The Bum's 2016 Canadian Football League Picks-Trends-News !

[StarDust Bum]

WEST DIVISION

RK TEAM GP W L T PTS F A HOME AWAY DIV

1 Calgary 5 3 1 1 7 157 127 2-0-0 1-1-1 3-1-0

2 BC 5 3 2 0 6 143 117 1-1-0 2-1-0 2-1-0

3 Edmonton 5 2 3 0 4 150 164 1-3-0 1-0-0 2-1-0

4 Winnipeg 6 2 4 0 4 128 158 0-3-0 2-1-0 1-3-0

5 Saskatchewan 5 1 4 0 2 113 179 1-2-0 0-2-0 0-2-0


EAST DIVISION

RK TEAM GP W L T PTS F A HOME AWAY DIV

1 Toronto 6 4 2 0 8 148 140 1-2-0 3-0-0 2-2-0

2 Ottawa 6 3 2 1 7 178 149 0-1-1 3-1-0 2-1-0

3 Hamilton 5 3 2 0 6 137 114 0-2-0 3-0-0 2-0-0

4 Montreal 5 2 3 0 4 100 106 1-2-0 1-1-0 0-3-0


y - Clinched Division
x - Clinched Playoff Berth

[StarDust Bum]

7/28- Thursday's Totals: 1 - 1

Overall Totals

WLT PCT UNITS

ATS Picks 10-14-0 41.67% -2700

O/U Picks 13-9-2 59.09% +1550


WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 3

GAME TIME(ET) PICK UNITS

HAM at WPG 08:30 PM

HAM -4.0

U 49.5

[StarDust Bum]

Thursday, Aug. 4

British Columbia Lions (3-2 SU, 4-1 ATS) vs. Montreal Alouettes (2-3 SU, 2-3 ATS)
Point-spread: British Columbia -3
Total: 50 ½

Game Overview

The Lions will try and bounce back from their second SU loss in their last three games. They have to be kicking themselves after blowing a 34-19 lead heading into the fourth quarter of last week’s loss to Calgary. BC’s normally stout defense that had only allowed an average of 18.3 points in its first four games gave up 22 points in one quarter to send that game to overtime. Quarterback Jonathan Jennings ended the day with 374 yards passing and three touchdown throws.

Montreal’s offense showed some signs of life in last week’s rout after scoring a grand total of just 59 points in its first four games. Credit the play of quarterback Kevin Glenn and wide receiver Duron Carter with the win. Glenn completed 27-of-36 attempts for 299 yards and two touchdowns. Eight of those completions and one of those scores went to Carter. This was the Alouettes first win at home this season against two previous losses.

Betting Trends

The home team in this matchup had won eight games in a row both SU and ATS before the road team ended that streak last season with two straight victories (SU and ATS). The total has stayed UNDER in five of the last six games.

Saskatchewan Roughriders (1-4 SU, 2-3 ATS) vs. Calgary Stampeders (3-1-1 SU, 3-2 ATS)
Point-spread: Calgary -12 ½
Total: 59 ½

Game Overview

It is hard to know to make of the Roughriders’ play over their last two games. They failed to show up on the road against Montreal after stunning Ottawa 30-29 in Week 5 as 6 ½-point home underdogs. Mitchell Gale was the hero in the win against the RedBlacks in place of an injured Darian Durant at quarterback, but he looked very average last week with 211 yards passing, an interception and a completion percentage of just 56.1 percent. Durant is listed as questionable for this week’s game.

Calgary’s big fourth-quarter comeback and its eventual victory in overtime has the Stampeders setting the early pace in the West Division title race. It has now won three of its last four games both SU and ATS while averaging 34.8 points in those four contests. Bo Levi Mitchell once again lit things up through the air with 364 passing yards and three touchdown throws in last week’s win. He is now tied for the league lead in touchdown passes with 11.

Betting Trends

Calgary has won the last four games in this West Division tilt SU and it has a 3-1 edge ATS. The total has gone OVER in all four of those contests.


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Thursday, August 4

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BRITISH COLUMBIA (3 - 2) at MONTREAL (2 - 3) - 8/4/2016, 7:00 PM
Top Trends for this game.
BRITISH COLUMBIA is 65-44 ATS (+16.6 Units) in road games off a division game since 1996.
BRITISH COLUMBIA is 24-9 ATS (+14.1 Units) in road games in August games since 1996.
BRITISH COLUMBIA is 28-14 ATS (+12.6 Units) in road games in weeks 5 through 9 since 1996.

