CFL Week 5 preview and predictions

Breakdown:

Chris: The Alouettes won’t give up first place at home, not to Cleo Lemon. Not this year.

Chase: Toronto has been playing good so far this year and definitely benefited from two quarterback collapses in their last two wins. I don’t see them being able to take advantage of Anthony Calvillo and Montreal’s effecient offence. They aren’t ready to take out the champs.

Scott: The Toronto Argonauts have won some exciting games by some stellar play on defence. I am just not sure they can do it again. Their defence is really good, but unfortunately they are no longer under the radar. Their offence won’t be able to out score the ‘Mighty’ Alouettes. Montreal 38-25

Breakdown:

Chris: There’s a football team in Edmonton? Who knew.

If Edmonton’s offensive line doesn’t get their act together, Ricky Ray won’t survive the season.

Chase: Edmonton is horrible this year and BC did have a fairly good showing without Casey Printers against Toronto. Edmonton seems like the worst team in the CFL by a long shot. This game should be close but BC should pull it out on the other side of the ball and make up for their quarterback crisis.

Scott: The Edmonton Eskimos confuse me greatly. On paper they should be a lot better than they are showing. I do however think this team is so close to breaking out and winning a few games. After being called out by Eskimos president Rick Lelacheur, the Eskimos will be extra motivated and I think the Travis Lulay led Lions will be ripe for the picking. Edmonton 26-19

Breakdown:

Chris: The Riders have two choices after last weeks loss to Calgary. They can let it consume them, or they can learn from it and come back stronger than they were before. I see the later happening in Regina this week.

The Tiger-Cats need some sort of motivation if they are ever to live up to their billing as the team to unseat Montreal in the East. A game against the blood thirsty Riders isn’t the game they were looking for.

Chase: Even after their downslide against Calgary, I am still riding the Riders and coming back to Mosaic Stadium. There should be the perfect conditions for them to bounce back.

Scott: The Saskatchewan Roughriders were humilated by the Stampeders this past week and any good team that loses like that will win the next week. It’s part of the reason the Stamps were so motivated against the Riders after their loss to Toronto. Expect another hostile crowd in Regina and expect a blowout by the hometown team. Saskatchewan 45-18

Breakdown:

Chris: Now that the Stamps have found their groove, they will be tough to beat, especially at home.

Winnipeg, on the other hand, needs to figure out who they are. Are they the team that lost by three touchdowns to Hamilton in Week 3, or the team that manhandled the Eskimos last week? Only time will tell, but my instinct is that they will struggle to hit .500 this year.

Chase: Winnipeg looked good without Buck Pierce last week, but it was against the Eskimos (that is my third Eskimos swipe this article, last one I promise) and Calgary is staying at home coming off of a big statement win against the Riders. Look for a defensive game by Winnipeg and if they can create the turnovers they did last week they will have a chance, but betting on a team getting a high number of defensive touchdowns is risky. Calgary is the more complete team in this match-up.

Scott: Winnipeg has been a Jeckyl and Hyde team this year and even though Steven Jyles did pull out an impressive win, it was still against the winless Eskimos. The Stampeders are finding their stride offensively and their defende is playing very well. Winnipeg will be prepared, so I am not anticipating a blowout, but Calgary should control the game throughout. Calgaary 38-24