CFL WEEK 18 PREVIEW & PICKS

BY ADAM GREENE

Well, our Canadian Football extravaganza continues, with four, count ‘em, four weeks of football above the great ice wall left to go. Why this many? It’s Canada and there’s apparently a football exchange rate to go with the financial exchange rate.

This past week we had two more teams clinch a playoff spot leaving only a single bracket position left between four teams — the Saskatchewan Roughriders (6-9), Edmonton Elks (4-11), Ottawa Redblacks (4-11) and the Calgary Stampeders (4-11). I’m not sure if you know how math works, or if that whole exchange rate thing comes into play in Canada, but I’m confident the Roughriders have the inside track.

We have a new No. 1 this week after the Toronto Argonauts, who’ve already secured everything, decided to “rest” Chad Kelly. They rested him so well that the books have no clue who’s starting at quarterback this week, so we have no odds there.

For the other three games we do have the odds, lines, and totals with which to make flipping back and forth between these games and your NCAA and NFL football experience worth your while.

A note heading into Week 18, Vernon Adams, Jr. of the BC Lions is currently our top CFL passer, completing 68.9 percent of his passes for 4,005 yards, 28 touchdowns and 16 interceptions. Jake Maier of the Calgary Stampeders is No. 2 with a 64.3 completion percentage for 3,820 yards, 15 TDs and 15 picks. Zach Callaros of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers is third with a 67.7 completion percentage for 3,738 yards, 30 touchdowns and 14 interceptions.

We have two 1,000-yard rushers at this point, with Winnipeg’s Brady Oliveira leading the way with 1,359 yards and six touchdowns, averaging 6.0 yards per carry. Kevin Brown of the Edmonton Elks has 1,022 yards and four scores, averaging 6.2 yards per carry.

The CFL boasts six receivers already eclipsing 1,00 yards. Dalton Schoen of the Blue Bombers has 1,136 yards and 10 touchdowns. Keon Hatcher of the BC Lions has 1,103 yards and six scores. Austin Mack had Montreal Alouettes has 1,057 yardsand four touchdowns. Reggie Begelton has 1,053 yards and four TDs. Tim White has 1,028 yards and six touchdowns. Alexander Hollins has 1,019 yards and eight TDs.

POWER RANKINGS

1. WINNIPEG BLUE BOMBERS (11-4)

Winnipeg may not have played the best version of the Toronto Argonauts, but they won the game and that’s how they’ve landed in the top spot in the Power Rankings. Last week: No. 3

2. TORONTO ARGONAUTS (12-2)

Having already clinched the CFL East Division and a playoff spot, the Argos decided to rest Chad Kelly in what should have been the best game of the season. It cost them a win, but, considering Kelly’s been playing a little banged up, it’ll pay off when it counts. Last week: No. 1

3. BC LIONS (11-4)

Is it fair to drop the Lions after a win over a potential (and probable) CFL Grey Cup team? I can’t drop the Argos after taking just their second loss of the season and sitting their starting QB. Last week: No. 2

4. MONTREAL ALOUETTES (8-7)

Montreal not only got back above .500 last week with a victory, but they also punched their ticket to the postseason. Last week: No. 4

5. HAMILTON TIGER-CATS (7-8)

It seemed to have almost happened quietly, and maybe that has a lot to do with how bad most of the CFL is this year, but the Tiger-Cats are back in the playoffs. Now they need to make sure they don’t enter it under .500. Last week: No. 5

6. EDMONTON ELKS (4-11)

The Elks had a week off to prepare for the Toronto Argonauts and just might be facing them without Chad Kelly at quarterback. Could be interesting. Last week: No. 7

7. SASKATCHEWAN ROUGHRIDERS (6-9)

Saskatchewan’s offense showed up last week but could not stand toe-to-toe with the BC Lions. This is probably how it’s going to be for the rest of the season all the way to an early playoff exit. Last week: No. 8

8. OTTAWA REDBLACKS (4-11)

Ottawa’s offense had been on fire for weeks, but last week got it snuffed out, all but ending any postseason hopes (and, realistically, did they have any?) with their 11^th loss of the year. Last week: No. 6