Head-to-Head Series History
MONTREAL is 3-2 against the spread versus BRITISH COLUMBIA over the last 3 seasons
MONTREAL is 3-2 straight up against BRITISH COLUMBIA over the last 3 seasons
4 of 5 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons

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SASKATCHEWAN (1 - 4) at CALGARY (3 - 1 - 1) - 8/4/2016, 10:00 PM
Top Trends for this game.
SASKATCHEWAN is 14-27 ATS (-15.7 Units) in all games over the last 3 seasons.
SASKATCHEWAN is 14-27 ATS (-15.7 Units) in all lined games over the last 3 seasons.
SASKATCHEWAN is 0-6 ATS (-6.6 Units) in road games when playing with 6 or less days rest over the last 2 seasons.
SASKATCHEWAN is 14-27 ATS (-15.7 Units) in games played on turf over the last 3 seasons.
CALGARY is 119-88 ATS (+22.2 Units) when playing with 6 or less days rest since 1996.
SASKATCHEWAN is 121-88 ATS (+24.2 Units) as an underdog since 1996.

Head-to-Head Series History
CALGARY is 3-1 against the spread versus SASKATCHEWAN over the last 3 seasons
CALGARY is 4-0 straight up against SASKATCHEWAN over the last 3 seasons
4 of 4 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons

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Thursday, August 4

7:00 PM
BRITISH COLUMBIA vs. MONTREAL
British Columbia is 4-10 SU in its last 14 games on the road
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of British Columbia's last 6 games when playing Montreal
Montreal is 8-16 ATS in its last 24 games when playing British Columbia
Montreal is 6-13 ATS in its last 19 games when playing at home against British Columbia

10:00 PM
SASKATCHEWAN vs. CALGARY
Saskatchewan is 2-9 SU in its last 11 games when playing Calgary
Saskatchewan is 2-7 ATS in its last 9 games on the road
Calgary is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games when playing at home against Saskatchewan
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Calgary's last 5 games when playing Saskatchewan

------------------------

British Columbia (3-2) @ Montreal (2-3)– Road team won both series games LY, after hosts had won previous nine in series. BC lost five of last six visits here. Lions scored 81 points in splitting road games last two weeks; they lost in OT at Calgary LW, allowed 32 ppg in last three games. Montreal ended 3-game skid with rout of Roughriders LW; they allowed 14 or less in their two wins, 28+ in losses. Underdogs are 5-3 vs spread in last eight series games. Four of five Montreal games stayed under the total.

Saskatchewan (1-4) @ Calgary (3-1)– Stampeders won last four series games (over 4-0), scoring 36.8 ppg; Riders lost seven of last eight visits here; their last win in Calgary was 2013 playoff game. Roughriders allowed 35.8 ppg in 1-4 start, losing both road games, by 3-38 points. Calgary is 3-0-1 in last four games, scoring 35.8 ppg; two of their last three games went to OT. Stamps scored 40 ppg in winning both home games, by 14-3 points. Three of Riders’ last four games went over total.

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Thursday, August 4

BC Lions @ Montreal

Game 123-124
August 4, 2016 @ 7:00 pm

Dunkel Rating:
BC Lions
112.734
Montreal
114.237
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Montreal
by 1 1/2
45
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
BC Lions
by 2 1/2
50
Dunkel Pick:
Montreal
(+2 1/2); Under

Saskatchewan @ Calgary

Game 125-126
August 4, 2016 @ 10:00 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Saskatchewan
103.456
Calgary
120.821
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Calgary
by 17 1/2
63
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Calgary
by 11
58
Dunkel Pick:
Calgary
(-11); Over

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CFL

Thursday, August 4


HAM 11
WPG 37 (+4.5)
Underdogs now 14-9-1 SU (61%) and 17-7 ATS (71%) this season.
Under making a move. Now 14-9 (61%).

[StarDust Bum]

PREVIEW

RESURGENT ALS LOOK TO KEEP ON FLYING VS. LIONS


MONTREAL — It’s amazing what a single, emphatic victory in front of your own fans can do for the morale of a football team.

Prior to last week’s blowout win against Saskatchewan, the Montreal Alouettes were a 1-3 team with no offence. This week they rumble into a Thursday Night Football showdown with the BC Lions full of confidence on the back of a 41-point offensive effort.

For Wally Buono’s Lions, a 41-point performance of their own last week in Calgary was not enough. The Leos blew a 15-point fourth-quarter lead in under three minutes and ultimately succumbed to Bo Levi Mitchell and the Stamps in overtime, 44-41.

The Lions are aiming to get back on track while the Als seek to build on the momentum of last week’s statement win.

BC’s defeat at McMahon Stadium last week left an all-around sour taste in its mouth. The offence, while solid in putting up 41 points, sputtered down the stretch and didn’t perform in overtime, while the defence gave up 44 points — never a positive.

“We did a good job on offence, we did a lot of things well during that game, (but) there were two mistakes I wish I could take back,” Lions quarterback Jonathan Jennings told BCLions.com. “It didn’t end the right way.”

