6) B.C. LIONS AT WINNIPEG Under +54.5 -110 ( one unit)
not touching the side....too many variables....
cut and paste website time:
The Winnipeg Blue Bombers are in the unenviable position of being the answer to a trivia question, who did Rocky Henry beat for his first CFL win?
Last Sunday afternoon, the Bombers went into Saskatchewan and got pounded 33-19, as fourth- string quarterback Rocky Henry did just enough to get the win. Winnipeg's defense sacked Henry 8 times, but allowed him to rush 9 times for 63 yards and three touchdowns, including a 32 yard back breaker in the fourth quarter.
Khari Jones against didn't have a great day, completing 20 of 38 for 269 yards, 1 touchdown and one interception. Another sore spot for the Blue Bombers, was special teams coverage, or lack thereof. Saskatchewan racked up 194 yards in punt returns alone, 146 by Corey Holmes. He added 97 more yards in kickoff returns.
Winnipeg hopes to add a spark to their offence, with the acquisition of Robert Gordon, who agreed to terms this week. Gordon, 32, played in 12 games with Winnipeg last year, plus the Eastern final and Grey Cup. He then played with Detroit of the Arena League, broke his arm, and is now healed. The University of Nebraska-Omaha product should add some much needed speed to the offensive attack. Gordon is also well-known around the league for a dubious honor: he's the only active CFL veteran that has never won a Grey Cup. In his 11th year, he says he's getting tired of that honor.
The BC Lions are now 4-0 under Adam Rita as head coach. Their latest win came August 30, when they beat the expansion Ottawa Renegades 28-4 in the nation's capital. Damon Allen threw a pair of touchdown passes and ran for another. Overall, Allen completed 15-23 for 187 yards. The Lions offence, while not spectacular, got the job done, especially in the first quarter, when they scored on their opening drive of 11 plays and 100 yards, and added a pair of touchdowns in the final minute of the first half for a 21-4 win. of the first half.
The Lions defense allowed just 275 yards in net Ottawa offence, including 98 rushing yards.
This game will also be an emotional one, but for another reason. To honor the victims of September 11, the Bombers will conduct a moment of silence before the game, and during the singing of both anthems, linebacker Brian Clark, from Hofstra, will hold the US flag, while defensive end Wayne Weathers will hold the Maple Leaf.
The numbers: these two teams met in Manitoba on August 9, with Rita getting his first win as head coach, 29-21. In the last ten meetings, Winnipeg holds a 6-4 margin. Previous to this year's win, the Bombers had won 4 in a row.
Keys to the game: You wouldn't want to have been a Bomber player this past week. After the loss to the Riders, head coach Dave Ritchie was asked how he would handle the loss. ?Come to practice, you'll see a change," is all he said. It must have worked. This week, several players were involved in fights during practice. Quite simply, the Bombers have been yakking more than they've been playing. It's time for them to shut up and play. Throw out all the stats, this one comes down to emotion. The Lions caught the Bombers last time in Winnipeg. It won't happen twice. BC is due for a fall, and it happens this afternoon.
predicted outcome: Winnipeg 27, BC 16.
