CFL PLAYOFFS WEEK 1 PREVIEW & PICKS

BY ADAM GREENE

My God, we have made it. The CFL regular season has mercifully come to an end after 21 weeks of football.

The playoffs are now upon us and we have the odds, lines and totals with which to make tuning over from our NCAA football Saturday worthwhile.

PLAYOFF BRACKET

1. TORONTO ARGONAUTS (16-2)

In spite of starting reserve players, the Argonauts knocked off the Ottawa Redblacks in Wek 21 to finish 16-2, tying a single season win record held by the Edmonton Elks (they weren’t the Elks then) set in 1989. Now the CFL East Division Champs have a week off before welcoming the winner of the Hamilton Tiger-Cats vs Montreal Alouettes semi-final contest.

2. WINNIPEG BLUE BOMBERS (14-4)

With nothing left to play for, the Blue Bombers remained relentless, making sure Calgary would not enter the postseason with even the slightest bit of mojo. The Blue Bombers now get a first-round bye thanks to claiming the CFL West while the Stampeders travel to British Columbia to take on the Lions in the semis.

3. BC LIONS (12-6)

The Lions got to watch the final week of the season unfold from their man caves. Two weeks go they lost in a total beat down to a six-win team they’ll face again in the Western Semi-Finals, the Calgary Stampeders.

4. MONTREAL ALOUETTES (11-7)

Well, Montreal knocked off the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in Week 21 only to see them coming right back to town in the Eastern Division Semi-Finals.

5. HAMILTON TIGER-CATS (8-10)

Hamilton got the best possible scout they could last week, as they fell to the Alouettes, the very team they’ll play Saturday in the semis.

6. CALGARY STAMPEDERS (6-12)

Two weeks ago, the Stampeders stampeded all over the Lions, securing the final postseason spot in spite of their horrid record. Now, a fortnight later, they get a chance to shock the world, or at least the world above the Great Ice Wall, by doing it again in the Western Semi-Final game.

SEMI-FINALS

SATURDAY

EASTERN SEMI-FINAL

HAMILTON TIGER-CATS AT MONTREAL ALOUETTES (-3.5, O/U: 48)

This same game happened exactly seven days before, with the Alouettes outlasting the Tiger-Cats 22-20 in a playoff preview. In the victory, Montreal all played three quarterbacks, with Cody Fajardo going 6 of 8 passing for 55 yards, one touchdown and no picks before taking a rest. Davis Alexander and Caleb Evans finished out the game, going a combined 9 of 15 for 78 yards, no TDs and no interceptions. William Stanback led Montreal in rushing with seven carries for 48 yards. Cole Spieker caught five passes for 41 yards. Tyson Philpot hauled in two passes for 16 yards and a score. On defense, Marc Antoine Dequoy, Tyrice Beverette, Avery Williams and Darnell Sankey all recorded four tackles apiece. Antoine Dequoy added a fumble recovery. Sankey had a pick, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery and a tackle for a loss. Shawn Lemon, Kabion Ento and Wesley Sutton all had two tackles, with Lemon and Sutton recording a sack each and Ento nabbing a pick.

Hamilton too played multiple quarterbacks in the loss, but probably not for the same reasons the Alouettes enjoyed. Taylor Powell was 10 of 19 passing for 106 yards, no touchdowns and two interceptions in the defeat. Bo Levi Mitched was 5 of 10 passing for 53 yards, no touchdowns and no picks. Sean Thomas Erlington rushed 12 times for 80 yards and a score. Terry Godwin caught three passes for 56 yards. Kiondre Smith hauled in four balls for 50 yards. James Thurman led the defense with six tackles, a sack and a forced fumble. Kenneth George, Jr. and Dylan Wynn both had two tackles and a sack each.

Hamilton gave it a go last week while Montreal took its foot off the gas. We all saw the result. There’s no reason to believe this week, with the Alouettes playing for real, will turn out any different. Alouettes 31, Tiger-Cats 23

CALGARY STAMPEDERS AT BC LIONS (-6.5, O/U: 50)

If Calgary hoped to enter the playoffs on a winning streak, the Winnipeg Blue Bombers backups ended that hope in a hurry. The Stampeders were railroaded in their own stadium, losing 36-13. Jake Maier continued his USFL-worth quarterback campaign (yes, that’s an insult) by going 6 of 15 passing for 110 yards, one touchdown and no interceptions. Tommy Stevens came in off the bench, finishing 2 of 4 passing for nine whole yards. He also rushed for five, so hope that didn’t cost anyone a fantasy football win this week. Dedrick Mills rushed eight times for 88 yards. Cole Tucker caught two passes for 53 yards and a TD. Micah Awe led the defense with 13 tackles. Silas Stewart had nine tackles. Michael Griffin finished with eight tackles. Julina Howsare had four tackles, a sack and fumble recovery. Adarius Taylor had three tackles, one forced fumble and a fumble recovery.

You’d like to say the Lions “enjoyed” a bye in Week 21, but how could they after getting destroyed by this same six-win Calgary Stampeders team in Week 20, 41-16? In that game, Vernon Adams, Jr. took a seat early after starting the game and going 9 of 13 passing for 116 yards, no touchdowns and an interception before taking a rest for the postseason. Dane Evans came in to finish the game and that’s where the wheels came off. Evans went 14 of 20 passing for 125 yards, one touchdown and three picks. He scrambled three times for 16 yards. JaQuan Hardy rushed 11 times for 41 yards. Justin McInnis caught seven passes for 108 yards. Jevon Cottoy hauled in five receptions for 64 yards and a TD. On defense, Ben Hladik and TJ Lee both finished with six tackles apiece. Amir Sddiqi had five tackles. Matthieu Betts had three tackles and a sack.

British Columbia won’t be resting anyone in this game. Calgary shouldn’t match up with the Lions at full strength. And, frankly, no one wants to see the Stampeders in the Eastern Finals, except maybe the Blue Bombers. Lions 38, Stampeders 17

Last week

Straight up: 2-1

Against the spread: 2-1

Season

Straight up: 58-22

Against the spread: 42-38

Follow Adam Greene on Twitter @TheFirstMan.

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