The Lions will have to tighten things up on the defensive side of the football against a resurgent Als offence.

“He’s a veteran QB; they’re a good solid team that’s scrapping right now,” said BC linebacker Solomon Elimimian. “We’ve got (to be) playing within the call, running to the football, and making plays when it comes to you.”

Elimimian said the quick turnaround — five days — between the loss to Calgary and Thursday night’s game in Montreal could be a positive.

“The loss to Calgary was a tough one, something we took hard,” said the linebacker. “A short week’s a good thing — we’re ready to come out and play — to get that taste out of your mouth.”

Expect linebacker Adam Bighill to be a flying around and making plays on Thursday night; the Leos’ No. 44 led the CFL in tackles in 2015 and sits tied for fourth in the league with 36 thus far in 2016.

Return man Chris Rainey was back at it in Calgary last week, returning a punt 95 yards to the house to open the ballgame with his league-leading second punt-return TD of the season. Through six weeks of play, the former Florida Gator is leading the league’s regular return men in average punt-return yardage (17.0), punt-return yards (357), and punt-return touchdowns (2).

The Lions do face some injury concerns however, missing the services of defensive back Mike Edem, who was injured in the loss to Calgary.

On the Montreal side of the ball, experienced quarterback Kevin Glenn will be handed the reins for his fifth start of 2016 on the back of a 300-yard performance against Saskatchewan last week.

That was a much-needed boost for a unit ranked among the league’s worst offences in nearly every category going into Week 6.

“We were a lot better — more consistent throughout the whole game,” Als offensive coordinator Anthony Calvillo told MontrealAlouettes.com. “We avoided costly errors, which gave us the chance to be successful. Our challenge for (the BC game) is to maintain that consistency.”

Though Montreal’s already had a few weeks to adjust to its absences, it is worth noting the Als are without receivers S.J. Green (lost for the season) and Kenny Stafford and running back Tyrell Sutton.

The Als seemed to have made any necessary adjustments by last week’s meeting with Saskatchewan, as Duron Carter hauled in 115 receiving yards and a touchdown and B.J. Cunningham chipped in a touchdown reception.

Montreal’s defence is once again highlighted in 2016 by linebacker Bear Woods, who remains one of the most effective defenders in the CFL, with a team-high 37 tackles.

Als defensive back Billy Parker says his team needs to key in on BC quarterback Jonathon Jennings in order to have success.

“It all starts with their quarterback — he’s very dynamic, can scramble and has an excellent arm,” explained Parker. “We’ll have to contain him and keep him under control; if we do that well, do our job, we give ourselves every chance to win the game.”

Milestone alert: Montreal slotback Nik Lewis needs just 28 receiving yards to pass Saskatchewan’s Don Narcisse (1987-99) for 8th on the all-time CFL receiving yards leaderboard, and nine receptions to pass Narcisse for 6th all-time in receptions.

By the Numbers

5 – 30-plus-yard catches for Montreal wideout Duron Carter, second only to Chris Williams.

16 – Sacks recorded by BC as a team; second-most in the league.

50 – Percentage of field goals converted between BC’s Richie Leone (60) and Montreal’s Boris Bede (40), the two lowest conversion rates in CFL.

106 – League-low points allowed by Montreal through five games and six weeks of play.

The Skinny

Between sack machines Alex Bazzie (BC, CFL-high five sacks) and John Bowman (MTL, four sacks), and tackle leaders Adam Bighill (BC, 35 tackles) and Bear Woods (MTL, 37 tackles), the amount of elite defensive talent in this matchup is off the charts.

With that said, both teams put up 41 points last week and appear to have hit their respective strides offensively.

Both teams will be gunning to gain some momentum entering the middle third of the regular season, BC trying to shake off a disappointing loss in Calgary and Montreal looking to build on last week’s big win.

Kickoff is slated for 7 p.m. ET and can be seen live on TSN or followed online via CFL.ca GameTracker.

[StarDust Bum]

PREVIEW
DURANT SET TO RETURN AS STAMPS, RIDERS RENEW WESTERN RIVALRY

CALGARY — After a rollercoaster 44-41 overtime win last week, the Calgary Stampeders find themselves back atop the West Division with the confidence to match. East across the prairies, things aren’t as rosy for Chris Jones and the Saskatchewan Roughriders, who sit dead-last in the CFL with a 1-4 record.

The two western foes will meet in the nightcap of a Thursday Night Football doubleheader this week with plenty on the line.

Calgary wants to remain perfect at home, the only team in the league that can do so, while Saskatchewan’s still searching for win No. 1 away form Mosaic Stadium.

Now is as good a time as any for the Riders, who will have veteran quarterback Darian Durant back under centre for the first time since Week 4.

