And not just implications. If the Bombers win and get to 6-9, they're all but guaranteed a shot at the post-season. If the Argos win, they're tied with the Bombers and back in the hunt.

And here's what's even uglier. This is not just a fight for the playoffs, but a battle for second place in the East. Second place! The East is a mess, but on the upside, in Week 16 at least, the East plays the East and all the power in the West plays against all the power in the West. That means we should see some pretty good football games.

For the most part, it will be a close and competitive Thanksgiving Weekend, except for, perhaps, the opener. Let's take a closer look…

Toronto Argonauts (4-10) at Winnipeg Blue Bombers (5-9)

Friday, 7:30 p.m. CT, TSN

This has the makings of a rout. Kerry Joseph, with the worst passer's rating among (sometimes) starting quarterbacks in the CFL with a 69.2 mark, will start for an Argos team that still hasn't won for Don Matthews. There seems to be a lot of angst in Winnipeg, worrying about this one, simply because Toronto has won two-of-three against the Bombers so far this season, but here’s why Bomber fans should stop worrying. A win tomorrow night against the Argos, a team the Bombers beat 39-9 in Toronto four weeks ago, will wrap up a playoff spot. Forget the mathematics, win ad it's a done deal. And even if the Bombers don’t win, just one more win down the stretch should lock up that playoff spot. I’ve said it for months, 6-10 makes the grade in the East. I still believe that. However, what's important to remember is that the last time these two teams met, in Toronto, Winnipeg won 39-9. This could get ugly.

Pick: Winnipeg

Edmonton Eskimos (8-6) at B.C. Lions (9-5)

Friday, 10:30 p.m. CT, TSN

The Lions have won five straight games to go from 4-5 to 9-5 and move into a first-place tie in the West although, in fairness, three of the five wins have come against Hamilton and Toronto (yeah, it's true, you could get 11 of your buddies together and beat Toronto and Hamilton). The Eskimos, who can clinch a playoff spot with a win, whipped Winnipeg at home last week and Ricky Ray looked good in the process, but always remember the home-away scenario in the West, B.C. is at home. 

Pick: B.C.

Hamilton Tiger-Cats (3-11) at Montreal Alouettes (9-5) 

Monday, Noon CT, TSN

Last week, these two teams met in Hamilton. Montreal's Anthony Calvillo, who absolutely, positively should be the CFL's most outstanding player, threw for 468 yards and four touchdowns while Hamilton's new hotshot stud, Quinton Porter threw for 429 yards and FIVE touchdowns. In an amazing football game, Hamilton beat the Als 44-36. Wow! It won't happen again. Especially in Montreal's little band-box.

Pick: Montreal

Saskatchewan Roughriders (9-5) at Calgary Stampeders (9-5)

Sunday, 3:30 p.m. CT, TSN

Things aren't getting better in Saskatchewan, they're getting worse. This week, the Riders had 19 players on the DL. Last week, they had 18 and still the Green Men beat the Stampeders 37-34 in a nasty game that ended with fines, after a number of Stamps got themselves into an altercation with the officials (as bad as the officiating is in the CFL, you just have to fine a way to ignore it, boys). Calgary is the better team and they are playing at home this week.

Pick: Calgary

Last Week: 2-2

Season: 33-15

Oh, don't worry, we certainly  thought there were guarantees. After 14 weeks we thought we had the Conference champions figured out. I mean Montreal and Calgary were red-hot as we passed the midway point of the 2008 Canadian Football League season. Calgary in the West, Montreal in the East, let's play the Grey Cup right now.

Then along came Week 15. Calgary goes on the road and loses 37-34 to Saskatchewan. Montreal goes on the road and loses 44-36 to Hamilton. Now I understand the Calgary loss. Regina is a tough place to play and the Calgary defence is not very good, but the Montreal loss to sad-sack Hamilton was a shocker.

Anthony Calvillo went an unbelievable 44-for-53 for 468 yards and four touchdowns  — three receivers had at least 100 yards and three had at least 10 catches — and the Als still lost as Quinton Porter went 27-for-32 for 429 yards and five touchdowns.

Montreal rushed for 10 yards in the game. That's how you lose in the CFL, even when you put up 36 points.

Let's take a look at the five things we learned in Week 15.

