CFL WEEK 14 PREVIEW & PICKS

BY ADAM GREENE

At this point we’re just counting down the weeks. And, believe it or not, not even counting the playoffs, we have eight to go including this one.

Yes, this 21-week regular season is a tad long. And it doesn’t help that the CFL is fielding an odd number of teams, so everyone has to experience a bye each week.

The NFL is live for real this go-round, so its Canadian counterpart has decided instead to do battle with NCAA football instead. I’m not sure that’s the smartest move and, frankly, only solidifies my position that the three spring and summer leagues should merge. Instead of playing their “Week 14” games this week, they should have played their championship game last week when they could have had most of Sunday all for themselves.

Do I have to solve everything?

Either way, we’re still playing Canadian football and have the odds, lines and totals with which to make it worth our time.

POWER RANKINGS

1. TORONTO ARGONAUTS (9-1)

Well, look who’s back atop the rankings. The Argos picked up their third win in a row by scoring 39 or more points. Which should put the fear of “Grey” in every other CFL team. Last week: No. 2

2. SASKATCHEWAN ROUGHRIDERS (6-5)

Saskatchewan came into their bye off a win and got another coming out of it, using the extra week of preparation to down the top ranked team in the league. Last week: No. 4

3. BC LIONS (8-4)

After two shocking losses, the Lions are right back with the CFL Trinity with a possible playoff preview victory over the Montreal Alouettes. Last week: No. 5

4. WINNEPEG BLUE BOMBERS (9-3)

Winnipeg has been the hottest team in the league for a month, but the Saskatchewan Roughriders had just enough to knock them from the top spot in the rankings a week ago. The Blue Bombers get a rematch to try to make it right this week. Last week: No. 1

5. MONTREAL ALOUETTES (6-5)

Montral spent two consecutive weeks proving they were real postseason contenders, only to fall to the BC Lions a week ago. And now, the Toronto Argonauts guillotine awaits. Last week: No. 3

6. HAMILTON TIGER-CATS (4-7)

Facing the Argonauts after playing their best game of the season in a win over the BC Lions was a cold bucket of water to a face for a team in an area of the world where cold buckets of water are commonplace. Last week: No. 6

7. CALGARY STAMPEDERS (4-8)

If any team could have contained the suddenly surging Edmonton Elks… well, it could have been anybody, but it turns out it was the Stampeders. Now they have to do it again. Last week: 8

8. EDMONTON ELKS (2-10)

If last week’s one-score loss to the Calgary Stampeders had happened early in the season, we wouldn’t have blinked an eye. But the Elks have improved immensely, especially on offense, which is exactly why they find themselves favored in the rematch. Last week: No. 7

9. OTTAWA REDBLACKS (3-8)

The Redblacks had a week to sit with their nose in the corner after losing to the Edmonton Elks. Now, they can take out that frustration on the Hamilton-Tiger Cats. Or, you know, set up shop here at the bottom of the Power Rankings. It’s their choice. Last week: No. 9

WEEK 14

Byes: BC Lions

FRIDAY

HAMILTON TIGER-CATS AT OTTAWA REDBLACKS (-4, O/U: 47.5)

Hamilton just can’t catch a break. Trying to build off their biggest win of the season over the BC Lions, they ran into a brick wall called the Toronto Argonauts and were nearly run off the field in the opening half. The Tiger-Cats showed up in the second to score 24 points, but it was too late as they fell 41-28. Taylor Power finished his night 30 of 42 for 296 yards, three touchdowns and a pick in the loss. He scrambled five times for 17 yards. James Butler rushed 11 times for 63 yards. Tim White caught eight passes for 110 yards and a TD. Terry Goodwin hauled in six balls for 50 yards and two touchdowns. Kiondre Smith had three receptions for 49 yards. Stavros Katsantonis had six tackles and a pick. Simoni Lawrence had five tackles. Malik Carney ahd four tackles, all for a loss. Javien Elliott had two tackles and an interception.

Thanks to the these Redblacks two weeks ago, the Edmonton Elks were able to put together and actual winning streak, as Ottawa fell 30-20 before taking a knee for seven days. Dustin Crum continued his 2024 USFL tryout going 17 of 24 for 172 yards, no touchdowns and no interceptions. He scrambled five times for 28 yards. Devonte Williams rushed 12 times for 84 yards and a TD. Tyrrell Pigrome had five totes for nine yards and a score. Shaq Evans caught three passes for 51 yards. On defense, Jovan Santos-Knox recorded 100 tackles, one for a loss and a sack. Adam Aucliamr had seven tackles. Douglas Coleman had six tackles and a sack.

This is an interesting match up to open the week. Ottawa is bad, sure, but they can score on offense and you can say the same about Hamilton for the most part. I’m saying this will be a shootout, the home team wins, but doesn’t cover. Redblacks 33, Tiger-Cats 30

SATURDAY

MONTREAL ALOUETTES AT TORONTO ARGONAUTS (-10.5, O/U: 53.5)

Montreal came out strong, attempting to match the BC Lions point for point, but traded too many field goals for touchdowns in a 34-25 loss last week. Cody Fajordo finished 22 of 35 for 296 yards passing for a touchdown and two costly interceptions. He scrambled seven times for 36 yards. Willima Stanback rushed eight times for 103 yards and a TD. Jeshrun Antwi had five carries for 55 yards. Austin Mack caught seven passes for 143 yards and a touchdown. Tyler Snead also hauled in seven for 69 yards. Cole Spieke caught three passes for 51 yards. Frederic Chagnon led the defense with six tackles with three for a loss. Kordell Rodgers and Kabion Ento had five tackles apiece. Jamal Davis II had three tackles, all for a loss.