The return of Darian Durant should provide, at the very least, a morale boost to a Saskatchewan team that was manhandled in Montreal in Week 6.

The 33-year-old pivot admitted he was wrestling with himself on his status for Thursday’s rivalry game at McMahon Stadium.

“I sat down with myself and said ‘should I go now or give it another couple days’,” Durant explained to Riderville.com. “I’m just anxious to get out there, more than anything, and help our team.”

Durant was stellar in his two-plus starts prior to getting injured against BC in Week 4, completing 65 of 96 pass attempts for six touchdowns.

“Darian Durant has been around for years and years; he’s a player, and we’re fortunate to have him back,” said Riders head coach and general manager Chris Jones. “We pretty much just watched him, and when he says he’s ready, he’s ready — he’s our starter.”

Saskatchewan wideout Naaman Roosevelt, limited to just 67 yards in last week’s loss to Montreal, says the Riders are ready to get back on the horse.

“We’re ready to go,” said the Buffalo alum. “That wasn’t us, but this week is to get back to what we do — we’ve got a better understanding of what we need to do, and we’re ready to go this week.”

Roosevelt was a major player in the Riders’ one win of the season, a 30-29 thriller against Ottawa, scoring a touchdown and hauling in over 180 receiving yards.

Defence will continue to be the main concern for Saskatchewan entering Thursday’s showdown with the league’s hottest offence. The Riders have given up the most points (179), and recorded the fewest sacks (8) and interceptions (1) in the league through six weeks of play, including last week’s 41-3 dismantling at the hands of the previously-impotent Alouettes.

All highly uncharacteristic for a Jones-coached team, although not totally unexpected for a defence full of fresh faces early in 2016.

“We stumbled and stubbed our toe last week,” said Jones. “We’ve put that game behind us and are focused on a very good Calgary team.”

The Stamps may have gotten away with one last week at McMahon Stadium against the BC Lions. Trailing by 15 with roughly three minutes left in the fourth quarter, the Stamps stormed back to win in overtime and claim sole possession of first place in the West.

Fast forward to this week and Calgary is feeling good about its game.

“Any time you put points on the board, you’re going to have confidence,” quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell, who threw for 364 yards and a trio of touchdowns in last week’s win, told Stampeders.com.

“Hopefully we do it a little more consistently throughout the game (this week) as opposed to leaving it all to the end.”

Mitchell, once again one of the league leaders in passing yards (1,584, 2nd) and pass touchdowns (11, t-1st), says the struggling Riders can’t be taken lightly.

“They’ve got a great coach — I don’t care what they looked like in the past or their last game, they can come out and be the hottest team in the league with a coach like that,” said the Eastern Washington alum. “We have to be careful not to tread lightly; we’re playing a lot of great athletes.”

Stamps coach Dave Dickenson was happy with his team’s compete level, though not necessarily its level of play, in last week’s win.

“It was tough sledding. I felt like our team played hard (but) we didn’t play that great,” said Dickenson. “We’ve moved forward; our guys need to be better.”

As for the return of Durant under centre, the Stamps coach expects to see the same looks from the Riders regardless of who plays quarterback.

“They’ll be running the same offence — one (Durant)’s more experienced but the other (Gale)’s got a good arm and throws the ball well,” said Dickenson. “Same system, same offence, just a different guy under centre.”

Calgary will be boosted on the defensive side of the ball by the return of national defensive tackle Quinn Smith. The team’s 2014 first-round pick hasn’t suited up since the team’s Week 2 win against Winnipeg.

The Stamps have spread the ball around on offence, with the likes of Marquay McDaniel, Anthony Parker and Bakari Grant each having at least 27 targets through six weeks of action.

By the Numbers

2 – 20-plus-yard runs for Calgary’s Jerome Messam, the most in the league in a 2016 season which has seen a drop in the run game.

20 – Consecutive games with a pass TD for Stamps QB Bo Levi Mitchell, one shy of moving into a tie for fourth all-time.

22 – Tackles made by Riders rookie Samuel Eguavoen, the second-most on his team.

28 – Tackles registered by Calgary’s Tommie Campbell — the most of any player on either team.

The Skinny

Bo Levi Mitchell versus Darian Durant always has the promise of a good ol’-fashioned air raid. Factor in the historic nature of the Riders/Stamps rivalry and Thursday’s nightcap in the doubleheader is an enticing one.

While Calgary does have the option of 265-pound power back Jerome Messam on the ground, the Riders will have the undaunting duo of Kendial Lawrence — making his first start at the position as a Rider — and Matt Walter in the backfield.

Then again, if everything goes according to plan — and the league-wide 2016 trend continues — the run game shouldn’t be a deciding factor at McMahon Stadium on Thursday night.

