Commentary: This Game Brought To You By … Michelin

(Listen daily for the RP Commentary on the All Nezw Hits 98 CKHD & LTD Radio)

Week 5 in the CFL kicks off Thursday night with the 2-1 Toronto Argonauts at the 3-0 Saskatchewan Roughriders.

You know how much I love the game notes and to be honest, all the numbers point to an Argos victory.

Shea Patterson makes his first career start at quarterback for Saskatchewan which is always exciting. Is he going to be the next Kent Austin?

Or the next Tino Sunseri?

This game should be brought to you by Michelin because there’s a whole lot riding on it.

If Patterson goes out and directs the Riders to victory over Toronto, the team will be vindicated for putting their faith in him coming out of training camp.

However if he stinks it up and they lose, GM Jeremy O’Day and the coaching staff will be torched for not bringing in a veteran back-up behind Trevor Harris. The 38-year old’s penchant for getting injured flared up in Week 4 and now he’s on the Injured List, watching from the sidelines tonight.

Oh … and star Rider receiver Shawn Bane is missing this game for undisclosed personal reasons.

But hey – it’s not exactly the 1997 Doug Flutie-led Argonauts coming in here either. Reigning league MVP QB Chad Kelly is serving a suspension so Cameron Dukes gets the start under centre for the Boatmen.

I believe I read Dukes is 3-2 in relief of Chad Kelly so that’s not bad.

CFL On TSN’s Paul LaPolice was on the RP Show Wednesday saying Dukes “doesn’t seem to make mistakes” which is a pretty good trait to have for a quarterback.

Plus, the Argos have won the past four straight games against Saskatchewan. Of course that means nothing now, but those wins acame with Corey Mace as Toronto’s Defensive Coordinator but he’s in charge of the Roughriders now.

So as I said, all signs point to the Argonauts winning tonight at Mosaic Stadium.

That’s why I’m picking … Saskatchewan.

That’s today’s Rod Pedersen Commentary

(The Rod Pedersen Show airs daily at 12 pm & 5 pm ET on Game+TV, WQEE Radio, Podcast & YouTube Live)