The Argonauts unleashed their offense once again, piling up 17 points in the opening quarter to roll onto a 41-28 victory over the Hamilton Tiger-Cats last week. Chad Kelly was 15 of 23 for 201 yards, two touchdowns but two interceptions. Kelly’s picks have been high of late and that could cost the team if he doesn’t tone down the gunslinging some. He dud add three scrambled for 27 yards and a TD. AJ Ouellette did double duty, rushing 12 times for 79 yards and throwing a 26 yard touchdown pass. Andrew Harris carried the ball four times for 12 yards and a score. Kurleigh Gittens, Jr. had five receptions for 67 yards. DaVaris Danies caught three balls for 57 yards and a TD. Dejon Brissett had two grabs for 38 yards and a touchdown. Damonte Coxie had two catches for 32 yards and a TD. Adarius Pickett nearly hit for the cycle with nine tackles, a sack, a fumble recovery and a tackle for a loss. Wynton McManis had seven tackles. Shawk Oakman had five tackles, a sack and a fumble recovery. Folarin Orimolade, Brandon Barlow and Dieonte Knight all had two tackles and a sack. Orimolade added a fumble recovery and Knight had a forced fumble. Jamal Peters had a tackle and a pick.

It’s too bad Montreal is trying to bounce back from a tough loss after getting their season back on track, because I’m pretty sure Toronto owns the track everyone’s playing on. Argonauts 44, Alouettes 23

SASKATCHEWAN ROUGHRIDERS AT WINNIPEG BLUE BOMBERS (-8.5, O/U: 47.5)

Saskatchewan used their bye week to prepare in the right way, holding off the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in an overtime shootout, 32-30. Jake Dolegala finished 22 of 39 for 326 yards, no touchdowns and no picks in the win. Jamal Morrow led the team in rushing with nine carries for 37 yards, but it was Antonio Pipkin had just three carries for five yards and two scores. Tevin Jones caught five passes for 96 yards. Jamal Morrow had four receptions for 76 yards. Samuel Emilus had four catches for 53 yards. Micah Teitz led the team with five tackles. Micah Johnson had two tackles and a sack. Nick Marshall had a tackle and a pick.

It took an extra period, but the Blue Bombers proved they could be beaten in September, losing 32-30 to the Saskatchewan Roughriders last week. Zach Collaros made his return to the field with a so-so outing for him, going 13 of 26 for 279 yards, two touchdowns and an interception in the loss. Brady Oliveira rushed 17 times for 88 yards and two scores. Nic Demski caught five passes for 118 yards. Dalton Schoen had three grabs for 68 yards. Kenny Lawler had two receptions for 48 yards and a score. Demeroi Houston set the path on defense with seven tackles. Adam Bighill had six tackles and two sacks. Evan Holm had five tackles and a sack.

For a week-later rematch (one of two this week) where the home team won a close one, it’s odd to see a line this big. I don’t like it, but I do think Winnipeg will bounce back. Blue Bombers 31, Roughriders 24

CALGARY STAMPEDERS AT EDMONTON ELKS (-2.5, O/U: 48.5)

Calgary has put itself back into the serious CFL mix by stacking up wins, surviving a shootout last week with the Edmonton Elks, 35-31. Jake Maier wrapped his day at quarterback 27 of 34 passing for 315 yards, no touchdowns and a pick. He scrambled once for a five yard touchdown. Ka’Deem Carey led the team with nine rushes for 55 yards and added three receptions for 40 yards. Dedrick Mills had six carries for 46 yards and a TD. Marken Michel caught four passes for 95 yards. Markeith Ambles hauled in seven passes for 76 yards. Reggie Begelton had six grabs for 49 yards. Micaeh Awe was atop the stat sheet on defense with eight tackles. Cameron Judge finished with six tackles, with one for a loss. Brandon Dozier and Tre Robertson both had five tackles. Kobe Williams had four tackles, a sack and a forced fumble.

For as many points as the Elks scored last week, Tre Ford continues to be unimpressive at quarterback. This time he completed 14 of 23 for just 137 yards, a touchdown and no interceptions in a 35-31 shootout loss to the Calgary Stampders a week ago. Ford did lead the team in rushing with 11 carries for 135 yards, but this is professional football, not NCAA Division II. Kylan Moore got the call to make a pass in the game and completed a 19 yard TD. Kevin Brown carried the ball 12 times for 89 yards. Taylor Cornelius had five carries for eight yards and a touchdown.  Eugene Lewis caught five passes for 55 yards. Steven Dunbar, Jr. caught two passes for 24 yards and they both went for touchdowns. Mark McLaurin and Kai Gray set the pace on defense with eight tackles apiece. AC Leonard and Adam Konar both had four tackles, with Leonard adding a sack. Jake Ceresna had three tackles, a sack and a fumble recovery. Noah Curtis had two tackles and a sack. Marcus Lewis had a tackle and a pick. 

Edmonton’s problem, in addition to just being bad, is playing a type of offense that only regularly works at lower levels of football or if you have some superhuman like Lamar Jackson at quarterback. No Lamar Jackson is going to ever suit up in the CFL. It shows how hard they’ve worked to be competitive that they’re favored in this game at home, but I don’t think it’ll matter. Stampeders 31, Elks 28

Last week

Straight up: 3-1

Against the spread: 3-1

Season

Straight up: 37-13

Against the spread: 28-22

Follow Adam Greene on Twitter @TheFirstMan.

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