1. Home teams are still a safe bet. Western Conference teams are now 20-7 at home. In the East, teams are 13-16 (Toronto and hamilton are a combined 4-11), but that has more to do with the fact that the East is just plain lousy. Western teams are now 18-6 against the East. It doesn't matter where they play.

2. The Calgary defence is the only thing that will keep the Stampeders out of the Grey Cup. It's not that the Calgary defence is awful. The Stamps have allowed only 352 points in 14 games. It's just that when they need it, they don't get it. The Stamps have five losses. The defence collapsed in the final minute in a 32-28 loss to Winnipeg (and, don't forget, the Bombers had Ryan Dinwiddie at quarterback), it collapsed late in a 34-31 loss in Edmonton and gave up 37 at home in another loss to Edmonton. In five losses, the Stampders have given up 162 points. In nine wins, only 190. There is a lesson in all that. 

3. The Bombers still aren't a lock — although, they should be. Winnipeg added Jason Armstead, Kai Ellis, Zeke Moreno and Joe Smith and should be better. For three weeks, they were, with wins over 3-11 Hamilton and 4-10 Toronto on the road and 7-5 Edmonton at home. But on Friday night, the Bombers did the things they did when the team was 2-8: they didn't run the ball enough, they were awful on special teams, they committed a couple of turnovers that led to 14 points and their kicking game — once again — was dreadful. Winnipeg should have second place in the Least Division locked up by now, but with games against Toronto and Hamilton at home and Calgary and Montreal on the road, anything can happen.

4. Saskatchewan isn't going to roll over. Just when we thought the banged-up Roughriders were about to go down for a third and final time, they get a sensational effort from Michael Bishop and 128 yards receiving from Weston Dressler and beat Calgary 37-34. The Riders are 9-5, still tied for first and still in a legitimate race for first place. 

5. The B.C. Lions just might be the surprise of the West. They don't do much of anything, at least not anything remarkable, (although DE Cameron Wake is pretty impressive) and yet, the Lions find ways to win. Friday night, they went into Toronto and should have blown the wonky Argos away. Instead, they were lucky to beat a team that hasn't won since Week 10 — and hasn't won at all for Don Matthews. But in B.C.'s case, the emphasis should be on the word "win." They found a way and that's what makes a champion (remember the 1988 Blue Bombers and the 2001 Calgary Stampeders and the 2007 Saskatchewan Roughriders?). There is a lot to be said for a team that can win a close game on the road. Of their nine wins this season, the Lions have won five games, each by less than a converted touchdown. That's a team that will be tough in the playoffs. 

Last week we went 4-0. Need we say more?

Let's take a closer look at Week 15…

B.C. Lions (8-5) at Toronto Argonauts (4-9) 

Friday, 6 p.m. CT, TSN

Toronto head coach Don Matthews is now 0-3 since his return to coaching with the Argos. He'll be 0-4 after Friday night's game at Rogers Centre.  The Argos have lost four in a row and six of their last seven and the Boatmen just might be the worst team in football (if not, it's their neighbors down the QEW). Kerry Joseph will start at quarterback this week, but it won't much matter. B.C. has won four straight and not only is the offence starting to click with Charles Roberts in the backfield but the defence, behind big Cameron Wake is playing as well it has in years.

Pick: B.C.

Calgary Stampeders (9-4) at Saskatchewan Roughriders (8-5) 

Friday, 9 p.m. CT, TSN

The Roughriders have lost three straight and are now tied for second in the West and, amazingly, they're now only two points ahead of last-place Edmonton. The Riders are still banged up and now they can't decide if Michael Bishop or Derian Durant is their quarterback. Calgary, meanwhile, is playing as well as it has in years. The Stamps have won four straight and scored 157 points in those four games. This might not be close.

Pick: Calgary

Montreal Alouettes (9-4) at Hamilton Tiger-Cats (2-11) 

Saturday, 3 p.m. CT, TSN

Montreal gets back-to-back games with the worst team in all of football (most high school leagues included). The Als have won seven of their last eight games. Their only loss came at the hands of the red-hot Stampeders. The Alouettes have already beaten Hamilton twice, 33-10 in Hamilton and 40-33 in Montreal. The Als will win again.