9. CALGARY STAMPEDERS (4-11)

Well, the Stampeders continued their downward spiral last week, losing 22-15 to the Hamilton Tiger-Cats and just slowly and achingly watching their season swirl right down the toilet. Last week: 9

WEEK 18

Byes: Calgary Stampeders

FRIDAY

EDMONTON ELKS AT TORONTO ARGONAUTS (xx, O/U: xx)

Before their bye, the Elks fell in a shootout to the BC Lions, 37-29, to halt a pretty solid stretch for the formerly hapless (and winless) team. Tre Ford was 20 of 27 for 182 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions. He led the team rushing with 43 yards. Kyran Moore caught eight passes for 56 yards. Dillon Mitchell had three grabs for 42 yards and two scores. Defensively, Nyles Morgan led the team with 12 tackles, with two for a loss. Jake Ceresna had five tackles and two sacks. Darrius Bratton had three tackles and a pick. Elliott Brown had two tackles and a forced fumble.

With everything they can clinch already clinched, Toronto thought it’d be a good time to give Chad Kelly the day off. Needless to say, with their MVP in street clothes (since it’s Canada, I’m assuming a furry ushanka hat was involved), the Argonauts fell to the Winnipeg Blue Bombers 31-21. Cameron Dukes took most of the snaps under center, going 17 of 24 passing for 231 yards, one touchdown and no interceptions. He led the team rushing with four carries for 34 yards and a TD. Tommy Nield caught four passes for 58 yards. Damonte Coxie had two grabs for 54 yards. AJ Oullette had one tush for 26 yards and caught one pass for 28 yards and a score. On defense, Jordan Williams led the way with eight tackles. Jonathan Jones had seven tackles. Brandon Barlow had five tackles. Qwantez Stiggers had four tackles and a pick. Thomas Costigan had a tackle and a sack.

Are the Argos hiding a potential Chad Kelly injury? The books seem worried so they’ve held off on putting a line and totals on this one. I have a deadline and can’t wait on it, so I’m going to go ahead and pick Toronto to win a close one. Argonauts 24, Elks 20

WINNIPEG BLUE BOMBERS AT BC LIONS (-1.5, O/U: 51)

It may have not been against the full strength Toronto Argonauts, but the Blue Bombers still got the victory, winning 31-21 last Friday. Zach Collaros was 22 of 33 passing for 258 yards, one touchdown and a pick. He scrambled three times for 12 yards. Brady Oliveira rushed 24 times for 169 yards. He added two receptions for 12 yards and a score. Dalton Schoen caught six passes for 101 yards. Drew Wolitarsky hauled in five balls for 64 yards. Kyrie Wilson led the defense with six tackles. Adam Bighill had five tackles. Deatrick Nichols had two tackles and a forced fumble.

The Lions survived a shootout and a fourth quarter comeback attempt last week, winning 33-26 over the Saskatchewan Roughriders. Vernon Adams, Jr. lit it up, going 27 of 36 passing for 458 yards and three touchdowns with no picks. He scrambled once for 13 yards. Taquan Mizzell rushed 10 times for 38 yards. Keon Hatcher caught 10 passes for 172 yards and one score. Dominique Rhymes had five grabs for 92 yards. Alexander Hollins had three catches for 83 yards and two touchdowns. Defensively, Ben Hladik led the way with 11 tackles, one for a loss and a sack. Adrian Greene had eight tackles. Garry Peters had three tackles and one pick. TJ Lee had two tackles and an interception. Mathieu Betts and Tibo Debaillie both had a tackle and a sack.

