With just eight games left in the CFL regular season, the playoff race is now mostly set, save for one big question mark: who wins the East division title? With Ottawa having just a half-game lead over Hamilton, this remains a very, very tight race, though both the REDBLACKS and Tiger-Cats face some tough tests in this coming week. It’s becoming more and more likely that we could very well see a 2014 NFC South scenario where a sub-.500 team will end up taking the division, which honestly, considering the talent both teams have, is really pretty sad…

WEEK 18 RECAPS

Hamilton 39 vs. Ottawa 36 (OT): The weather was absolutely terrible in this one, but all the same, both teams experienced the same sloppy conditions while out on the field; Ottawa’s five turnovers – two interceptions and three fumbles – ended up costing them the game, despite taking a 27-12 lead into the half. The game was tied at 33 heading into overtime after the Ti-Cats pulled even in the fourth quarter; after trading field goals, Hamilton got to Henry Burris for a sack on third down to kill the REDBLACKS’ drive, and managed one final field goal to help pull out the gritty come-from-behind win. The REDBLACKS missed out on their chance to clinch the division, and will have to wait until the very last week of the season to determine who gets the first-round playoff bye.

PICK: Ottawa

RESULT: Hamilton

Toronto 13 vs. Calgary 31: The Stampeders wrapped up their home schedule of the 2016 season, finishing a perfect 9-0 after beating the lowly Argonauts. Toronto could have been eligible for the playoffs had Hamilton lost their matchup earlier, but those hopes were dashed soon after this game started. In desperate need of a win, the Argos turned back to Ricky Ray, finally healthy again and playing his first game since Labour Day; despite throwing a touchdown on the first drive of the game, it wasn’t nearly enough, and Calgary roared back to take the lead in the second quarter, and not relinquish it again. QB Bo Levi Mitchell went 20-30 for 258 yards and 2 TDs, both to DaVaris Daniels, while RB Jerome Messam added 111 yards on the ground as well. For the Argos, quarterback continues to be an issue, as a healthy Ray threw for 311 yards and a touchdown on 28-42 passing, but also had two costly picks as well that the Stampeders ended up capitalizing on.

PICK: Calgary

RESULT: Calgary

Montreal 19 vs. Saskatchewan 14: Vernon Adams Jr., 2015 starter at Oregon, got his first game as the Alouettes’ number one quarterback, and responded in kind with a win. This wasn’t a terribly exciting matchup – Montreal led 6-5 at the half – though Saskatchewan did manage to sack Adams six times in the first half due to some strong pressure and some rough weather that proved difficult for both teams to get some sustained offence going. In the third, Montreal finally got things going; Adams was picked off, but on the first play of Saskatchewan’s possession after the interception, Als linebacker Chip Cox forced a fumble on QB Darian Durant. Montreal scored on a Sam Giguere rushing TD on the first play of that drive, and didn’t look back for the rest of the game. Montreal’s new starter finished the game with a statline of 11-24 for 177 yards, 1 TD and 1 INT, as well as 2 carries for 26 yards. For the Roughriders, their four-game win streak was snapped by the Alouettes, but they’ve been looking ahead to next season for quite a while anyhow.

PICK: Saskatchewan

RESULT: Montreal

Edmonton 25 vs. BC 32: The Eskimos had their three-game win streak snapped by the Lions, who were looking to avenge an earlier Week 14 defeat in Edmonton. BC led for much of this game, with a 32-19 lead late into the fourth; they managed to hold off a furious comeback by the Eskies, who scored a touchdown, missed an extra point, and also missed recovering an onside kick to try and get the ball back. Lions WR Manny Arcenaux led the way for BC, with 132 yards on 8 receptions, and two touchdowns; RB Jeremiah Johnson added 108 yards rushing on 17 carries. BC also saw quarterback Jon Jennings put together a solid game for the first time in several weeks, finishing 21-28 for 273 yards, no turnovers, two passing touchdowns, and one rushing touchdown as well. Edmonton QB Mike Reilly’s strike to Adarius Bowman in the fourth quarter was his only passing touchdown of the game for the Green & Gold, though he did rush for another, as did running back John White. Reilly finished 24-32 for 261 yards and no turnovers, in addition to the TD.

PICK: Edmonton

RESULT: BC

BYE: Winnipeg (10-6)

WEEK 19 PREVIEWS

Edmonton (8-8) vs. Hamilton (7-9), Friday, October 28th, 7:00 PM EST: After a crazy game back in Week 5 that saw backup Jeremiah Masoli spark a miraculous comeback win for Hamilton, not to mention setting a new record for consecutive completions with 23 in the second half, Edmonton travels east looking to make up for having blown that game in such spectacular fashion. The Ti-Cats will get Zach Collaros back under centre, fresh off the Disabled List after recovering from a concussion. Depending on how the rest of the games shake up this week, this may end up being a playoff preview, as Hamilton currently sits second in the East Division behind Ottawa, and the Eskimos possess the crossover spot, and if their record holds, will flip from the West to the East for the playoff run.

PICK: Edmonton

Ottawa (7-8-1) vs. Winnipeg (10-6), Saturday, October 29th, 4:00 PM EST: The REDBLACKS have the thinnest of margins for error, with two games remaining in the season and just a single point separating them from the Hamilton Tiger-Cats to try and clinch the East crown. Ottawa had a great chance to do so last week, but ended up collapsing late in the fourth and losing in overtime after turning the ball over five times in the second half. They’ll be facing a tough test in Winnipeg, who come off the bye rested and ready for action. This is the first of a home-and-home matchup between the Blue Bombers and REDBLACKS, who will finish off their regular seasons back in Ottawa on November 4th.

PICK: Winnipeg

BC (10-6) vs. Saskatchewan (5-11), 7:00 PM EST: This is the final game for the Roughriders at Mosaic Stadium, their home since 1936 in Regina, Saskatchewan. For 80 years, the Riders have called Taylor Field home, hosting three Grey Cups, dozens of concerts, and years and years’ worth of Labour Day Classics against their biggest rivals, the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. Starting in 2017, the team will be moving next door to the new Mosaic Stadium, a shiny new 33,000-seat facility far more modern than their current digs. As the Riders are well out of the playoff race, this game is being celebrated as a send-off to the only home the team has ever known. This is the first game of another home-and-home series between the heavily favoured Lions and Roughriders; the series will return to BC Place next week as the teams play their final games of the regular season on November 5th.

PICK: BC

Calgary (15-1-1) vs. Montreal (5-11), Sunday, October 30th, 1:00 PM EST:

PICK: Calgary

BYE: Toronto (5-12)

STANDINGS AND STATS

East Division Standings

West Division Standings

Passing Yards

1. Mitchell, CGY – 5835
2. Reilly, EDM – 5315
3. Jennings, BC – 4678

Passing TDs

1. Mitchell, CGY – 32
2. Rielly, EDM – 26
3. Jennings, BC – 22

Rushing Yards

1. Messam, CGY – 1162
2. Whitaker, TOR – 892
3. Harris, WPG – 816

Receiving Yards

1. Bowman, EDM – 1698
2. Walker, EDM – 1510
3. Arcenaux, BC – 1318

Sacks

1. Hughes, CGY – 15
2. Lemon, TOR – 14
3. Chick, HAM – 13

Interceptions

1. Leggett, WPG – 7
2. Heath, TOR/WPG – 7
3. Davis, HAM – 5

Field Goals

1. Medlock, WPG – 55
2. Paredes, CGY – 54
3. Milo, OTT – 42

Game picks this week: 1-3

Game picks this season: 40-33