It’s Week 7 in the CFL and it could very well be another CFL “Homer Weekend.”
There are two things we know about the Canadian Football League: The West usually beats the East and home teams almost always win.
Granted, home teams have a record of 15-9 this season, but on four occasions Western teams beat Eastern teams in the Eastern team’s buildings. That means when you take the Western factor out of the equation, home teams have a 15-5 record. Now that’s significant.
This week there are no crossover games. The West does not have a holiday playing the East. That means, despite the records of the competing teams, the ones at home should have an advantage.
In fact, something tells me that even though some visiting teams are prohibitive favourites, that might not matter this week.
Here’s a look at the games for Week 7… think home teams.
Toronto Argonauts (3-3) at Hamilton Tiger-Cats (1-5)
Thursday, 6 p.m. CT, TSN
There is absolutely no reason to take the Hamilton Tiger-Cats this week. They are 1-5 (and lucky to be 1-5). They can’t figure out whether Richie Williams or Casey Printers should be the quarterback and their best player, Jesse Lumsden, is always hurt. And the smartest football man in Hamilton, Mike McCarthy, is in the Steel City, selling cars. How bad are the Ticats? How’s this? The top two tacklers in the CFL are Ticats. Trouble is they’re both defensive backs which means they can’t cover. Still, Hamilton is playing against Toronto, and as the Bombers proved in a 19-11 loss at Rogers Centre last week, Toronto isn’t that good — especially on offence. If the ‘Cats are going to win another game, this is it.
Pick: Hamilton
Calgary Stampeders (3-3) at Saskatchewan Roughriders (6-0)
Thursday, 9 p.m. CT, TSN
There is no sane reason to think the Saskatchewan Roughriders have a hope in this one. The Riders will likely go with Marcus Crandell at quarterback this week and despite a strong start, he wasn’t that good in Calgary last week. The Riders are also without receivers Matt Dominguez (who could be done) and Andy Fantuz (who won’t be back until October). This team is banged up and unbeaten and that means they’re ripe to take a beating. But then again, they’re playing at the friendly confines of Mosaic Stadium, they’re playing against a team with the worst defensive secondary in the CFL and they have the best defence in the CFL. Defence wins championships and until somebody can figure out a way to beat that defence, I’ll go with the home team.
Pick: Saskatchewan
Montreal Alouettes (3-3) at Winnipeg Blue Bombers (1-5)
Friday, 6:30 p.m. CT, TSN
This is a very interesting inter-conference game for those, like me, who bet home teams first. Montreal is 3-3 and their only three losses have come at the hands of Western Conference teams. The Als have already beaten Winnipeg once — 42-24 — and they have one of the two best quarterbacks in the league in Anthony Calvillo. The Alouettes are better in every sense of the word and Winnipeg is banged up. There is no possible way the Bombers can win this game. So I’m taking the home team. For no other reason than it’s the CFL East.
Pick: Winnipeg
Edmonton Eskimos (4-2) at B.C. Lions (3-3)
Friday, 9:30 p.m. CT, TSN
The Eskimos have Ricky Ray while the B.C. Lions have Jarious Jackson and Buck Pierce. Ray is proving he can lead the Eskimos to victory without having to worry about Danny Maciocia. Jarious Jackson and Buck Pierce are having trouble winning without Dave Dickenson. Neither is a starter and neither one looks like a starter and that’s why Edmonton should win this game. But they won’t. The Eskimos are playing in a dome. B.C. is at home and in the CFL, home teams win.
Pick: B.C. Lions
Last Week: 4-0
Season: 13-3