The last time these two met was in Week 3, with British Columbia blowing out Winnipeg 30-6. I don’t expect this one to be that kind of blowout, but I’m kind of feeling BC again at home. Lions 38, Blue Bombers 34

SATURDAY

HAMILTON TIGER-CATS AT SASKATCHEWAN ROUGHRIDERS (-3.5, O/U: 49)

A big second quarter secured a spot in the postseason for Hamilton last week as they outlasted the Calgary Stampeders, 22-15. Matthew Shiltz, the most dangerous name in sports writing, was 11 of 19 passing for 225 yards, two touchdowns and an interception. He scrambled three times for 30 yards. James Butler led the team rushing with 14 carries for 92 yards. Tim Whit caught three passes for 96 yards and a score. Kiondre Smith had three grabs for 56 yards. Terry Godwin had 28-yard touchdown catch. Simoni Lawrence had seven tackles to lead the team. Richard Leonard, Jameer Thurman and Will Sunderland all had five tackles apiece, with Sunderland forcing a fumble and Thurman recovering a fumble. Kenneth George, Jr had three tackles and a fumble recovery. Casey Sayles has two tackles and a sack. Jamal Davis II had a tackle and a sack.

Saskatchewan gave it all they had, especially in racking up a 15-point fourth quarter and pitching a shutout on defense, but it wasn’t enough to take out the BC Lions as they lost 33-26. Jake Dolegala had a day at QB, going 31 of 45 passing for 409 yards, no touchdowns, but two costly picks. Frankie Hickson had 10 rushes for 22 yards. Thomas Bertrand-Hudon had three carries for 7 yards and two TDs. Antonio Pipkin had three totes for five yards and a score. Kian Schaffer-Baker had nine receptions for 104 yards. Jerreth Sterns caught seven passes for 102 yards. Samuel Emilus had five grabs for 76 yards. Shane Bane, Jr. caught four balls for 59 yards. Jayden Dalke had eight tackles. Derrick Moncrief had five tackles. CJ Reavis had four tackles, all for a loss and two sacks. Pete Robertson had three tackles and a sack. Chrisitan Albright had a tackle and a sack.

Hamilton is the only current playoff team with a record under .500, but the Saskatchewan is playing for their lives here. A 10^th loss opens that final playoff spot for everyone. I’m going with the home team here to clinch that final position. Roughriders 23, Tiger-Cats 20

MONDAY

OTTAWA REDBLACKS AT MONTRAL ALOUETTES (-6.5, O/U: 47.5)

The Redblacks forgot how to play offense at the worst possible time, allowing the Montreal Alouettes to secure a CFL playoff spot on their own field, falling 32-15 last week. Dustin Crim was 25 of 34 passing for 247 yards, no touchdowns and two interceptions. Crum led the team rushing with three carries for 35 yards. Devonte Williams had seven rushes for 25 yards and a score. He added eight receptions for 66 yards. Bralon Addison caught seven passes for 94 yards. Damon Webb had five tackles to lead the D. Cleyon Laing had three tackles and two sacks. Lorenzo Mauldin IV had three tackles and a sack. Kene Onyeka had a tackle and a sack. Bryce Carter had a tackle and a fumble recovery.

With a solid four quarter performance, Montreal secured a spot in the playoffs with a 32-15 victory over the Ottawa Redblacks. Cody Fajardo was 15 of 20 passing for 178 yards and a touchdown with zero picks. William Stanback rushed 13 times for 85 yards and a TD. Cole Spieker had three receptions for 60 yards. Tyson Philpot had three catches for 41 yards and a score. Avery Williams and Reggie Stubblefield had seven tackles apiece, with Stubblefield adding two tackles for a loss, two sacks and one pick. Tyrice Beverette had six tackles and two sacks. Wesley Sutton and Kabion Ento had five tackles apiece. Darnell Sankey had four tackles, a sack and a fumble recovery. Dionte Ruffin had two tackles and a forced fumble.

Montreal has already landed their postseason spot and can’t really hope to catch Toronto in the East. They aren’t playing for anything other than pride and to enter the playoffs with the best record possible. No one wants to be playing late with a losing record. That’s bad news for Ottawa in the week after rematch. I expect a lot of the same. Alouettes 34, Redblacks 21

Last week

Straight up: 3-1

Against the spread: 2-2

Season

Straight up: 49-17

Against the spread: 35-31

Follow Adam Greene on Twitter @TheFirstMan.

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