WEEK 12 CFL PICKS 2023

MONTREAL ALOUETTES AT WINNIPEG BLUE BOMBERS, THURSDAY

At Winnipeg, starting quarterback Zach Collaros returns for the Bombers (8-2) after missing last week’s 19-18 road win over Calgary due to a neck injury. Veteran Cody Fajardo starts for Montreal (6-3) after missing the last two games with a left shoulder injury. Both teams are on four-game win streaks. The Bombers are a solid 4-1 at IG Field but the Als counter with an impressive 3-1 road record. Winnipeg’s Demerio Houston has interceptions in five of his last six games and leads the league in picks (seven) and defensive takeaways (10).

Pick: Winnipeg.

CALGARY STAMPEDERS AT TORONTO ARGONAUTS, FRIDAY

At Toronto, the only blemish on the Argos’ 7-1 record is a 20-7 road loss to Calgary (3-7) on Aug. 4. Starter Chad Kelly suffered an ankle injury late in the first half of that game and didn’t return. Fatigue shouldn’t be an issue for the home team, which is coming off its third and final bye of the season. The Stamps have lost two straight and four of their last five but look to extend their road win streak versus the Argos to nine games. Stamps quarterback Jake Maier leads the CFL in passing yards (2,398) but also interceptions (12).

Pick: Toronto.

HAMILTON TIGER-CATS AT BC LIONS, SATURDAY

At Vancouver, the Lions (7-3) return home after falling short of a comeback win in Regina. B.C. is unbeaten team at home (4-0 at B.C. Place Stadium). And that’s bad news for Hamilton (3-7), which has lost two straight and three-of-four following consecutive wins over Edmonton and Ottawa. Rookie Taylor Powell makes a fourth start for the Ticats, who are second-last in offensive points scored (16.9 per game) and last in offensive TDs (13).

Pick: B.C.

OTTAWA REDBLACKS AT EDMONTON ELKS, SUNDAY

It’s one long losing streak down, one more to go for Tre Ford and the Edmonton Elks.

Ford guided Edmonton to a 24-10 road win over the Hamilton Tiger-Cats last week. The Elks’ first victory of the season snapped a 13-game losing streak dating back to last year.

Edmonton (1-9) returns home to face the Ottawa Redblacks (3-7) on Sunday night. The Elks have dropped a CFL-record 22 straight games at Commonwealth Stadium, their last win there coming in October 2019.

It’s been a rough stretch for Ottawa, which has lost four straight by a combined 20 points. Take away the club’s 44-31 loss to Toronto on Aug. 13 and the remaining three defeats have been by a combined seven points.

Last week, Montreal outscored Ottawa 22-7 in the second half to earn a 25-24 road victory. The Redblacks are 2-4 with quarterback Dustin Crum, who guided the club to wins over Calgary (43-41) and Winnipeg (31-28) in his opening starts.

Despite Crum’s record, Ottawa has been in every game he has started. The former Kent State star’s athleticism is something rival defences must gameplan for as part of their weekly preparation.

Pick: Edmonton.

Last week: 2-2

Overall: 31-12

(Canadian Press)