CFL WEEK 7: 11-13 ATS // 17-7 ML // 6-3 TEASERS

EDM +1 @ OTT
Chris Jones so needed to be gone, and gone he be getting fired on Monday. 15 seconds left on the clock with the Elks down 7 on Ottawa's 1 yardline, time is ticking but the Elks rush and call a play. No TD. 3rd and goal, time is ticking, TD Elks, 8 seconds left. Why the hell wouldn't you run out the rest of the clock if it's 3rd down and this is your last play anyways at a chance at tying it? You can even let the clock go to 00:00 in the CFL and you still get to call the last play. Absolutely brutal coaching. Never the less, the Elks did what they do best (Elksing) and Bede kicks the ball out of bounds on the ensuing kickoff. One pass later and 2 seconds left on the clock, Ottawa is in FG range and wins the game on the Elks 3rd consecutive loss in a row on walk off FGs, brutal stuff. They had 17 days off to prepare for that game as well. Under Chris Jones since the start of the 2022 season onwards with Tre Ford in the lineup: 5-8, without Tre in the lineup: 3-24, including 0-5 with Bethel-Thompson. Why didn't Chris Jones give Tre his shot at starting with his low salary and use the ~$500k they gave ANOTHER QB in Bethel Thompson elsewhere on the team that needs help? Believe it or not but the Elks could be 5-0 right now (3-2 at absolute worst). I am riding the Elks again this week with Jones gone and these teams playing a home and home but I am not confident in it. When coaches get fired, teams usually respond well the next game. But the Elks are playing on the road on a short week.

UPDATE: Eddie Steele and Jarious Jackson confirmed Tre Ford refuses to play unless he's starting. Several packages and plays were developed for him, but he turned them down. Interesting...

What kind of juice did Dru Brown take before the Elks game last week? I thought he wasn't even going to play and that was a big part of the reason I was riding the Elks but he did play and almost threw for 500 yards and had a clutch pass in the dying seconds of the game. Albeit this is the Elks defense and they are not good, I am still impressed with Brown. Ottawa is 2-0 at home. It is tough to win both games in a home/home series unless it's against Hamilton, and the Elks interim HC is Jarious Jackson (ex CFL BC QB) and interim GM Geroy Simon (ex CFL BC WR). Jarious was a good QB and Geroy was a great WR. Elks win and cover but I am not rushing to bet this game. Should be high scoring.
29-27 Elks

WPG @ SK +3.5
It looked to me like Collaros played like he really wanted to pick up his 1st win of the season last week, as Strevler was the starter for Winnipeg's only win so far this year. He threw for 344 yards, 2 TDs and 2 INTs. He also may of found another go to WR in Ontaria Wilson who hauled in 13 receptions for 201 yards and 1 TD. The gameplan is keep feeding Oliveira the rock as he piled up another 109 yards on 15 carries. This weeks game is a tough game to call. Winnipeg finally are starting to put it together. Jefferson should be licking his chops with the injuries to a pair of Riders tackles.

The Riders were the last remaining undefeated team since Montreal played on Thursday and the Riders came back to earth with a humbling loss to BC. Another concering thing to see was Hardrick getting carted off the field, could be a long term injury. Not good for the Riders OL. Shea and Ouellette played OK but not great. The Riders are going to need a big game from AJ against an exploitable Winnipeg run defence and Shea not to turn the ball over. The home crowd will be behind them and this rivalry is the best in the CFL. The Bombers and Collaros got their much need wins the past 2 weeks and aren't as desperate as they once were. The Riders are back at home and I'm confident the defence gets after Collaros and forces him into some poor mistakes/INTs. The Riders have the best run defence in the CFL. Make Winnipeg one-dimensional on offense shutting down the run and get after Collaros who can't scramble and thrives in play action. The Riders are the worst offensive rushing team in the league and the Bombers have the worst rush defence. Ouellette gets going here and Patterson limits turnovers. Riders are debuting their obsidian green uniforms. Riders win and cover in a close game.
27-24 Riders

TOR -2.5 @ HAM
The Argos looked great against Montreal last week, be it Fajardo got hurt they still took it to the defending champs who haven't lost a game in 300 days. Dukes had a relatively quiet game and Carey almost hit 100 yards rushing. It was their defense that came to play in this one and when their DL gets healthy they will be a force to be reckoned with once again. And how can we forget about Janarion Grant? Back to back weeks now with return TDs, that dude is fast and a steal for the Argos. Can't believe he was a free agent for as long as he was.