Oh, and that Bo Levi Mitchell guy? The guy with the highest win percentage (.808) in CFL history? He’s dominated the Riders in his career.

But as Mitchell himself said: Any team coached by Chris Jones can win on any given Thursday.

Buckle up.

Kickoff is slated for 10 p.m. ET and can be seen live on TSN or followed online via CFL.ca GameTracker.

[StarDust Bum]

WEST DIVISION

RK TEAM GP W L T PTS F A HOME AWAY DIV

1 Calgary 5 3 1 1 7 157 127 2-0-0 1-1-1 3-1-0

2 BC 5 3 2 0 6 143 117 1-1-0 2-1-0 2-1-0

3 Winnipeg 7 3 4 0 6 165 169 1-3-0 2-1-0 1-3-0

4 Edmonton 5 2 3 0 4 150 164 1-3-0 1-0-0 2-1-0

5 Saskatchewan 5 1 4 0 2 113 179 1-2-0 0-2-0 0-2-0


EAST DIVISION

RK TEAM GP W L T PTS F A HOME AWAY DIV

1 Toronto 6 4 2 0 8 148 140 1-2-0 3-0-0 2-2-0

2 Ottawa 6 3 2 1 7 178 149 0-1-1 3-1-0 2-1-0

3 Hamilton 6 3 3 0 6 148 151 0-2-0 3-1-0 2-0-0

4 Montreal 5 2 3 0 4 100 106 1-2-0 1-1-0 0-3-0

y - Clinched Division
x - Clinched Playoff Berth

[StarDust Bum]

08- 03 - Wednesday's Totals: 1 - 1

Overall Totals

WLT PCT UNITS

ATS Picks 10-15-0 40.00% -3250

O/U Picks 14-9-2 60.87% +2050



THURSDAY, AUGUST 4

GAME TIME(ET) PICK UNITS

BC at MTL 07:00 PM

MTL +2.5

U 49.5


SSK at CGY 10:00 PM

SSK +10.5

O 57.0

[StarDust Bum]

08- 04 - Thursday's Totals: 0 - 4

Overall Totals

WLT PCT UNITS

ATS Picks 10-17-0 37.04% -4350

O/U Picks 14-11-2 56.00% +950



Saturday, Aug. 6

Edmonton Eskimos (2-3 SU, 0-4-1 ATS) vs. Ottawa RedBlacks (3-2-1 SU, 3-3 ATS)
Point-spread: Ottawa -4 ½
Total: 59

Game Overview

One more loss by Edmonton would match its loss total for the entire 2015 season. With Mike Reilly leading the CFL in passing yards (1,926) and tied for the lead in passing touchdowns (11) on an offense that is averaging 30 points a game, you would have to pin most of the Eskimos’ very shaky 2-3 start on a defense that has allowed an average of 37.3 points in those three losses.

Ottawa is another team that has been hard to figure out through its first six games. Last week’s loss to Toronto came against a quarterback that was making his first CFL start. The RedBlacks did have Henry Burris back as their starting quarterback for an injured Trevor Harris, but the rust was pretty obvious with a costly interception in final minute of play that sealed the upset for the Argonauts as heavy road underdogs. Harris is listed as questionable for Saturday’s contest.

Betting Trends

Ottawa drew first blood in this season’s series with a 45-37 overtime victory in Week 1 as a six-point road underdog. This snapped a SU five-game losing streak to Edmonton including last season’s Grey Cup Championship. The total has stayed UNDER in four of the six meetings.

[StarDust Bum]

Saturday, August 6

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EDMONTON (2 - 3) at OTTAWA (3 - 2 - 1) - 8/6/2016, 7:00 PM
Top Trends for this game.
OTTAWA is 18-8 ATS (+9.2 Units) in all games over the last 2 seasons.
OTTAWA is 18-8 ATS (+9.2 Units) in all lined games over the last 2 seasons.
OTTAWA is 9-2 ATS (+6.8 Units) when playing with 6 or less days rest over the last 2 seasons.

Head-to-Head Series History
OTTAWA is 3-3 against the spread versus EDMONTON over the last 3 seasons
EDMONTON is 5-1 straight up against OTTAWA over the last 3 seasons
4 of 6 games in this series have gone UNDER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons

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Saturday, August 6

7:00 PM
EDMONTON vs. OTTAWA
Edmonton is 5-0 SU in its last 5 games on the road
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of Edmonton's last 7 games on the road
Ottawa is 1-5 SU in its last 6 games when playing at home against Edmonton
Ottawa is 3-6 ATS in its last 9 games when playing Edmonton


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Edmonton (2-3) @ Ottawa (3-2-1)– RedBlacks (+6) won season opener 45-37 at Edmonton, tying game with 0:01 left, then winning in OT for its first series win in six games. Ottawa threw for 543 yards (10.4 ypa). Eskimos won their two visits here, 10-8/23-12; they’ve allowed 30+ points in four of five games, won only road game 20-16 at Winnipeg three weeks ago. RedBlacks lost last two games after a 3-0-1 start; under is 3-1-1 in their last five games. Ottawa is 0-1-1 at home, losing to Toronto last week after tying Calgary in home opener.

