WEEK 11 CFL PICKS 2023

EDMONTON ELKS AT HAMILTON TIGER-CATS, THURSDAY

Tre Ford is returning to the scene of his first win as a CFL starting quarterback.

The 2021 Hec Crighton Trophy winner will make his second straight start and fifth overall Thursday night when the Edmonton Elks (0-9) visit the Hamilton Tiger-Cats (3-5).

Last year, the six-foot-one, 185-pound Niagara Falls, Ont., native rallied his team to a 29-25 victory at Tim Hortons Field in his first CFL start.

It’s been a rough go this season for Edmonton, which is riding a CFL-record 22-game home losing streak (dating back to ’19). The Elks have dropped 13 straight overall, tying a club record.

And earlier this week, president Victor Cui and the Elks agreed to part ways.

Rookie Taylor Powell will make a third straight start for Hamilton with both Matthew Shiltz and incumbent Bo Levi Mitchell on the six-game injured list.

Scott Milanovich will handle play-calling duties Thursday. Last week, offensive co-ordinator Tommy Condell and the club mutually parted ways.

Pick: Hamilton.

WINNIPEG BLUE BOMBERS AT CALGARY STAMPEDERS, FRIDAY

At Calgary, all eyes are on Winnipeg (7-2) regarding the status of veteran starter Collaros. He suffered an upper-body injury early in last week’s win over Edmonton and didn’t return. But Brown stepped in admirably in rallying the Bombers to the victory, which will only help him if he starts this game. The Stampeders (3-6) not only lost the first meeting 24-11 last month but are coming off a lopsided 37-9 road loss to B.C. They’re also just 1-3 at home this year and 1-4 within the West Division.

Pick: Winnipeg.

MONTREAL ALOUETTES AT OTTAWA REDBLACKS, SATURDAY

At Ottawa, Dustin Crum comes off his best passing performance of the season for the Redblacks (3-5), completing 21-of-26 attempts for 292 yards and three TDs in Sunday’s 44-31 loss in Toronto. Montreal (5-3) is riding a three-game win streak and is 3-1 within the division compared to 0-4 for the home team, which has also dropped three straight. Veteran starter Cody Fajardo is again a game-time decision after missing last week’s 41-12 home victory over Saskatchewan with injuries.

Pick: Montreal.

B.C. LIONS AT SASKATCHEWAN ROUGHRIDERS, SUNDAY

At Vancouver, the Lions (7-2) look to improve to 5-0 at B.C. Place after dispatching Calgary there last week. Vernon Adams Jr. completed 23-of-32 passes for 322 yards and four TDs after missing two weeks with a knee injury. The defence didn’t allow an offensive TD for the fifth time this season and fourth at home. That doesn’t bode well for Saskatchewan (4-5), which acquired veteran quarterback Antonio Pipkin from Hamilton this week after Mason Fine (hamstring) was hurt last week. If he can’t play, Jake Dolegala will likely start.

Pick: B.C.

Last week: 4-0.

Overall: 29-10.

(Canadian Press)