Pick: Montreal

Winnipeg Blue Bombers (5-8) at Edmonton Eskimos (7-6)    

Saturday, 6 p.m. CT, TSN

The re-match of last week's 30-23 Bombers win in Winnipeg, this is a much bigger game than one might think. If the Bombers win, they almost lock down second place and leave Edmonton dead last in the West. If the Eskimos win, it's likely they catch Saskatchewan and might not have to play in Winnipeg again in the first round of the playoffs. Of course, if the Eskimos don't shut down punt/kick returner Jason Armstead, they'll get thumped.

Pick: Edmonton

Last Week: 4-0

Season: 31-13

The Eagles are coming off a tough Sunday night loss at Chicago and are 2-2. The Redskins are coming off a huge 26-24 upset win at Dallas and are now 3-1.

There are few rivalries bigger in all of sports than the rivalries within the NFC East. This year, however, this is arguably the best conference in the game and every game – just like this Sunday afternoon’s game – will be more a game of heart and emotion than talent and experience.

Meanwhile, there are a number of games on the slate just like this one. Take, for instance, the Bucs at Denver.

Often we look at NFL games and figure, oh one team has a better quarterback than the other or maybe one team’s defence is better than the other. But to really determine a winner, all you need to do is look at the turnovers.

Here’s an example: Since 2002, under head coach Jon Gruden, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are 17-0, when not committing turnover. That’s the key stat in any NFL game. 

Then there is Buffalo at Arizona.

At the start of the season, you might have picked Arizona as an easy home winner in this one, but the Bills are beginning to make believers out of a lot of people.

At 4-0, Buffalo is one of the strongest teams in the league and while they have trouble at the start of most games, they are extremely good at the finish. In fact, In the fourth quarter this season, quarterback Trent Edwards has completed 27 of 35 passes (77.1 per cent) for 350 yards with three TDs, no interceptions & 136.6 passer rating

With a win Sunday in Phoenix, the Bills will be 5-0 for only the fourth time in franchise history and for the first time since 1991.

We struggled last week, but we intend to make like the Bills this week.

On to Week 5…

SUNDAY AFTERNOON

Tennessee Titans (4-0) at Baltimore Ravens (2-1) 

The Titans are 4-0 for the first time in franchise history. I might not be a believer in Joe Flacco quite yet, but I am a believer in the Ravens defence.

Take Baltimore

Kansas City Chiefs (1-3) at Carolina Panthers (3-1)

Larry Johnson rushed for 198 yards and three touchdowns at home in Week 4. He won't do it on the road in Week 5.

Take Carolina

Chicago Bears (2-2) at Detroit Lions (0-3)

The Bears defence is superior to every other team in the NFC North. Against Detroit, this will look like the greatest defence in NFL history. 

Take Chicago

Atlanta Falcons (2-2) at Green Bay Packers (2-2)

Matt Ryan vs. Aaron Rodgers (if the banged-up Rodgers plays). In three years, this will be the game of the week.

Take Green Bay

Indianapolis Colts (1-2) at Houston Texans (0-3)

Is this Matt Schaub's coming out party? The Texans won't lose every game and, amazingly, this is Houston's first home game of 2008. Thanks Ike.

Take Houston

Seattle Seahawks (1-2) at New York Giants (3-0)

Seattle has played better recently, but the Giants are the defending Super Bowl champs at home. 

Take the Giants.

San Diego Chargers (2-2) at Miami Dolphins (1-2)

I'm going to guess that Ronnie Brown and the blow-out of the Patriots were both real.

Take Miami

Washington Redskins (3-1) at Philadelphia Eagles (2-2)

The game of the week (see above).

Take Philadelphia.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3-1) at Denver Broncos (3-1) 

It's the Bucs, who lost their first game and then won their next three against the Broncos who won their first then lost 33-19 to Kansas City last week. It's also Brian Griese's return to Denver. Still…

Take Denver

Buffalo Bills (4-0) at Arizona Cardinals (1-3)

The second best game this week. 

Take Buffalo

Cincinnati Bengals (0-4) at Dallas Cowboys (3-1)

The Bengals lost to Cleveland at home last week. Act accordingly.

Take Dallas

New England Patriots (2-1) at San Francisco 49ers (2-2) 

The Pats were blown away at home by the Dolphins. It's hard to ignore the Mike Martz-coached Niners esecially when you consider New England has lost two of their last four games.

