CFL THIS WEEK
TORONTO — The Hamilton Tiger-Cats have clinched a home playoff game heading into their regular-season finale, but Henry Burris won’t have the weekend off.
The veteran quarterback will start Saturday when Hamilton visits Winnipeg (3-14). The contest has no impact on the East Division standings as the Ticats (9-8) have cemented second spot while the Blue Bombers (3-14) will finish last.
Hamilton will host the Montreal Alouettes in the East semifinal Nov. 10 at Guelph, Ont.
Burris has thrown for a CFL-high 4,792 yards but was just 16-of-23 passing for 163 yards with an interception in Hamilton’s 27-24 home win over Montreal last weekend. That victory secured the Ticats home-field advantage against the Alouettes in the semifinal contest.
It marked the fifth time in six games Burris hasn’t thrown a TD strike and the ninth consecutive week that the 38-year-old has been picked off. But the Ticats have won four of their last five contests, beating Montreal on Brandon Banks’ 107-yard return of a missed Sean Whyte field goal.
Hamilton will aim to register its first 10-win season since 2001 but, more importantly, ride the momentum of two straight victories entering the playoffs.
Quarterback Max Hall (hip) is ready to go for Winnipeg, which will look to avoid tying its worst-ever record over 18 games. Hall, like many of the Bombers, will be playing for a job next season.
Head coach Tim Burke has said he’d like to remain in Winnipeg but understands that decision remains out of his hands. The Bombers will be without defensive linemen Greg Peach (groin) and Mike McAdoo (shoulder), receivers Terrence Edwards (groin) and Mike Sims-Walker (knee) and offensive lineman Pat Neufeld (shin).
Pick – Hamilton.
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Montreal Alouettes at Toronto Argonauts on Friday night
Ricky Ray won’t dress for Toronto, which has clinched first in the East Division. That means backup Zach Collaros will start with Trevor Harris and Mitchell Gale also slated to play.
The Argos will give plenty of youngsters and new faces the opportunity to impress, including linebacker/rush end Aaron Maybin. Toronto signed the former Buffalo Bills first-round pick last weekend with the hope he’d inject life into the club’s pass rush.
Montreal comes in assured of finishing third in the East. While the Alouettes will want to safeguard against injuries, they also need this game more than Toronto and that should give them a decided edge.
Pick – Montreal.
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Calgary Stampeders at B.C. Lions on Friday night
Kevin Glenn remains Calgary’s starter despite losing two fumbles and throwing an interception and botching a handoff that landed him on the bench to start the second half of last weekend’s win over Saskatchewan. Glenn will open under centre for the Stampeders but backup Drew Tate and No. 3 Bo Levi Mitchell are also expected to play.
Running back Jon Cornish, the CFL rushing leader with 1,799 yards, needs 97 yards to break Willie Burden’s club record. Defensive end Charleston Hughes, the league leader with 18 sacks, needs two to break Harold Hallman’s franchise mark.
It will be interesting to see how much playing time each gets as Calgary chases its 15th victory.
The Lions know they’ll face Saskatchewan next weekend in the West semifinal so coach Mike Benevides must weigh the importance of playoff momentum against the threat of injury.
B.C. was 7-4 under starter Travis Lulay before he suffered a shoulder injury. Backup Thomas DeMarco won his first two CFL starts but is just 3-3 overall and last weekend the Lions needed veteran Buck Pierce to come off the bench and throw three TD passes to rally them past Edmonton 43-29.
Lulay will dress and play for B.C. It’s essential he get some game action prior to the playoffs.
Pick – Calgary.
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Edmonton Eskimos at Saskatchewan Roughriders on Saturday night
Saskatchewan (11-6) has cemented second in the West Division and will host B.C. in the conference semifinal. But the Riders don’t want to head into the playoffs having dropped their final two regular-season games.
It’s been a difficult season for the Eskimos (3-14). The harsh reality is many players are now auditioning for jobs, be it in Edmonton or anywhere else in the CFL next year and that alone is incentive enough to perform.
In the end, here’s figuring the desire to post 12 wins overrides trying to finish a dismal campaign on a winning note.
Pick – Saskatchewan.
(Canadian Press)
Oskee Wee Wee,
Oskee Waa Waa,
Holy Makinaw,
EAT'em RAW
Go Tiger Cats !!!!
The Sk. Football God (Mr Kent Austin) fine tuning his team (Hamilton Tiger Cats) for the CFL Grey Cup Championship on Taylor Field. Has the whole Tiger Cats team preparing how to look good/speeches for the camara's/media while lifting the Grey Cup in victory November, 24th, 2013, Regina, Sk.
You have never had the balls to answer this before but I'll ask again. Where are you after the stinker games Hamilton seems to have quite regularly? Not a sign of you!
Dear Mr infatuated on balls, Where was I, I was on here ragging on the Saskatchewan Roughriders, who have more at stake with a Championship game looming in their very own back yard. Where we're you after the stinker games Saskatchewan seems to have quite regularly ? In all actuality the Ti Cats currently at (9 – 8) are just 2 points back of the Roughriders in the very first year under the direction/tutelage of The Sk Football God ( Kent Austin) while the Riders continue to struggle under the hapless clueless Taman who has been in the Roughriders employ… Read more »
That still doesn't answer my question Ms. Infuriated. Whenever your team loses you don't show any support for them. Shame! And truth be told, I'm hoping for a Riders/Hamilton final. It would make for a good game. As far as coming on here and looking like a raving lunatic, no thanks. Others do a perfectly fine job. See you in the stands.
Exiting times! Loving being a Rider fan during this era!! Fourth home playoff game in 7 years, a chance for a cup at home. Loving it GO RIDERS
What do you expect when you hire a bean counter to run a football team instead of a football man?
Exactly ! Thank you for your comment.
Eastern divison is always weaker than the west. If Riders were in the east…we'd be 17-0 right now. GO RIDERS!!!
With the right management personel Board of directors/VP of operations/GM/Scouting). The Saskatchewan Roughriders can be 17-0 any division and the best team of the entire league.
I would prefer to see Drew Willy and other next ups play rather than risk our starters in a meaningless game. If they play DD and he gets injured I would say our chances of winning the Grey Cup would be the same as Winnipeg's. Do the Media and others really believe that players who play in a nothing game at the end of the year play for next years jobs? I am sure all the coaches focus on how they play in a nothing game instead of how they played during the year.What a bunch of crap. BTW they… Read more »
If Durant doesn't sit out and Sheets is only used sparingly there is something wrong with this organization. They must rest these guys, to hell with individual records and to hell with that JERK FROM HAMILTON who is making such an asshole of himself on here . This games means nothing to the Riders as much as the health of the players does.
I highly doubt he/she is from Hamilton. Just someone trying to be an internet bully.