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Saturday, August 6

Edmonton @ Ottawa

Game 127-128
August 6, 2016 @ 7:00 pm

Dunkel Rating:
Edmonton
112.655
Ottawa
114.697
Dunkel Team:
Dunkel Line:
Dunkel Total:
Ottawa
by 2
62
Vegas Team:
Vegas Line:
Vegas Total:
Ottawa
by 4
58 1/2
Dunkel Pick:
Edmonton
(+4); Over

----------------------------

[StarDust Bum]

ESKS, REDBLACKS LOOK TO GET BACK ON TRACK IN GREY CUP REMATCH

OTTAWA — Two of the league’s hottest teams out of the gate, the Edmonton Eskimos and Ottawa REDBLACKS have fallen on hard times entering their Week 7 matchup in the nation’s capital.

The similarities in the two teams’ trajectories in 2016 are uncanny; both the REDBLACKS (3-0-1 start) and Eskimos (2-1 start) were quick off the blocks, but both have stumbled in the last few weeks as their previous strengths have been called into question.

Major keys to either team’s success last year — Ottawa quarterback Henry Burris’s MOP season and Edmonton’s consistent defence — have looked shaky thus far in 2016.

The REDBLACKS’ offence faced some boos during a lacklustre return from the injured list for Burris in last week’s loss to Toronto, while Edmonton’s once-fearsome defence has held only one of its first five opponents under 30 points.

Perhaps a change of scenery will do the Edmonton Eskimos some good.

Saturday’s visit to the Ottawa will be just the second road game of the season for Edmonton (2-3), which has posted a disappointing 1-3 record at Commonwealth Stadium out of the gate.

“We’ve had a couple of good days in the film room seeing how our opponent has changed in the last couple of weeks,” Eskimos quarterback Mike Reilly told Esks.com. “We had a stretch where we were just off and that happens. Shoot, the last three-and-a-half years I’ve been here, we’ve had stretches where we’ve gone through what every offence goes through.”

Reilly will have to play to his usual standards if Edmonton is to engineer a win on the road and claw back to a .500 record.

“There’s going to be stretches in every game where you’re going to hit (a) funk,” explained the Esks pivot, who leads the league with 1,926 passing yards. “You can only let it happen for a drive or two. You can’t let it happen for quarters on end. That’s something we have to figure out. Have somebody step up and make a play

Reilly has thrown for over 300 yards in his last eight games, and can tie former Montreal quarterback Anthony Calvillo for the all-time record in consecutive games with 300-plus yards if he breaks the mark in Ottawa on Saturday.

There’s no way around the fact that the Esks have struggled on the defensive side of the ball this season.

The same team that finished top-three in the CFL in points allowed (341, 1st), sacks (49, 3rd) and interceptions (23, 3rd) a year ago is struggling in all three departments through six weeks in 2016.

Edmonton’s been unable to create meaningful penetration (league-low eight sacks) and has largely been unable to come up with the big play when needed on defence, despite having noted playmakers like Marcus Howard, J.C. Sherritt and Odell Willis in its front seven.

Eskimos receiver Derel Walker’s 642 receiving yards through his team’s first five games are the second-most in CFL history only to Milt Stegall, who hauled in 645 yards in Winnipeg’s first five games of the 2002 season.

On the Ottawa side of the football, a pair of losses — specifically last week’s against Toronto — have dislodged the REDBLACKS (3-2-1) from first place in the East Division. MOP candidate quarterback Trevor Harris remains on the shelf, meaning 2015 MOP Henry Burris will have a chance to right the ship after a dismal performance last week.

“I expect him to get things running,” Ottawa head coach Rick Campbell told OttawaREDBLACKS.com. “He’s done so well, did so well in training camp and pre-season, and in the first Edmonton game before he got injured.”

The REDBLACKS’ defence will be in for a unique challenge against the Eskimos, one of the top passing teams in the league.

“It’s going to be a tough task, they’ve got some good playmakers,” said defensive back Jermaine Robinson. “Reilly’s playing some good ball — we’ve got to keep things in front of us and finish this week, start playing better on defence, (and) keep them out of field-goal range.”

Ottawa’s defence will be boosted by the return of Moton Hopkins on the line and Nick Taylor’s debut in the secondary. Hopkins, a Tulsa alumnus, is coming off a career-high 25 tackles in 2015, while the speedy Taylor spent some time in camp with the New York Jets in 2014.