Take San Francisco

SUNDAY NIGHT

Pittsburgh Steelers (3-1) at Jacksonville Jaguars (2-2)

Still not sold on the Steelers and it's hard not to like Jacksonville at home. 

Take Jacksonville

MONDAY NIGHT 

Minnesota Vikings (1-3) at New Orleans Saints (2-2)

Maybe, if the Vikings lose this week, Zygi Wilf will finally fire Brad Childress. 

Take New Orleans.

Last week: 6-7

Season: 32-28

(1) This could be the biggest “no surprise there” announcement in the NHL this season. Monday, the Chicago Blackhawks put former Winnipeg Jets goaltender Nikolai Khabibulin on waivers.

Khabibulin is entering the final season of a four-year $27-million contract, but this past off-season, the Blackhawks signed free agent goalie Cristobal Huet to a four-year $22.5-million contract, giving the Hawks two No. 1 goaltenders. One had to go and yesterday it was Khabby.

He was a great goaltender for a long time, but in the end, his success priced him out of the market.

(2) At the start of this season, the St. Louis Rams were convinced a once-successful NFL assistant coach named Scott Linehan would make a great head coach. Sadly, Linehan wasn't the answer to the Rams' problems.

So on Monday, Rams ownership admitted its mistake and fired Linehan after four consecutive lopsided losses to open the season. Now, if someone can just convince the Minnesota Vikings that Brad Childress should go…

(3) And Canadian Jim Balsillie, founder of Reasearch in Motion, the inventor of the Blackberry (no, it wasn't John McCain) is apparently once again close to finalizing a deal to purchase the NHL’s Nashville Predators.

Last year, the NHL would be dead set against a Canadian billionaire buying a U.S.-based franchise if there was even any thought that the wealthy Canuck might move the team to Canada. 

Now, with the U.S. economy in deep, deep trouble, there is a good chance that the NHL brass will allow teams to return to a country with a less-volatile, more stable economic future. 

Frankly, if I owned Nashville, Phoenix (a failed franchise that returned to Winnipeg for a pre-season game in order to guarantee a better gate), Atlanta, Florida, the Islanders or Washington, I'd give serious thought to moving to a country that actually likes hockey enough to pay the NHL's grossly inflated ticket prices.

For instance, Winnipeg is playing the best football it has all season and is coming off two straight road wins. Montreal has won six of its last seven. Those are two of your winners — both at home — this week.

Meanwhile, Toronto just stinks right now and hasn't won since Don Matthews became head coach while Edmonton is coming off a 40-4 loss in Montreal. There are two of your losers.

Let's take a closer look at Week 14…

Edmonton Eskimos (7-5) at Winnipeg Blue Bombers (4-8) 

Friday, 7 p.m. CT, TSN

Two teams apparently going in opposite directions. The Eskimos looked absolutely dreadful in a 40-4 shellacking at the hands of the Montreal Alouettes last week while the Bombers went into Hamilton and beat the Tiger-Cats 25-23. Granted, Edmonton played a superior team but when you start losing by five touchdowns on the road, it doesn't matter who you've just played. Kevin Glenn is getting his game together and the Bombers defence is playing better with Zeke Moreno in the middle. This week, Bombers GM Brendan Taman said, "No matter what you think might happen, it doesn't matter because Edmonton has a great quarterback." He's right, but still…

Pick: Winnipeg

Calgary Stampeders (8-4) at Toronto Argonauts (4-8)

Saturday, 5:30 p.m. CT, TSN

The Argos appear to be in disarray. From the start of the season you knew this Argos team was just an injury or a mistake away from collapse and when head coach Rich Stubler decided that he was going to have two "starting" quarterbacks, you kind of figured things would eventually come apart. That happened the day Stubler was fired and replaced by Don Matthews. Matthews is a legend, but he's 69 and he took over the team in September, at a time when he couldn't cut anybody without paying them anyway. Makes it hard to be a tough, taskmaster. Meanwhile, Calgary has moved into a first-place tie and last week looked great in a 34-4 shellacking of the sad-sack Argonauts in Calgary. The outcome shouldn't be much different this week.

Pick: Toronto

Hamilton Tiger-Cats (2-10) at B.C. Lions (7-5)  

Saturday, 8:30 CT, TSN

This isn't even fair. Sport Select has made B.C. a 12 1/2-point favourite. The Lions should cover. 

