Prediction Time: CFL.ca Authors’ Picks for Week 19 – CFL.ca

TORONTO — Just like the action on the field, the writers at CFL.ca are gearing up for a furious end to the regular season.

Matt Cauz leads the pack as Week 19 begins, twice as often right as wrong with a 46-23 record. Both Jim Morris and Pat Steinberg, at 43-26, could gain some ground on Cauz this week but won’t be able to jump in front of him.

There is an interesting race going on just behind those three. Kristina Costabile sits at 41-28, Chris O’Leary at 40-29 and Jamie Nye at 39-30. Nye’s picks this week suggest he’s not afraid to roll the dice to try and gain some points in the standings. He is the only author to have taken both Edmonton and BC because he felt the days of the Elks home dry spell might be numbered and that the Blue Bombers, who have claimed the top spot in the West Division for the second straight year, it is expected to switch to rest-your-best mode in the last two games.

That could be one of the reasons we didn’t make a unanimous pick this week. That also leaves room for gains in the five-man quest to oust Cauz from the top spot.

Let’s dive into this week’s picks.

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MTL at OTT

The Alouettes travel to TD Place this week to correct the Thanksgiving Monday mistake they suffered against the REDBLACKS, who have now taken back two straight wins from them. While Nick Arbuckle played well and didn’t find the end zone on Monday, players agree the Als will pick up the pieces, lean on a revenue-boosting defense and work to bring William Stanback back on offense. With a place in the playoffs on the horizon for Als, there’s a feeling they won’t miss it this time.

SELECT

Authors: 83% Montreal

Fans: 87% Montreal

HAM at CGY

The Tiger-Cats head west for their first winning streak of the season at a time when wins are a must for them in their playoff quest. The challenge doesn’t get much steeper than going into McMahon Stadium and trying to defeat the Stampeders, who happen to be coming off a bye week. The Ticats will need some offensive touchdowns to clinch their sixth win of the season, and they’ll find it difficult to do so against a Stamps defense that seems to be improving week-over-week.

SELECT

Authors: 83% Calgary

Fans: 93% Calgary

TOR at EDM

The Elks’ pursuit of their first home win of the season faces a major challenge this week. While Edmonton is out of the playoff talk, visiting Argos are a key part of it and need a win to try and secure top spot in the East Division. The Elks could surprise and steal from the Argos—at least, Jamie Nye thinks they can—but the story and the Argos’ hunger for the victory they need carry more weight, as the majority of people make decisions, both in the Authors as well as fans Choose them.

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Authors: 83% Toronto

Fans: 82% Toronto

WPG at BC

The Bombers achieved their regular season goal of finishing first in the West Division. So what do their last two games look like on the schedule? If 2021 is any indication, we’ll see a gradual reduction in Bombers’ starters, something TSN’s Dave Naylor said proposed on Wednesday. The unpredictability of Winnipeg’s lineup is something of a distraction for them this week as it comes down to a Lions team that needs wins to stay ahead of the Stamps in their race for home field advantage in the western semifinals. For the time being, the majority remains with the two-time defending champion.

SELECT

Authors: 66% Winnipeg

Fans: 82% Winnipeg