THURSDAY COMMENTARY – THE PICKS ARE IN

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THE PICKS ARE IN.

WEEK 2 IN THE CFL KICKS OFF THURSDAY NIGHT WITH A FAIRLY DELICIOUS MATCH-UP IN CALGARY BETWEEN A PAIR OF 0-1 TEAMS: THE STAMPEDERS AND THE BC LIONS.

IF YOU’VE BEEN FOLLOWING THE COVERAGE, THE LIONS ARE EXPECTED TO START ROOKIE CANADIAN QUARTERBACK NATHAN ROURKE FOR A SECOND STRAIGHT WEEK AND WHILE THE KID DIDN’T EMBARRASS HIMSELF IN LAST WEEK’S LOSS AT SASKATCHEWAN, HE’S STILL NOT GOING TO MATCH-UP WELL AGAINST A HIGHLY-MOTIVATED BO LEVI MITCHELL AND HIS HORSEMEN.

TAKE CALGARY.

FOR ME, CANADA’S GAME OF THE WEEK IS AT IG FIELD IN WINNIPEG ON FRIDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL AND THE ROD PEDERSEN SHOW WILL BE THERE. WATCH FOR A FOOTBALL FRIDAY EPISODE LIVE FROM THE MANITOBA CAPITAL FRIDAY AT 10 AM SASK TIME ON GAME + TV.

IT’S A BATTLE OF 1-0 TEAMS: THE TORONTO ARGONAUTS AT WINNIPEG BLUE BOMBERS. IT PAINS ME TO HAVE TO PICK A WINNER BECAUSE THESE ARE TWO OF MY FAVOURITE TEAMS.

BUT WE’RE GOING WITH THE ARGOS IN WHAT MANY WOULD DEEM AN UPSET. THEY’RE ROLLING, COMING OFF A SEASON-OPENING WIN AT CALGARY, AND THE BOMBERS MAY BE PRIMED FOR AN EMOTIONAL LETDOWN AFTER LAST WEEK’S BIG BANNER-RAISING WIN OVER HAMILTON.

IT’S ANOTHER SATURDAY DOUBLEHEADER AND THE MONTREAL ALOUETTES PLAY THEIR FIRST GAME, AT THE 0-1 EDMONTON ELKS. THIS SHOULD BE AN EASY ONE TO PICK – TAKE THE ELK HERD, WHO WAS SURPRISINGLY UPSET BY OTTAWA LAST WEEK IN A GAME WHICH GROSSLY DIDN’T FEATURE AN OFFENSIVE TOUCHDOWN.

AND THE WEEK CLOSES WITH A MARQUEE BATTLE BETWEEN THE 1-0 ROUGHRIDERS AND THE 0-1 TIGER-CATS AT MOSAIC STADIUM. THESE ARE MY GREY CUP PICKS SO YOU COULD REASONABLY SAY IT’S A GREY CUP PREVIEW.

WOULDN’T THAT BE SOMETHING?

THE RIDERS SEEM TO BE AS HEALTHY AS CAN BE WHILE THE TICATS ARE A LITTLE UNDER-MANNED AND THE PRESSURE IS ALREADY MOUNTING AFTER STUBBING THEIR TOE IN WINNIPEG LAST WEEK.

TAKE THE RIDERS, BY LESS THAN 7.

THAT’S TODAY’S ROD PEDERSEN COMMENTARY

(Photo: Toronto Argonauts)