Pick: B.C.

Saskatchewan Roughriders (8-4) at Montreal Alouettes (8-4)  

Sunday, 12 Noon CT, TSN

This should be the best game of the weekend. Saskatchewan is still banged up and have lost two straight. Obviously, all the injuries are starting to catch up to the Riders. The Alouettes just might be the best team (right now) in the CFL and it would appear that barring injury, Anthony Calvillo, will be the league's most outstanding player. Montreal is playing extremely well right now and that 40-4 win over Montreal last week was impressive in all aspects of the game. 

Pick: Montreal

Last Week: 3-1

Season: 27-13

After struggling through the first two weeks of the season, we went 11-5 in Week 3 and seem to have righted a listing ship. 

So now, it's on to some happy thoughts.

Remember when we all loved the CFL because it put up so many points? Well, this year has been a pretty good one for the Canadian game, but not as good as the early season returns from the NFL.

According to the league, NFL teams are now averaging 44.1 points per game through the first three weeks of the season – the highest such mark at this point since 2002. Last week, 747 points were scored in 16 games, the 10th-highest point total in history in a single weekend. Now that’s offence and that's fun. And keep it mind this week when you're looking at your ow selections.

Offence is fun. Defence still wins.

Now, on to Week 4….

SUNDAY AFTERNOON

Atlanta Falcons (2-1) at Carolina Panthers (2-1)

If the Panthers shut down Michael Tucker, this one is over.

Take Carolina.

Cleveland Browns (0-3) at Cincinnati Bengals (0-3)

Poor Cleveland. Cincinnati is awful, but the Browns could be worse.

Take Cincinnati

Houston Texans (0-2) at Jacksonville Jaguars (1-2)

Jacksonville's big win over Indy last week has the Jags back on track.

Take Jacksonville

Denver Broncos (3-0) and Kansas City Chiefs (0-3)

Damon Huard is back at quarterback for the Chiefs. Why is Herman Edwards back at coach?

Take Denver

San Francisco 49ers (2-1) at New Orleans Saints (1-2)

Drew Brees will beat J.T. O'Sullivan any day.

Take New Orleans

Arizona Cardinals (2-1) at New York Jets (1-2)

Arizona has enough offence to steal this one.

Take Arizona 

Green Bay Packers (2-1) at Tampa Bay (2-1)

Brian Griese got his act together in that big comeback win at Chicago last week. Aaron Rodgers might have shown his true ability last week at Dallas.

Take Tampa Bay 

Minnesota Vikings (1-2) at Tennessee Titans (3-0)

Gus Frerotte vs. Kerry Collins. A spectacular matchup in 1999.

Take Tennessee 

San Diego Chargers (1-2) at Oakland Raiders (1-2)

The Chargers are the better football team. This should be Lane Kiffin's final week as head coach in Oakland.

Take Oakland

Buffalo Bills (3-0) at St. Louis Rams (0-3)

One of the best against the absolute worst.

Take Buffalo

Washington Redskins (2-1) at Dallas Cowboys (3-0)

Dallas is not only at home, the Cowboys are a better football team.

Take Dallas

SUNDAY NIGHT

Philadelphia Eagles (2-1) at Chicago Bears (1-2)

Donovan McNabb is playing for a contract and he's playing as well as ever. Brian Westbrook is expected to play. The Bears collapsed against a mediocre Tampa team at home last week.

Take Philadelphia

MONDAY NIGHT 

Baltimore Ravens (2-0) at Pittsburgh Steelers (2-1)

Pittsburgh is coming off a 10-6 win against Cleveland and a loss to Philly. Baltimore's defence, which has allowed only 20 points in two games this season, is as good as it's ever been. This is our upset of the week.

Take Baltimore

Byes: Lions, Dolphins, Patriots, Giants, Seahawks.

Last week: 11-5

Season: 26-21

Everything about Asper's plan to put a new stadium at the University of Manitoba is brilliant and makes remarkable sense and yet there are still thousands of Winnipeggers who do not want to see a new stadium built.

