Week 18 CFL Preview & Picks For PUMPJACKS!
The Canadian Football League’s Western Division race takes center stage in Week 18, with four teams separated by just two points battling for three playoff positions.
Edmonton has already secured a postseason berth and sits atop the West at 11-4, but the next four teams remain tightly bunched. British Columbia and Saskatchewan are both 8-6 with 16 points, while Winnipeg and Calgary sit at 7-7 and 7-8 respectively with 14 points. Saskatchewan can officially clinch a playoff berth with a victory Friday night.
Meanwhile, Montreal and Toronto have already secured playoff berths in the East. The Alouettes can clinch first place in the division — and home-field advantage in the Eastern Final — if Toronto loses and Montreal wins this week.
Here’s a look at the Week 18 matchups:
Hamilton Tiger-Cats at Ottawa REDBLACKS
Friday, Oct. 2 — 7 p.m. ET
With the playoff picture already settled for these two clubs (both OUT), Hamilton and Ottawa will be playing primarily for pride and an opportunity to finish the season on a positive note.
The Tiger-Cats enter the game at 4-11, while Ottawa remains winless at 0-14. Hamilton has been the more competitive club defensively, allowing 30.5 points per game compared with Ottawa’s league-high 37.4. The REDBLACKS have also struggled to generate offense, averaging just 24.2 points per game.
PICKS:
Scruffy – Hamilton
RP – Ottawa
Kevin The Medium – Hamilton
Calgary Stampeders at Saskatchewan Roughriders
Friday, Oct. 2 — 9:30 p.m. ET
This could be the most consequential game of the weekend.
Saskatchewan enters tied with BC for second place in the West and knows a victory guarantees a playoff spot. Calgary, meanwhile, is trying to climb back into the postseason picture after dropping to 7-8.
The matchup pits Calgary’s explosive offense against Saskatchewan’s much stronger defense. The Stampeders lead the CFL in scoring at 35.7 points per game, while the Roughriders are allowing just 26.5 points per game. Saskatchewan has also been particularly effective against the run, surrendering only 72.6 rushing yards per game.
PICKS:
Scruffy – Saskatchewan
RP – Saskatchewan
Kevin The Medium – Saskatchewan
BC Lions at Toronto Argonauts
Saturday, Oct. 3 — 3 p.m. ET
The Lions head east carrying significant playoff implications with them.
BC is 8-6 and tied with Saskatchewan for second in the West, while Toronto has already clinched a playoff berth at 9-6. The Lions boast the CFL’s top total offense, averaging 428.5 yards per game, along with the league’s best rushing defense at just 60.6 yards allowed per game.
Toronto, however, owns the league’s top passing offense at 354.5 yards per game. That makes this an intriguing matchup between two productive offenses and two teams with very different playoff circumstances.
PICKS:
Scruffy – Toronto
RP – BC
Kevin The Medium – BC
Winnipeg Blue Bombers at Montreal Alouettes
Saturday, Oct. 3 — 7 p.m. ET
Winnipeg enters Montreal knowing every remaining game carries enormous significance.
At 7-7, the Blue Bombers are just two points behind BC and Saskatchewan, but only two points ahead of Calgary. A loss could leave Winnipeg vulnerable as the Western playoff race continues to tighten.
Montreal, meanwhile, owns an 11-3 record and one of the CFL’s most productive offenses, averaging 35.6 points and 415.5 yards per game. The Alouettes also lead the league in second-down conversion percentage at 54.8.
The CFL confirmed that the West-to-East crossover has already been established, meaning the fourth-place Western club could ultimately travel east for the playoffs if it finishes with more points than the third-place team in the East.
With Edmonton on its bye, all eyes will be on the four West contenders. By Saturday night, the playoff picture could become clearer — or the league could be staring at an even tighter race heading into the final three weeks.
PICKS:
Scruffy – Montreal
RP – Montreal
Kevin The Medium – Montreal
DISCLAMER: The CFL, NHL & NFL picks featured on this website and Rod Pedersen Show are for entertainment purposes only and are NOT to be used as betting advice.