Hamilton is coming off the bye and so far their only big 'change' has been firing their special teams coordinator. They are unbettable at this point and I have no interest until they prove me wrong otherwise. They are a defunct and broken team and Bo Levi is done in my opinion. The TiCats give up a league worst 32.4 PPG but their offense is posting 392 net yards a game (2nd in the league). The defence only has 3 takeaways this season. This is a rivalry and always tough game but riding with the Argos. Toronto wins and covers.  It is sort of sketchy the Argos are only 3 point favorites.
31-20 Argos

BC -4.5 @ CAL
BCs passing game just looks like a well oiled machine. Even though BC couldn't run on the Riders at all (Stanbeck had 12 carries for 14 yards), VA shredded the Riders secondary. The timing and chemistry he has with his WRs is so fun to watch. McInnis and Hollins are 1st and 2nd in leading the league in receiving. Imagine if BC still had Rhymes. There were so many times the Riders had the Lions in 2nd and long and everytime VA converted with a perfectly thrown pass downfield. I had no confidence the Riders D could hold the Lions passing game and I love the Riders D under Corey Mace. McInnis had another ridiculous game with 14 catches for 243 yards and 1 TD. Imagine what BC would of done last week with a running game.

Calgary looked great last week and should have beaten the Bombers, but they ended up losing and in the process lost the season series to the Bombers by 1 point. Winnipeg decided to go for 2 late in the 4th and converted, putting them up by 4 instead of 3. Calgary beat Winnipeg by 3 earlier on in the season. Ouch. Mills had a huge game last week rushing 15 times for 131 yards but couldn't get into the endzone. The Stamps just can't get consistent pressure on QBs and with VA rolling into town that's not good. He doesn't need more time to pass. The Stamps also need more out of Maier, he is just not the answer for Calgary in my eyes. This is a bit of a tricky game but I am riding the hot hand of VA, McInnis and BC to win and cover.
37-30 Lions

TEASERS: 6-3 (9-3 including my 2nd pick)
TEASER: 7 pt

SK +10.5
Should be a close game either way. If the Riders can shut down Oliveira (Riders #1 at stopping the run) and Ouellette can abuse the worst run defence in the CFL, it should be another Riders straight out win.

TOR +4.5
I know Hamilton is coming off the bye (see what Edmonton did off their 17 day bye) but they are the worst team in the league and what drastically has changed in 2 weeks other then firing their special teams coordinator? Toronto is the far superior team in every aspect and you're giving me a 4 point cushion.

TOP OFFENSIVE GRADE: Ottawa RedBlacks - Dru Brown passed for almost 500 yards going 26/38 for 480 yards, 2 TD and 1 INT. 3 WRs were over 110+ yards (Pimpleton 153 and quite the debut, Rhymes 131, Hardy 110). BC could of also got the top grade this week but VA had 1 TD, 2 INT and a lot less balance on offense compared to the RedBlacks. It was basically McInnis running the show, the running game for BC was non-existent.

TOP DEFENSIVE GRADE: Toronto Argonauts - part of this is because Fajardo got injured and everything went downhill with Caleb Evans. McManis had a pick six, and the Argos held the Als in check on the ground and in the air.

MY POWER RANKINGS:
1)BC (3)
2)Montreal (1)
3)Saskatchewan (2)
4)Toronto (4)
5)Winnipeg (7)
6)Calgary (5)
7)Ottawa (6)
8)Edmonton (8)
9)Hamilton (9)

Lots of movement this week. BC jumped up 2 spots to 1st with a huge win over SK and with MTL dropping to 2 losing the game and their QB to TOR. SK dropped 1 spot to 3 with the loss, I still give the edge to MTL over SK. TOR stays put at 4 with their loss to SK. WPG jumps up 2 spots to 5 with a huge win (including the season series) against CAL. CAL drops 1 spot to 6 with the loss. Although OTT won, they dropped 1 spot. Edmonton and Hamilton stay put in the basement of the CFL.

A case could easily be made between spots 5-7. Winnipeg, Calgary and Ottawa can be put anywhere in spots to 5-7 and it would make sense.

Good luck!

@slushie007

 Line suspect but hard to pass this one up

Good luck