When I run into those people — and believe me there are plenty of them — this is how I approach their arguments (to be fair, most of them are against everything, including clean water and sanitary toilets, but I digress). I will start with the cons — and how I argue those cons — and finish with a partial list of the pros… 

CONS

1. The expense: It’s easy for individuals and groups to argue that a public investment of $35 million to $80 million for a new football stadium is not a priority. These are often the same people who will argue that $1 billion per year for the CBC is a valid expenditure (In 2008, the CBC paid $48 million in public money to win rights to the Olympics and another $65 million per season for Hockey Night in Canada. That’s $113 million for broadcast rights that would quickly be paid by one of the private sports networks). Those people are just plain goofy. Until some taxpayer federation stands up with its nuts in the right place and says "The CBC is a waste of public funds," ANY other argument against spending public money is moot.

2. The anti-sports people: Canada is not like the United States, where sports rule. In Canada, we have groups and individuals who actually lobby government claiming that the arts are worthy of public funding but sports are not. I call these people – many of them Canadian politicians – the people who were beaten up in high school Phys. Ed. You can’t argue with them. You can’t even bring health and fitness into the argument. They’re just against sport and they will never change.

3. Public money should be spent on reducing child poverty or health care: That was the mantra of the anti-arena factions during the Jets arena debate. Of course, when money wasn’t spent on the arena and the Jets left, the money wasn’t spent on reducing child poverty or health care, either. In fact, in a story in 2002 in the Winnipeg Free Press, child poverty in Manitoba has never been worse and health care was a mess of lineups, waiting lists and a lack of rural doctors and facilities. We didn’t spend the money on the arena, but we didn’t spend it on anything else. We just didn’t get any extra federal money at all.

4. Refurbish the current stadium: Fine idea. It’s been refurbished half a dozen times. The last time, for the 1999 Pan Am Games, made it more uncomfortable for patrons – the seats are too small for anyone over 6-feet tall and nearly impossible to sit in for anyone over 190 pounds. It’s been refurbished to the point that another one would be silly. This is always being proposed by architecture forms that are looking for work. The biggest problem is that it would leave the stadium on the same site and just about everyone now agrees that with parking and traffic problems as they are, it should be moved out of a commercial area.

5. A football stadium is only used 10 times per year: This one drives me crazy and you hear it constantly from the media in Winnipeg. That’s because the media in Winnipeg doesn’t waste any time doing research. In Winnipeg, the football stadium is currently used about 100 times a year, mostly by community and amateur groups. With the bubble Asper proposes to build, it will be used 365 days a year and could be used for more than 2,000 different reasons.

PROS

1. It’s time: The football stadium is almost 55 years old. I took part in  the walk-through with David and the CFL before the 2006 Grey Cup. The building is cracking. The upper decks will fall on the lower decks at some point, whether that’s next week or 10 years from now, it will happen. Do you want to be mayor or premier when it happens?

2. The Bombers: Say what you like, win or lose, there is nothing in Manitoba that is shown and promoted more often – or even on a regular basis — by our national media than the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. It is our No. 1 daily media export. It is the most important national entity we have in this province. Nothing, not the symphony, not MTC, not Miriam Toews, nothing, is more widely known or more emotionally regarded from coast-to-coast than the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and yet, the team plays in a dump that looks like a dump on national TV. In other words, we project Winnipeg as a “dump” to the rest of the nation.

3. Community building: No one will suggest that the construction of the ballpark and the MTS Centre was “bad” for Winnipeg. The ballpark didn’t suck up much public funding, but the MTS Centre certainly did and yet it’s the busiest meeting place in the community. It was Dr. Lloyd Axworthy who said back in the early 1990s, “We need a new arena in Winnipeg for many reasons, none less important than community building. The arena brings people together and that’s important for the mere building of a community.”

4. The cost: An $80 million commitment to a public-private business venture isn’t that much money, if indeed the government can recoup in taxes an amount that justifies the partnership. Will governments get their investment back? Probably. And consider this. Why does Winnipeg always argue against itself? The province of Ontario, with significant help from the federal government, has proposed a bid for the 2015 Pan Am Games. The budget is $1.77 billion (Winnipeg’s bid in 1999 was $130 million and there was NO facilities legacy) and would include new football stadiums in both Toronto and Hamilton. Manitobans don’t EVER argue against billions in spending on recreational faciilties in other parts of the country, but we sure do argue against anything that might be good for us. Why is that?