“It’s fun to get to play with some new guys,” said REDBLACKS defensive back Antoine Pruneau. “That’s something we’ve been through a lot this season, and it’s exciting for guys to get their first starts.”

The book on the Eskimos’ offence is out, but that doesn’t make stopping them any easier.

“They’ve got a great group of receivers,” said Pruneau. “Guys like Adarius Bowman and (Derel) Walker can be big threats for the deep bomb, and (we have to) make sure Reilly doesn’t beat us with his feet.”

The REDBLACKS will also start their last two first-round draft picks side-by-side on the offensive line, with Alex Mateas (2015, 1st-overall) and Jason Lauzon-Sequin (2016, 7th-overall) set to start at right guard and right tackle respectively.

By the Numbers

0 – Touchdown receptions for Ottawa receiver Chris Williams in the last three weeks after hauling in six in the opening three weeks of 2016.

3 – League-high fumbles forced by Edmonton LB JC Sherritt.

9 – Wins for Edmonton in its last 11 games coming off a loss since 2014.

66.2 – Completion percentage for Ottawa QB Henry Burris.

The Skinny

Both the Eskimos and REDBLACKS are reeling and in bad need of a win to stay relevant in their respective divisional races.

Edmonton’s defence will sense the struggling REDBLACKS as an opportunity to put on a statement performance, while Ottawa will see the reeling Esks’ defence as a chance to right its ship offensively.

The two teams have split their last two meetings, Edmonton running out winner at the Grey Cup last November and Ottawa emerging victorious in Week 1 this year in Alberta.

Anything can happen.

Kickoff is slated for 7:00 p.m. ET and can be seen live on TSN or followed online via CFL.ca GameTracker.

[StarDust Bum]

WEST DIVISION

RK TEAM GP W L T PTS F A HOME AWAY DIV

1 Calgary 6 4 1 1 9 192 142 3-0-0 1-1-1 4-1-0

2 BC 6 4 2 0 8 181 135 1-1-0 3-1-0 2-1-0

3 Winnipeg 7 3 4 0 6 165 169 1-3-0 2-1-0 1-3-0

4 Edmonton 5 2 3 0 4 150 164 1-3-0 1-0-0 2-1-0

5 Saskatchewan 6 1 5 0 2 128 214 1-2-0 0-3-0 0-3-0


EAST DIVISION

RK TEAM GP W L T PTS F A HOME AWAY DIV

1 Toronto 6 4 2 0 8 148 140 1-2-0 3-0-0 2-2-0

2 Ottawa 6 3 2 1 7 178 149 0-1-1 3-1-0 2-1-0

3 Hamilton 6 3 3 0 6 148 151 0-2-0 3-1-0 2-0-0

4 Montreal 6 2 4 0 4 118 144 1-3-0 1-1-0 0-3-0

y - Clinched Division
x - Clinched Playoff Berth

[StarDust Bum]

Saturday, August 6


Edmonton at Ottawa, 7:00 ET
Edmonton: 5-1 ATS off a loss against a division rival
Ottawa: 1-8 ATS after a loss by 3 or less points

[StarDust Bum]

SATURDAY, AUGUST 6

GAME TIME(ET) PICK UNITS

EDM at OTT 07:00 PM

EDM +3.5

O 58.0

[StarDust Bum]

RECAP

REDBLACKS EDGE ESKIMOS 23-20 ON WILD SATURDAY NIGHT
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OTTAWA — It might have been a slogging, penalty-filled contest for the first three quarters, but the Ottawa REDBLACKS and visiting Edmonton Eskimos provided all the drama necessary in a ridiculous fourth quarter on Saturday night in the nation’s capital.

The REDBLACKS (4-2-1) emerged as the last team standing, 23-20 winners, at the end of an emotional roller-coaster of a night which saw them and the Eskimos (2-4) combine for 27 penalties, totalling over 300 yards, in a grinding, defensive battle.

Ottawa opened the scoring on the first possession of the night, as veteran quarterback Henry Burris led the REDBLACKS offence on an 11-play, 64-yard drive capped by a 17-yard Chris Milo field goal.

The hometown defence came up with a big-time play on Edmonton’s first possession, when REDBLACKS defensive lineman stripped Esks quarterback Mike Reilly in Ottawa territory. Zack Evans pounced on the fumble to regain possession for Ottawa.

A series of short, uninspiring drives for both teams followed, winding down the clock quickly in the opening quarter.

Backed up inside their own 10-yard line, the REDBLACKS tried to stretch the field in the closing stages of the first quarter, but Burris’s deep bomb was dropped by receiver Chris Williams, forcing punter Zack Medeiros to concede a safety on the ensuing third down.

