WEEK 8 CFL PICKS 2022

MONTREAL ALOUETTES AT HAMILTON TIGER-CATS, THURSDAY

This marks a very important stretch for Dane Evans and the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.

Hamilton (1-5) will play six straight games, and seven of its next eight, against East Division competition, starting Thursday night at home versus the Montreal Alouettes (2-4). The Ticats will face archrival Toronto four times over that span with the other three being against the Als.

The abundance of East Division games is important ,given Hamilton is third in the conference standings, just two points behind second-place Montreal and four behind leading Toronto (3-2). But the Ticats are also just two points ahead of last-place Ottawa (0-6).

The way things are shaping up, East Division teams will have to finish either first or second to secure playoff spots. Currently, the Saskatchewan Roughriders (4-3, fourth in West) have more wins than Toronto.

It’s been a tough start for Evans. Although the Ticats starter is second in CFL passing with 1,720 yards, just four behind Winnipeg’s Zach Collaros, Evans has more interceptions (nine) than touchdowns (eight).

Evans has also fumbled six times, losing five.

Montreal is coming off a 40-33 victory over Ottawa and is 1-1 under GM/interim head coach Danny Maciocia. Veteran quarterback Trevor Harris was solid for the Alouettes, completing 25-of-31 passes for 341 yards and two touchdowns.

Pick: Montreal.

B.C. LIONS AT SASKATCHEWAN ROUGHRIDERS, FRIDAY

At Regina, the good news for the Riders (4-3) is quarterback Cody Fajardo (knee, illness) says he can play this week after missing Sunday’s 31-21 loss to Toronto. Saskatchewan has won eight straight versus B.C. (4-1) and the last four at home. The Lions haven’t won at Mosaic Stadium since 2016 but with Canadian Nathan Rourke under centre, the offence has scored a CFL-best 176 offensive points this season.

Pick: B.C.

WINNIPEG BLUE BOMBERS AT CALGARY STAMPEDERS, SATURDAY

At Calgary, the Stampeders (4-1) have more to deal with than facing Winnipeg (7-0). Five players missed practice Tuesday with what head coach Dave Dickenson said were cases of COVID-19 and pneumonia. Among them were running back Ka’Deem Carey, tackle Derek Dennis and linebacker Jameer Thurman. The Bombers beat the Stamps 26-19 at IG Field on July 15 but haven’t claimed a regular-season meeting at McMahon since ’17. Calgary starter Bo Levi Mitchell has never lost consecutive starts against the Bombers.

Pick: Winnipeg.

OTTAWA REDBLACKS AT TORONTO ARGONAUTS, SUNDAY

At Toronto, the Argos return to BMO Field after consecutive wins over Saskatchewan at Wolfville, N.S., and Regina. Canadian running back Andrew Harris ran for a season-high 143 yards (5.5-yard average) in Sunday’s 31-21 win over the Riders while starter McLeod Bethel-Thompson threw for 336 yards and two TDs. Bethel-Thompson is also 6-0 versus Ottawa. Caleb Evans had 297 passing yards and a TD last week versus Montreal but Darvin Adams dropped a late Evans TD pass that could’ve forced overtime.

Pick: Toronto.

Last week: 4-0.

CP’s overall record: 23-4.

(CP)