5. Job Creation: This one can’t be argued. Major public-private construction partnerships create hundreds (maybe thousands) of jobs. From skilled trades to the receptionist’s job after the building is finished, it is the one benefit that can’t be argued. The proof is both the airport project and the hydro building. The naysayers will say, “Well, build something else like a theatre or an art gallery or a hospital,” and the response should be, “Sure, let’s do that, too.” You can’t say there isn’t enough money to go around because we have enough money to fight a war in Afghanistan, to spend billions on an Olympic Games, to spend $1.77 billion on a Pan Am Games. Money is a renewable resource. You want more government money, build more casinos and get further into sports gambling. There are billions being spent by Canadians on sports gambling off-shore. Right now, with our archaic sports gambling rules, we’re shipping more money off-shore every month. Meanwhile, when the Canadian Taxpayers Federation yells, “End the funding of the CBC,” I’ll start listening to people who claim they’re fighting for more responsible public spending. 

6. Helping the Bombers become fiscally sound: Last year, the Bombers lost $216,000 with five sellout crowds. This year, with a rise in the salary cap to $4.1 million combined with a poor season on the field, the Bombers could lose as much as $2 million. Those losses, whether large or small, will continue for many years to come without (a) a new stadium and (b) the retail portion of Asper’s proposal that helps offset costs to the club. Currently, the city and province pump about $3.6 million each into the club, on average, per season and have done so since 1998. You may have read that Lyle Bauer et al got the Bombers out of debt. That statement is only true if you count $5.8 million in bad debts to Manitobans that were stayed, not written off, by the city and province. As long as government – YOU – continue to pay the debts, the Bombers keep going. That will remain the case, until such time as the Asper plan – or one like it – is implemented.   

My excuse? The NFL has started and well, you know. There is just something about The League that has me mesmerized. Things like trying to figure out who can play quarterback and who can't. Sort of the same conundrum being pondered by Herman Edwards in Kansas City and Brad Childress in Minnesota.

Anyway, it's a chilly Saturday morning here in the 'Peg, the Bombers snuck past a dreadful Hamilton Tiger-Cats team 25-23 on Friday night (thanks to the fact the 'Cats botched a 25-yard field goal in the final minute) and I'm 1-0. 

As the remainder of Week 13 unfolds, remember to pay attention to West vs. East. This season in the CFL, the Western Conference has played the Eastern Conference 18 times. After Calgary beat Montreal last week and Edmonton beat Hamilton, the West now leads the East 15-3.

As a result, the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, who are scuffling along at 4-8 — but with two straight wins in Ontario — could finish 6-12 this season and still easily make the playoffs, despite the crossover rule, thanks to the fact that Toronto still has five games of its final seven against the West.

Keep that little thought foremost in your mind, but also remember this: home teams are 25-21 this season, but the record would be much better if the stinkin' Ticats weren't 1-6 at Ivor Wynne (Why would you pay hard-earned money to watch them play?). 

Because Montreal is 4-1 at home, I'm taking an Eastern team to beat a Western team this week, but if the records suggest there is an upset in the making, Edmonton-at-Montreal is it.

Let's look at the remainder of Week 13…

Toronto Argonauts (4-7) at Calgary Stampeders (7-4) 

Saturday, 5:30 p.m. CT, TSN

Boy, is this a no-brainer, That's probably why Sport Select is offering a meagre 1.15 for the Stamps. Toronto, the worst team in the CFL by a long shot (yep, the Argos are worse than Hamilton), is starting Cody Pickett (a former high school rodeo champion, no less) at quarterback in Calgary this week. That just makes the acquisition of Kerry Joseph look even worse. What were the Argos thinking (Sorry, I guess we've asked that question since the pre-season)? A healthy Stamps team will beat the Argos by four touchdowns, especially after QB Henry Burris is coming off a week in which he had very few brain farts — 408 yards, five touchdown passes and player of the week honours.

Pick: Calgary

B.C. Lions (6-5) at Saskatchewan Roughriders (8-3)

Saturday, 8:30 p.m. CT, TSN

Two teams that met last week at B.C. Place Stadium meet up again in Regina this weekend. Last week, B.C. beat the Riders 28-23 in a dandy football game by using Charles Roberts to grind out the clock. The Riders are still struggling with all those injuries, but they should be better this week and they're also riding the solid quarterbacking of Michael Bishop these days. The Lions, a team that is just about guaranteed a playoff berth even though they are fourth in the West look better behind a comfortable and confident Buck Pierce.

