It’s another week, which means it’s time for another round of picks from our contributors for the Week 20 slate.
A truncated offering of three games proves that the playoffs are just around the corner, with just one contest featuring any meaningful ramifications for seeding. That doesn’t mean you can tune the rest out though, as several intriguing storylines come to a head.
In our picks competition, the back and forth between Ben Grant and Santino Filoso continues, as our Toronto contributor is back in front with a 46-26-2 record straight-up. He’s also gained some breathing room against the spread, sitting two games up at 44-30 for the year.
Here are our picks for Week 20 in the CFL.
Friday, Oct. 18: Calgary Stampeders at Hamilton Tiger-Cats — 7:00 p.m. EDT
In a game that will mean nothing except for personal pride, Bo Levi Mitchell and the Hamilton Tiger-Cats invite his former team, the Calgary Stampeders, to Steeltown. The Stamps took the first meeting between the two teams this season all the way back in Week 1 but it’s been all downhill from there. Matthew Shiltz will get his second straight start in his return to Hamilton, for whom he started a playoff game over Mitchell last year. With a loss, Calgary will clinch the first overall pick in the 2025 CFL Draft.
ABBOTT: Congratulations to Calgary on earning the right to wait ten years for Kurtis Rourke.
Straight-up: Hamilton. Against the spread: Hamilton.
BALLANTINE: Shiltz is playing for his CFL future. Why not Calgary?
Straight-up: Calgary. Against the spread: Calgary.
DURRELL: Bo Levi Mitchell gets his first win against his old club.
Straight-up: Hamilton. Against the spread: Hamilton.
FILOSO: Calgary is the ninth-best team in the CFL.
Straight-up: Hamilton. Against the spread: Hamilton.
GASSON: Hamilton has something, Calgary does not.
Straight-up: Hamilton. Against the spread: Hamilton.
GRANT: It’s important for Hamilton to put on a show for their fans in their final home game, and I think they will.
Straight-up: Hamilton. Against the spread: Hamilton.
HERRERA-VERGARA: Bo Levi Mitchell should finally beat his former team. Calgary is going nowhere.
Straight-up: Hamilton. Against the spread: Hamilton.
HODGE: Bo Levi Mitchell does what he failed to do in Week 1: beat his old team.
Straight-up: Hamilton. Against the spread: Hamilton.
HOSKINS: Hamilton is a team that got better this year. Calgary, not so much
Straight-up: Hamilton. Against the spread: Hamilton.
KLEIN: It would be the cherry on top of this unpredictable year to have Calgary get their first road win of the year now. But I really don’t see that happening.
Straight-up: Hamilton. Against the spread: Hamilton.
TOTALS STRAIGHT-UP: Hamilton 9, Calgary 1
TOTALS AGAINST THE SPREAD: Hamilton 9, Calgary 1
Saturday, Oct. 19: Ottawa Redblacks at Toronto Argonauts — 3:00 p.m. EDT
The only game that matters this weekend features a pair of Ontario rivals headed in different directions. The Argonauts looked to have finally ironed out their inconsistencies after eight weeks of Chad Kelly being under centre and can secure a home playoff game with a victory. Meanwhile, the Redblacks are trying to claw back second place in the midst of a four-game losing skid. They’ll be aided by the return of some key pieces, as quarterback Dru Brown should be back starting with top receiver Justin Hardy to throw to and standout linebacker Jovan Santos-Knox boosting the defence.
ABBOTT: The East Semi should be a hot ticket in The Six.
Straight-up: Toronto. Against the spread: Toronto.
BALLANTINE: Because they should means they probably won’t this season.
Straight-up: Ottawa. Against the spread: Ottawa.
DURRELL: Toronto is peaking at the right time.
Straight-up: Toronto. Against the spread: Toronto.
FILOSO: The Argos will be out for revenge, but a healthy Dru Brown might make all the difference
Straight-up: Ottawa. Against the spread: Ottawa.
GASSON: Ottawa is slowly fading into the night. The Argos are trending in the right direction.
Straight-up: Toronto. Against the spread: Toronto.
