CFL THIS WEEK
B.C. AT CALGARY, Friday
B.C. (4-6) is 3-1 against Western teams but Calgary (8-3) holds a 4-1 division mark and is 6-0 at McMahon Stadium. What’s more, star tailback Jon Cornish (thumb) is expected to return to the Stampeders’ lineup. Cornish has been the league’s top Canadian the past three seasons and was its MVP in 2013. His presence wouldn’t be good news for a Lions defence allowing 135 yards rushing and 392.1 net yards per game, both league highs.
Pick – Calgary.
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EDMONTON AT HAMILTON, Saturday
Mike Reilly makes his second straight start for Edmonton (7-4). He returned from a season-opening knee injury to complete 22 of 40 passes for 352 yards and two TDs in last weekend’s 27-16 win over Calgary. Reilly missed the Eskimos’ 49-20 home loss to Hamilton (8-3) last month. The Ticats have won seven of their last eight games and are 11-1 at home since Tim Hortons Field opened. Zach Collaros leads the CFL in passing yards (3,286), TDs (24) and passer rating (113.2).
Pick – Hamilton
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OTTAWA AT SASKATCHEWAN, Saturday
Kevin Glenn is back as the Saskatchewan Roughriders’ starting quarterback.
The 15-year veteran will be under centre Saturday night when the Riders host the Ottawa Redblacks. Glenn, 36, hasn’t played since suffering a torn pectoral muscle in Saskatchewan’s 31-21 home loss to the Hamilton Tiger-Cats on July 26.
Ottawa (6-4) should provide a stiff test for Glenn. Defensively, the Redblacks are second in fewest yards allowed (293.3 yards per game) and rushing yards (76.4 yards), third against the pass (246.4 yards) and tied for third in interceptions (13).
Ottawa, tied for second in the East Division with idle Toronto (6-5), has won two straight, including last weekend’s 31-18 victory over the B.C. Lions. Quarterback Henry Burris threw for 317 yards while Jeremiah Johnson added 102 yards rushing and two TDs.
The Redblacks beat Saskatchewan 35-13 at TD Place on Aug. 30. The Riders could be without rugged tailback Jerome Messam (concussion), the league’s second-leading rusher.
Pick – Ottawa.
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WINNIPEG AT MONTREAL, Sunday
Matt Nichols made a solid debut with Winnipeg (4-7) last week, completing 21 of 30 passes for 283 yards and a TD versus Saskatchewan. He also ran for 36 yards on seven carries. But the Bombers will be without receiver Matt Moore (shoulder). Montreal (4-6) could start Jonathan Crompton, who resumed practising this week after suffering a shoulder injury in the Als’ 20-16 season-opening loss to Ottawa.
Pick – Montreal.
Last week: 2-2.
Overall: 28-20
(Canadian Press/Dan Ralph)
I thought Messam had his bell rung but he was right back on the field for the next set of downs. Concussion protocol? Not in that case.