Last week’s games are living proof as to why people love playoff matchups so much; I have to admit that I got things extremely wrong in my predictions last week. And that’s ok, because I didn’t lose any money – and I also cannot be held responsible for any poor financial decisions that any of you may have made in the process of reading this feature. At any rate, this coming weekend’s games have a lot to live up to if they want to match how compelling last weekend’s games were.

In league news this week:

• The nominees for league awards were released this week. Each division puts in one finalist, with the results being revealed on Thursday, November 21st, ahead of the Grey Cup. Here they are:
  • Most Outstanding Player: QB Cody Fajardo, SSK (West); WR Brandon Banks, HAM (East)
  • Most Outstanding Defensive Player: DL Willie Jefferson, WPG (West); LB Simoni Lawrence, HAM (East)
  • Most Outstanding Canadian: LB Cameron Judge, SSK (West); LB Henoc Muamba, MTL (East)
  • Most Outstanding Lineman: OL Stanley Bryant, WPG (West); OL Chris Van Zeyl, HAM (East)
  • Most Outstanding Special Teams Player: FB Mike Miller, WPG (West); CB Frankie Williams, HAM (East)
  • Most Outstanding Rookie: LB Nate Holley, CGY (West); WR Jake Wieneke, MTL (East)
  • Coach of the Year: Craig Dickenson, SSK (West); Orlondo Steinauer, HAM (East)
• The BC Lions released former All-Star WR Duron Carter last Friday; while Carter (son of NFL HOF WR Cris) has shown tremendous talent and athletic ability throughout his career, his lack of personal discipline and general prickliness with coaches and teammates, coupled with a lack of production this year, may mean his time in the CFL is coming to a close after six seasons. Hard to say definitively, but with the XFL slated to be here soon, he may decide to return home to the US, despite the likelihood of a much smaller paycheque.

Onto the games!

DIVISION SEMIFINAL RECAPS

EAST DIVISION SEMIFINAL

(Crossover) Edmonton 37 vs. (2) Montreal 29: Last week, I mentioned that the one thing that the Eskimos had going for them, a team of maddening inconsistency, was a playoff-ready Trevor Harris. Well, I was sure right about that one. Harris was absolutely spectacular in this game, finishing 36-39 for 421 yards, a touchdown, and an interception due to a tipped ball by Als DE John Bowman. Harris opened the game with 22 straight completions – a CFL playoff record – and was the catalyst for Edmonton pulling off the upset win. Montreal’s offence cratered when it needed it most – down by five with just over two minutes to play, Vernon Adams, Jr. threw two back-breaking interceptions on successive possessions that killed any chance of a comeback. Adams, who’s had a career year as a quarterback in the CFL, is likely disappointed with how the ending to such a good season turned out – he ended the night 14-27 for 226 yards and three interceptions, plus 6 carries for 57 yards and a rushing score. Als fans hopefully feel good about the future, because the present is definitely stinging a little bit.

PICK: Montreal

RESULT: Edmonton

WEST DIVISION SEMIFINAL

(3) Winnipeg 35 vs. (2) Calgary 14: The Bombers entered the third quarter facing a six-point deficit – and then went out and absolutely blew the doors off the Stampeders in the second half, scoring 27 unanswered points and completing shutting out Calgary over the final 30 minutes of the game. Faced with questions about who their starting QB would be before the game, Winnipeg elected to go with both Zach Collaros and Chris Streveler in this one, bringing in Collaros’ big arm for pass plays and using Streveler’s mobility on the run to add rushing yards. It was certainly unorthodox, but it ended up working out extremely well. The Blue Bombers’ D also showed up in a major way in the second half, picking off Stamps QB Bo Levi Mitchell three times, and holding the Stampeders to just 209 total offensive yards. With Calgary giving up 20 points in the fourth quarter, it was remarkable to see such an implosion from what has been arguably the CFL’s model franchise over the past decade – and especially to see such a shocking collapse take place at home, where the Stamps are consistently excellent. If the Bombers can replicate their offence next week, we’re going to have a hell of a game on our hands.

PICK: Calgary

RESULT: Winnipeg

BYE: (1) Saskatchewan (13-5), (1) Hamilton (15-3)

DIVISION FINAL PREVIEWS

EAST DIVISION FINAL

(Crossover) Edmonton vs. (1) Hamilton, Sunday, November 17th, 1:00 PM EST: As most of the media and pundits felt, I really, truly thought Montreal would be here to face off against the Ti-Cats. With Edmonton coming instead, I still don’t expect much to change, but I will note, once again, that Trevor Harris has historically been an excellent playoff performer – and notably against the Tiger-Cats, which he absolutely dismantled last year as a member of the Ottawa REDBLACKS. Hamilton hasn’t forgotten that – expect the defence to bring some serious heat. With the league’s best secondary, Hamilton can likely afford to have Harris forced to throw during this game. The Ti-Cats are 9-0 at home this year, tops in the CFL; barring an absolutely ridiculous showing by Harris, or perhaps maybe a complete and total implosion by Hamilton’s offence, I fully expect to see the Hammer representing the East Division at the Grey Cup this season.

PICK: Hamilton

WEST DIVISION FINAL

(3) Winnipeg vs. (1) Saskatchewan, Sunday, November 17th, 4:30 PM EST: Cody Fajardo is healthy again, which is good news for the Roughriders, who needed that bye week desperately in order to recuperate in time to handle the red-hot Blue Bombers. Winnipeg’s two-headed QB monster definitely worked well last week – but you know what’s even better? A QB that can pass and run equally effectively. That’s what Saskatchewan has right now in Fajardo, who’s the MOP candidate this year for a reason. If the Riders can step up to the plate and handle the Bombers’ rush game, most noticeably, they have enough firepower to go punch-for-punch with Winnipeg in a passing game battle. We’ve had some frigid weather thus far in Western Canada this year, and I fully expect the temperature for this game to be Arctic – but that’s when the game is at its best, if you ask me. I mean, I’m sitting watching from the couch, so I guess I can’t really tell that well.

PICK: Saskatchewan

Enjoy the games, everyone.