GRANT: Last time they met, the game was over by halftime with Ottawa up 31-3. The Redblacks haven’t won since then and Toronto has only lost once.
Straight-up: Toronto. Against the spread: Toronto.
HERRERA-VERGARA: I don’t see Ottawa being strong enough to beat an Argos team that’s playing with confidence
Straight-up: Toronto. Against the spread: Toronto.
HODGE: The Argonauts are the best team in the East Division right now.
Straight-up: Toronto. Against the spread: Toronto.
HOSKINS: I will pick the Redblacks — to lose.
Straight-up: Toronto. Against the spread: Toronto.
KLEIN: Toronto has put it all together at the exact right time. Ottawa is falling apart at the exact wrong time.
Straight-up: Toronto. Against the spread: Toronto.
TOTALS STRAIGHT-UP: Toronto 8, Ottawa 2
TOTALS AGAINST THE SPREAD: Toronto 8, Ottawa 2
Saturday, Oct. 19: Montreal Alouettes at B.C. Lions — 7:00 p.m. EDT
The B.C. Lions wrap up their regular season on Saturday with the hope of generating some sort of spark heading into the playoffs, benching underperforming Canadian phenom Nathan Rourke and re-installing Vernon Adams Jr. as the starting quarterback. He’ll get his feet wet for the post-season against a Montreal team with nothing to play for and expected to rest several starters. It remains to be seen who will be at the helm of the Alouettes, with both Cody Fajardo and Davis Alexander poised to see some playing time.
ABBOTT: Vernon Adams Jr. provides enough juice to get past an Alouettes team that just doesn’t care anymore.
Straight-up: B.C. Against the spread: B.C.
BALLANTINE: As much as Montreal wants to send a message, Vernon Adams Jr.’s motivation has to be sky-high.
Straight-up: B.C. Against the spread: B.C.
DURRELL: It’s a long trip with nothing to play for but Montreal will want to finish the regular season on a high note.
Straight-up: Montreal. Against the spread: Montreal.
FILOSO: The last time Montreal won in Vancouver was the same year Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens came out.
Straight-up: B.C. Against the spread: B.C.
GASSON: That’s a long trip for a team with not much to play for. I’ll take the home team in an ugly one.
Straight-up: B.C. Against the spread: B.C.
GRANT: Does Montreal prioritize rest and health or setting the stage for a Grey Cup victory by winning in the same stadium they hope to return to a month from now? Why earn the opportunity to go into the playoffs healthy if you’re not going to take advantage of it?
Straight-up: B.C. Against the spread: B.C.
HERRERA-VERGARA: The Alouettes haven’t won at BC place since 2015. It won’t happen this time.
Straight-up: B.C. Against the spread: B.C.
HODGE: Vernon Adams Jr. gives the Lions new life.
Straight-up: B.C. Against the spread: B.C.
HOSKINS: I’m excited to see VA back in the lineup but I still think the shuffling is too much for the team to recover enough. Alouettes take it.
Straight-up: Montreal. Against the spread: Montreal.
KLEIN: Vernon Adams Jr. finally gets his job back, no way he doesn’t take full advantage.
Straight-up: B.C. Against the spread: B.C.
TOTALS STRAIGHT-UP: B.C. 8, Montreal 2
TOTALS AGAINST THE SPREAD: B.C. 8, Montreal 2
Records to date (straight-up)
GRANT — 46-26-2
FILOSO — 44-28-2
GASSON — 44-28-2
HOSKINS — 43-29-2
ABBOTT — 42-30-2
HERRERA-VERGARA — 42-30-2
KLEIN — 40-32-2
DURRELL — 39-33-2
HODGE — 37-35-2
BALLANTINE — 33-39-2
Records to date (against the spread)
GRANT — 44-30
FILOSO — 42-32
GASSON — 41-33
HODGE — 40-34
DURRELL — 38-36
HOSKINS — 38-36
HERRERA-VERGARA — 37-37
ABBOTT — 36-38
KLEIN — 34-40
BALLANTINE — 30-44
The post 3DownNation CFL picks: can the Argos lock up second in the East? appeared first on 3DownNation.