WEEK 5 CFL PICKS 2018

Calgary Stampeders at Ottawa RedBlacks, Thursday

There’s something about coming off a bye week that agrees with quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell and the Calgary Stampeders.

Calgary (3-0) returns from the bye Thursday night in Ottawa against the Redblacks (2-1) in a matchup of division leaders. The Stampeders are 16-0 coming off the bye since 2005, their last loss following a bye week coming July 1 2005 when they hadn’t yet played a game that season.

Calgary’s last game was a 24-14 home win over Ottawa on June 28 as Mitchell threw for 251 yards and two TDs with an interception. The Stampeders cemented the victory by outscoring the Redblacks 17-8 in the second half.

Ottawa returns to TD Place for the first time since winning its home/season opener 40-17 over the Saskatchewan Roughriders on June 21. But Calgary has a 10-0 road record over its post-bye win streak.

Both teams boast solid defences. Calgary is tops in fewest points and yards allowed (11.7, 282.7 per game, respectively) while Ottawa is second in points (17.7) and third in yards (329.3).

Prediction: Calgary.
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Toronto Argonauts versus Edmonton Eskimos, Friday

At Edmonton, James Franklin looks to give Toronto (1-2) a sweep of the home-and-home series after leading the Argos to last weekend’s 20-17 win. Franklin threw for 217 yards and a TD and ran for another in his Argos debut but it was James Wilder (21 carries, 120 yards, TD) who helped anchor the win. Mike Reilly had 370 yards passing and a touchdown for the Eskimos (2-2) but fell to 2-6 all-time versus the Double Blue. Coming off a 165-yard rushing performance, C.J. Gable ran for just 39 yards at BMO Field.

Prediction: Edmonton.
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Winnipeg Blue Bombers versus B.C. Lions, Saturday

At Vancouver, Matt Nichols looks to lead Winnipeg (2-2) to the home-and-home sweep. Nichols threw for 162 yards and a TD in last week’s 41-19 win, his ’18 debut coming off a knee injury. But he got help from running back Andrew Harris (109 yards rushing) and former Lions linebacker Adam Bighill( six tackles, two interceptions, one 55-yard TD return). It’s unclear if Jonathon Jennings or veteran Travis Lulay will start for B.C. (1-2). Lulay, 34, is coming off major knee surgery. Jennings hasn’t thrown for over 200 yards this season and was 15-for-24 passing for 105 yards last week.

Prediction: Winnipeg.

Last week: 2-2

Overall: 10-6


(Canadian Press/Dan Ralph)