- Will the Lions’ defense hold up against the Stampeders?
- Can the Elks play spoiler?
- Toronto looks to continue their dominant season.
We’re getting down to the nitty-gritty, as some teams still want to make a playoff push. Last week, we went a healthy 3-4. We almost nailed the Tiger-Cats upset, but the Lions were able to hang on for the three-point win. Could we see an upset this week between the Elks and Bombers? Find out in our CFL Week 20 predictions.
Our Power Rankings haven’t changed much. The Riders and Stampeders switched spots as Saskatchewan rides a six-game losing streak, and Calgary is coming off a big win last week. Both those teams are looking for that final playoff spot in the West.
Calgary Stampeders at BC Lions
Both teams have something to play for. The Lions could still win the West if they can secure a victory and Winnipeg loses in the next two weeks. Meanwhile, the Stamps at 5-11 can still grab a playoff spot if they can pull out a win and Saskatchewan loses on Saturday.
The Lions have feasted on the Stampeders, winning both matchups this season by double digits, which includes a Week 10 37-9 massacre. That said, the Lions’ defense has not been good, having surrendered 30.4 PPG over their last ten games. Calgary’s Jake Maier has shown that he’s more than capable of taking advantage of leaky defenses as he ranks third in the CFL with 4,011 passing yards. His biggest problem has been consistency, stalling out on drives, and not scoring points.
Just a heads-up: Calgary will be getting their top receiver, Reggie Begelton back into their lineup, which could provide a boost. In what should be a closer matchup, BC’s offense is more than capable of outscoring their defensive miscues.
Prediction: BC Lions
Toronto Argos at Saskatchewan Roughriders
Two teams that are going in two different directions. The Riders are on a six-game losing streak, while the Argos are coasting into the playoffs as Grey Cup favourites. Because it’s the CFL, even though Saskatchewan has been terrible, they still have a shot of making the playoffs with a win this Saturday.
The Riders have been so bad because their defense has surrendered a mind-numbing 34.1 ppg over their last 11 games. Ouch. Now, they face an Argos team that is dominant on both sides of the ball and has crushed the competition despite having little to play for in the regular season. When it comes to making the playoffs, the Riders are going to need some help because winning isn’t something they’re going to do this week.
Prediction: Toronto Argos
Edmonton Elks at Winnipeg Blue Bombers
The Elks want to play spoiler against the Bombers, who need a win to clinch the West. Edmonton might not have much to play for, but they like to make it difficult on the opposition. Tre Ford has found his groove behind center, and the Elks, in general, have been a feisty bunch to play against.
Being hard to play against and converting that into wins has been Edmonton’s problem, and they face a motivated and tough Winnipeg squad that is practically unbeatable at home. The stat that stares us in the face is the Elks being the worst team in the CFL against the run, allowing 135.5 rushing yards per game and 5.8 yards per carry. And they happen to be facing the best running-back in the league and potential M.O.P. winner, Brady Oliveira, who has torched Edmonton, having racked up 220 yards on 34 carries in their two prior meetings this season. We think the Bombers win this by a couple of touchdowns.
Prediction: Winnipeg Blue Bombers