Mike Reilly was then roughed up by Ottawa linebacker Damaso Munoz on a play early in the second quarter; Munoz was flagged — a common theme throughout the night for the REDBLACKS — for roughing the passer, while Reilly was forced to miss a snap while being patched up on the sidelines.

A couple of long-distance connections on the following Ottawa drive between Burris and receiver Greg Ellingson, one for 41 yards and another for 22, marched the REDBLACKS offence into the red zone, where Burris then hit Ernest Jackson up the middle for a 20-yard reception and the game’s first major. Milo added the convert and Ottawa led 10-2.

The Eskimos would chip away through a Grant Shaw punt single and a 33-yard Sean Whyte field goal, whittling Ottawa’s lead down to 10-6 entering the half.

Henry Burris then fumbled twice, with Ottawa recovering both loose balls, on the closing possession of the first half.

The 41 year-old pivot then unloaded on the TSN panel during a passionate half-time interview with TSN’s Matthew Scianitti.

A penalty-filled slog of a third quarter was finally broken after nearly ten minutes by a 53-yard Whyte field goal which cut the Ottawa lead to 10-9. Milo responded for the REDBLACKS roughly five minutes later with a 25-yard kick of his own to restore the hosts’ four-point lead.

Whyte came right back in what was quickly becoming a battle of the kickers early in the fourth quarter, drilling a 27-yarder to cut the Eskimo deficit to 13-12.

After Ottawa’s offence stalled in the red zone on the subsequent possession, Chris Milo trotted out for what should have been a chip shot from 22 yards to once again restore the four-point lead. Shockingly, Milo pulled his kick wide right and, to add insult to injury, was not given the rouge after it was deemed the kick deflected off the upright. It remained a one-point game.

An unlucky pick-six on Ottawa’s next possession then gave the visitors from Edmonton their first lead of the night. An errant throw from Burris bounced off the foot of receiver Chris Williams and was snatched by Edmonton linebacker JC Sherritt, who sprinted to the house for Edmonton’s first touchdown — and first lead — of the night. The play was reviewed and confirmed. Reilly then hit slotback Chris Getzlaf for the two-point convert, pushing Edmonton’s lead to 20-13.

Burris, backing up his words at the half, responded by engineering a seven-play touchdown drive into the end zone, finished by a Chris Williams 7-yard touchdown reception. Milo added the convert and the hosts had tied the ballgame at 20.

Then, the unforeseen: Mike Reilly was picked off by Jermaine Robinson on the first play of the following drive. Robinson returned it 48 yards, setting up a game-winning 25-yard Chris Milo field goal with just 94 seconds left.

The Esks were able to cross midfield on its final possession, but that was as far as the REDBLACKS defence would let them: three incompletions from Reilly from the Ottawa 50 sealed a massive home win for Ottawa.

Burris did come through on his half-time promise to turn it around, ultimately throwing for 341 yards and a pair of touchdowns on the night, while his counterpart had one of his weakest performances of the season.

Reilly was held under 300 passing yards for the first time in 2016, completed just 61 per cent of his passes, and was kept out of the end zone by a fresh-faced Ottawa secondary.

Neither squad ran the ball particularly well or often, with both running backs — Edmonton’s John White and Ottawa’s Nic Grigsby — each running for 33 yards on nine carries.

Ottawa’s Greg Ellington led all receivers with 121 yards, 65 of which came on the drive which led to Ernest Jackson’s first-half touchdown reception.

Kenny Ladler (eight tackles) and JC Sherritt (seven tackles, pick-six) led the way defensively for the Esks, while John Boyett (seven tackles) and University of Ottawa product Ettore Lattanzio (four tackles, sack) were notable defensive performers for the REDBLACKS.

The win snapped a two-game losing skid for Ottawa, which now moves into its Week-8 bye with a 4-2-1 record, while Saturday’s loss was Edmonton’s third in a row.

The Esks will be back in action at Commonwealth Stadium on Thursday Night Football (Aug. 11, 9 p.m. ET) against the Montreal Alouettes.

[StarDust Bum]

08- 06 - Saturday's Totals: 1 - 1

Overall Totals

WLT PCT UNITS

ATS Picks 11-17-0 39.29% -3850

O/U Picks 14-12-2 53.85% +400



WEEK 8

Thursday, August 11, 2016

Time (ET) Away Home

9:00 PM Montreal Alouettes Edmonton Eskimos


Friday, August 12, 2016

Time (ET) Away Home

7:30 PM Winnipeg Blue Bombers Toronto Argonauts


Saturday, August 13, 2016

Time (ET) Away Home

7:00 PM Calgary Stampeders Saskatchewan Roughriders

10:00 PM Hamilton Tiger Cats British Columbia Lions