- Can the Elks finally get a win this week?
- Coinflip on the Ottawa Redblacks and Hamilton Tiger-Cats
- Lions and Alouettes are set to end the week strong with a defensive battle
Canada Day wasn’t nice to us. We had our first losing week by going 1-2, ouch.
The poor showing takes us to 11-4 overall this season which is a positive. No reason to be mad; taking the Lions over the Argos last week wasn’t a bad pick considering how well they played against Winnipeg the week before. The Argos fed the Lions a bowl of humility soup by whooping them 45-24; it looks like the Grey Cup champs are the real deal this season.
That means the Argos shoot up our power rankings to numero uno! They are the most balanced team in the CFL right now, and their undefeated record shows it.
Now it’s time to rebound from a bad week and turn things around with our CFL Week 5 predictions.
Edmonton Elks at Saskatchewan Roughriders
Gawd, the Elks are bad. It doesn’t help matters when they have a terrible offensive line, no productive starting QB, and a porous defence. They face a Saskatchewan Roughrider team who are limping into this matchup with seven Canadians on the six-game injured list. The Riders had a bye last week, and the fans want to bask in the joys of another win, and this is the game they’ll probably get to.
The key to this game will be the Riders’ QB, Trevor Harris and their running game with Jamal Morrow and a returning Frankie Hickson. If Harris can execute a fast-paced offense and Morrow and Hickson run like last year’s dynamic duo, they should be able to expose Edmonton’s D, which is giving up 164 ypg on the ground. We see the Riders running away with another win.
Prediction: Saskatchewan Roughriders
Calgary Stampeders at Winnipeg Blue Bombers
The Calgary Stampeders are showing to be an average team that can score points at 22.3 per game, but unfortunately, their defense is giving up 368.3 yards of net offence and the second-most offensive plays per game (58.3) while only scraping together six sacks, so far this season. Those kinds of stats become problematic when facing the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.
The Bombers have a potent offensive attack that should be able to eat up Calgary’s defense. Winnipeg is looking for revenge after being held to only 6 points two weeks ago against the Lions, so you know Zach Collaros will be dialled in and looking to light it up. And although Winnipeg’s D has been hot and cold, they still have been able to pressure the quarterback with 14 sacks and have caused 10 turnovers so far this year. It’s hard to bet against the Blue Bombers in this matchup.
Prediction: Winnipeg Blue Bombers
Ottawa Redblacks at Hamilton Tiger-Cats
Jeremiah Masoli makes his return to QB for the Ottawa Redblacks. We’re not sure if he’s being rushed back or whether this was the exact timeline; regardless, having him behind the line of scrimmage could provide Ottawa with an offensive spark. Because so far, it hasn’t been pretty for the Redblacks.
The Hamilton Tiger-Cats haven’t been that much better early on this season. Their offense isn’t clicking; neither is their defence (given up 40 PPG), so they remain winless. Two lousy teams are looking for something positive, which makes this a coinflip scenario pick-wise. We think the Redblacks’ defense has been their lone positive so far this season, and it should help them keep the game close and allow them to pick up the road win.
Prediction: Ottawa Redblacks
Montreal Alouettes at BC Lions
The final game of the week is a beauty, with the 3-1 BC Lions hosting the 2-1 Montreal Alouettes. The Lions are a seven-point favourite here, and it’s understandable why. The Lions have put up 101 points through the first four games of the season, and although Vernon Adams Jr came back to Earth against Toronto last week, we expect to see a nice bounce back in front of a home crowd.
Montreal has only been scoring 20 points per game this season, but their defense has held opponents to just over 13 PPG. This smells like a defensive battle, with the Lions having a bit more on the offensive side of the ball to squeak out a victory.
Prediction: The BC Lions
