ouellette carried the ball 13 times for 60 yards. Andrew Harris had four rushes for 24 yards and a TD. Damonte Coxie caught six passes for 131 yards. Adarius Picket finished with eight tackles. Jordan Williams had six tackles and Robertson Daniel had five. Folarian Orimolade and Qwantez Stiggers had four tackles apiece, with Orimolade adding a sack and Stiggers an interception. Tavarus McFadden had three tackles, all for a loss. DeShaun Amos ended his night with a tackle and a pick.

The Elks didn’t bother showing up to the game last Saturday, as they let the BC Lions dominate them thoroughly in a 22-0 shutout loss. Taylor Cornelius was a pathetic 12 of 23 for 98 yards, no touchdowns and a pick in the loss. He scrambled once for eight yards. Kevin Brown had seven carries for 41 yards. Steven Dunbar, Jr. caught five passes for 46 yards. Nyles Morgan ended his day with eight tackles. Adam Konar had seven tackles. Dwayne Thompson II had four tackles, all for a loss.

Well, there’s probably a universe in the multiverse where Edmonton stands a chance in this one, but we currently all reside on Earth-1218. So this contest will not be close and that line is a gift. Argonauts 31, Elks 10

Last week

Straight up: 4-0

Against the spread: 4-0

Season

Straight up: 7-1

Against the spread: 7-1

Follow Adam Greene on Twitter @TheFirstMan.

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