Four weeks into the young 2010 CFL season, the Toronto Argonauts have already matched their 2009 total of three wins. The Winnipeg Blue Bombers, the other team to fail to make the playoffs in '09, finished last season second only to Toronto in scoring futility; this season, they are tied for first in scoring. It's been a wild first month, and we're just getting started; what excitement will Week 5 have in store?
Friday: British Columbia Lions at Edmonton Eskimos (9:00 p.m. ET)
The Lions (1-3 SU, 2-2 ATS) will once again turn to QB Travis Lulay Friday night as Casey Printers continues to nurse a knee injury that will force him into the third-string role. Last week, the Lions looked to be on their way to a victory over Toronto up 20-10 with less than seven minutes to go, but Toronto capped off the comeback with an interception return to win it 24-20. RB Jamal Robertson had two touchdowns last week, and might get more carries this week, averaging 7.4 yards per carry this season. The Lions' only win this season came against Edmonton in Week 1, 25-10, winning outright as 4-point underdogs
Edmonton (0-4 SU, 1-3 ATS) is the CFL's only winless team, and will try to remedy that this week in their rematch against the Lions. The closest they've come to a win was in Week 3 against Saskatchewan, leading 20-13 at the end of the third quarter but eventually losing 24-20 (covering the spread at +7). Edmonton hopes to get an emotional boost from the return of DL Adam Braidwood, who will be making his first start in two years.
The first time the two teams met, the total was comfortably UNDER the 54.5 line. British Columbia's games have gone UNDER in three of four contests, while Edmonton's games have split 2-2.
Saturday: Hamilton Tiger-Cats at Saskatchewan Roughriders (6:30 p.m. ET)
Hamilton (1-3 SU and ATS) enters Saturday's game tied with Edmonton for the worst record ATS in the CFL. Currently sitting in last place in the East, Hamilton has had great play from quarterback Kevin Glenn (1090 yards, five touchdowns, one interception), but has not been able to get DeAndra Cobb and the running game going. Hamilton's 71.5 rushing yards per game ranks worst in the league.
The Roughriders (3-1 SU, 2-2 ATS), meanwhile, have the league's best rushing attack, averaging 178 yards per game. RB Wes Cates has 400 yards and three touchdowns in 57 carries this season. The passing game has been strong as well, with QB Darian Durant leading the league with 1,325 passing yards. Saskatchewan will be heavily favored this week despite dropping their first game of the season last week at Calgary, 40-20.
The Tiger-Cats have seen three of their first four games go UNDER, while the offensively stacked Roughriders have gone OVER in three of their four contests.
Saturday: Winnipeg Blue Bombers at Calgary Stampeders (9:30 p.m. ET)
The Blue Bombers (2-2 SU and ATS) will play away from home for just the second time this season when they take on Calgary on Saturday night. The first time they didn't fare well, falling 28-7 at Hamilton as 4-point underdogs. It was an uncharacteristically low score for Winnipeg, whose 137 points scored this season are tied with Montreal for the league's highest. With QB Buck Pierce still out with a knee injury, Steven Jyles will start his second straight game.
Calgary (3-1 SU and ATS) is coming off of a huge home win over Saskatchewan last week, earning them a share of the Western Conference lead. WR Romby Bryant had seven catches for 116 yards and two touchdowns in the rout. The Stampeders are 2-0 ATS at home with that win and a win over Toronto in Week 1. Steven Jyles will have his work cut out for him trying to crack the Calgary defense, which has surrendered a league-best 85 points over the first four games of the season.
Winnipeg ranks first (with 341.5 per game) and Calgary ranks second (371.5 per game) in total yards surrendered this season. Despite their low yardage surrendered number, Winnipeg's games have gone OVER in three of their four contests this year, while Calgary has split 2-2.
Friday: British Columbia Lions at Edmonton Eskimos (9:00 p.m. ET)
The Lions (1-3 SU, 2-2 ATS) will once again turn to QB Travis Lulay Friday night as Casey Printers continues to nurse a knee injury that will force him into the third-string role. Last week, the Lions looked to be on their way to a victory over Toronto up 20-10 with less than seven minutes to go, but Toronto capped off the comeback with an interception return to win it 24-20. RB Jamal Robertson had two touchdowns last week, and might get more carries this week, averaging 7.4 yards per carry this season. The Lions' only win this season came against Edmonton in Week 1, 25-10, winning outright as 4-point underdogs
Edmonton (0-4 SU, 1-3 ATS) is the CFL's only winless team, and will try to remedy that this week in their rematch against the Lions. The closest they've come to a win was in Week 3 against Saskatchewan, leading 20-13 at the end of the third quarter but eventually losing 24-20 (covering the spread at +7). Edmonton hopes to get an emotional boost from the return of DL Adam Braidwood, who will be making his first start in two years.
The first time the two teams met, the total was comfortably UNDER the 54.5 line. British Columbia's games have gone UNDER in three of four contests, while Edmonton's games have split 2-2.
Saturday: Hamilton Tiger-Cats at Saskatchewan Roughriders (6:30 p.m. ET)
Hamilton (1-3 SU and ATS) enters Saturday's game tied with Edmonton for the worst record ATS in the CFL. Currently sitting in last place in the East, Hamilton has had great play from quarterback Kevin Glenn (1090 yards, five touchdowns, one interception), but has not been able to get DeAndra Cobb and the running game going. Hamilton's 71.5 rushing yards per game ranks worst in the league.
The Roughriders (3-1 SU, 2-2 ATS), meanwhile, have the league's best rushing attack, averaging 178 yards per game. RB Wes Cates has 400 yards and three touchdowns in 57 carries this season. The passing game has been strong as well, with QB Darian Durant leading the league with 1,325 passing yards. Saskatchewan will be heavily favored this week despite dropping their first game of the season last week at Calgary, 40-20.
The Tiger-Cats have seen three of their first four games go UNDER, while the offensively stacked Roughriders have gone OVER in three of their four contests.
Saturday: Winnipeg Blue Bombers at Calgary Stampeders (9:30 p.m. ET)
The Blue Bombers (2-2 SU and ATS) will play away from home for just the second time this season when they take on Calgary on Saturday night. The first time they didn't fare well, falling 28-7 at Hamilton as 4-point underdogs. It was an uncharacteristically low score for Winnipeg, whose 137 points scored this season are tied with Montreal for the league's highest. With QB Buck Pierce still out with a knee injury, Steven Jyles will start his second straight game.
Calgary (3-1 SU and ATS) is coming off of a huge home win over Saskatchewan last week, earning them a share of the Western Conference lead. WR Romby Bryant had seven catches for 116 yards and two touchdowns in the rout. The Stampeders are 2-0 ATS at home with that win and a win over Toronto in Week 1. Steven Jyles will have his work cut out for him trying to crack the Calgary defense, which has surrendered a league-best 85 points over the first four games of the season.
Winnipeg ranks first (with 341.5 per game) and Calgary ranks second (371.5 per game) in total yards surrendered this season. Despite their low yardage surrendered number, Winnipeg's games have gone OVER in three of their four contests this year, while Calgary has split 2-2.