Pick: Saskatchewan

Edmonton Eskimos (7-4) at Montreal Alouettes (7-4) 

Sunday, 12 Noon CT, TSN2

Montreal, 4-1 at home this season, lost out west last week (as expected) and that put a halt to their five-game winning streak. This week, they're back in the little band box at McGill and should prevail against an Edmonton team that is much improved from 2007, but is 5-1 at home and a mere 2-3 on the road.

Pick: Montreal

Last Week: 3-1

Season: 24-12

After struggling to 7-9 in Week 1, we jumped to 8-7 in Week 2 (remember, the Baltimore-Houston game was postponed due to Ike) and while that's hardly good, it's better than 7-9.

So on we go. We've learned in two weeks that Aaron Rodgers is probably the real deal, that the Lions are still awful (despite my deepest hopes to the contrary) and that Brad Childress has absolutely no idea.

And this week, we also have one question. How does Herman Edwards keep a job? He destroyed the Jets franchise and jow he's come in and destroyed the Chiefs. He's kid of like the CEO at Lehman Bros. He must have pictures of Clark Hunt and Carl Peterson with goats.

Onward to Week 3…

SUNDAY AFTERNOON

Kansas City Chiefs (0-2) at Atlanta Falcons (1-1) 

It's Tyler Thigpen's turn. Three weeks, three quarterbacks in K.C. I doubt Herman Edwards has it right yet.

Take Atlanta

Oakland Raiders (1-1) at Buffalo Bills (2-0)

Buffalo is legit. Old Al Davis will have a right fine coach firin' on Monday.

Take Buffalo

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1-1) at Chicago Bears (1-1)

The Bears might be back. Especially on defence. 

Take Chicago

Carolina Panthers (2-0) at Minnesota Vikings (0-2)

Brad Childress has bailed out on Tarvaris Jackson and is going with Gus Frerotte on Sunday. If Childress doesn't win this week, the Wilf family has to fire him. Or is it part of the plan. Are the Wilfs trying to grease the skids in order to move the Vikings to Los Angeles? Just sayin'.

Take Minnesota

Miami Dolphins (0-2) at New England Patriots (2-0)

Doesn't matter who plays quarterback in New England. Belichick has so many good players, he'll just keep winning. 

Take New England

Cincinnati Bengals (0-2) at New York Giants (2-0)

Wow! The league is actually going to allow its defending Super Bowl champion to play a semi-pro sandlot team. That's pretty big of commissioner Goodell, I'd say. 

Take the Giants.

Houston Texans (0-1) at Tennessee Titans (2-0)

Yep, I'm taking Kerry Collins. So sue me.

Take Tennessee

Arizona Cardinals (2-0) at Washington Redskins (1-1)

My big upset special. I like these Cardinals and I'm still not sold on Jason Campbell.

Take Arizona

New Orleans Saints (1-1) at Denver Broncos (2-0) 

Denver is the better team but if Ed Hochuli were officiating, that would seal it.

Take Denver

Detroit Lions (0-2) at San Francisco 49ers (1-1)

Speaking of pictures of executives with farm animals, what kind of pictures of William Clay Ford does Matt Millen have?

Take San Francisco

St. Louis Rams (0-2) at Seattle Seahawks (0-2) 

If there is a team worse than Detroit, it's St. Louis.

Take Seattle

Cleveland Browns (0-2) at Baltimore Ravens (1-0)

Home team by default.

Take Baltimore

Jacksonville Jaguars (0-2) at Indianapolis Colts (1-1)

I watched Peyton Manning wake up in the fourth quarter against Minnesota last week. The magic is back.

Take Indianapolis

Pittsburgh Steelers (2-0) at Philadelphia Eagles (1-1)

Ben Roethlisberger is banged up while Donovan McNabb is playing for a contract.

Take Philadelphia 

SUNDAY NIGHT

Dallas Cowboys (2-0) at Green Bay Packers (2-0)

Yes, after two weeks, I'm a believer. Aaron Rodgers in an upset at Lambeau. 

Take Green Bay

MONDAY NIGHT 

New York Jets (1-1) at San Diego Chargers (0-2)

I love Brett Favre, but not this week. 

Take San Diego.

Last week: 8-7

Season: 15-16