Nov 3, 2014
Risky Business: Week 20 predictions in the CFL
TSN football analyst Chris Schultz is back with his Week 20 selections in the CFL. The Big Man finished 3-1 in Week 19, and sits at 53-24 on the season. Now Schultz is ready for more action.
TSN.ca Staff
TSN football analyst Chris Schultz is back with his Week 20 selections in the CFL. The Big Man finished 3-1 in Week 19, and sits at 53-24 on the season. Now Schultz is ready for more action.
Ottawa Redblacks at Toronto Argonauts
First things first, control what you can control, take care of business. All the clichés you have ever heard of in football will be heard and discussed all week with Argonauts football because before they can talk about playoffs, they must first beat the Redblacks. And all logic says they will. You know Ottawa will want to look at several players to assess their ability - that is a priority – which means at certain points Toronto can take advantage, expecting the basics of football as opposed to a specific game plan. If Toronto were to lose and have a losing record they really don't deserve to be in the playoffs. But, with a win, it transfers pressure on to Montreal and Hamilton in a big way. Ricky Ray may not play but urgency will be high in Toronto to win. Curiosity will be high in Ottawa to look forward to 2015. Argos.
Calgary Stampeders at BC Lions
The Lions have played Saskatchewan twice this year and split the series. Both are 9-8 losses but the Lions hold the tie breaker in head to head points. In their two meetings BC has scored 42 points, Saskatchewan 33. So if both lose, BC stays in the West and if both win, BC stays in the West. The Lions’ biggest challenge is to regenerate confidence in themselves. When you lose the way they lost last week, the video next day is more than difficult to watch, it is painful. You can learn and use it as an improvement tool but there comes a point in the next 24 hours you need to get it out of your mind. The Lions are a playoff team and will have a chance to win it all, but must remain confident. The 37-3 score is not an indicator of ability for BC, it just was a BAD day. That is how you must look at it after you learn from the pain of reviewing it. For Calgary, it is a blessing and a curse. First place, well deserved and well done. How do you stay healthy in a sport that is impossible to avoid that risk. After the "Cornish moment" I do think Calgary will be precautionary. BC.
Montreal Alouettes at Hamilton Tiger-Cats
This is 9-8 against 8-9 losses but the 9-8 team is on a roll. The Alouettes story reminds me of the BC Lions a few years back that lost just about every game in July and August and went on to win the Grey Cup. This is a bit of a Cinderella story of East success and must be very gratifying for Tom Higgins as a head coach and person. Yes, plenty of people to credit in association with the head coach but when you lose and are 1-7 you look at the head coach as the No. 1 reason and others are not discussed in detail. So now that the reverse has happened, well done Higgins, but it’s not over yet. In Hamilton, the Ticats scored on a turnover, short field, kick return, and two interceptions for touchdowns. And they took points off the board with an end zone interception. I know it’s a part of football and a skill in its own right but, again, two weeks in a row? Montreal.
Edmonton Eskimos at Saskatchewan Roughriders
It’s one thing not playing players to avoid risk when you have a bye week in between. With Edmonton already locked into playing the West semifinal at home, this game is dangerous in some respects. I think Chris Jones will give his starters some playing time, but only some. How long "some" is I don't know, but the Riders do have a chance to take advantage of a set of unique circumstances. If Darrian Durant is ready to play, wait for the playoffs. That’s all that matters in November. Roughriders.