Smitty's Selections: Week 17

Can you believe there are only three weeks remaining in the 2010 CFL Regular Season? It seems like only yesterday that we were watching the Miracle at Mosaic/Canada Day Comeback. We currently sit only 12 games away from the start of the playoffs. The season comes and goes way too quickly.

Montreal (11-4) at Hamilton (8-7)

Tiger-Cat General Manager Bob O'Billovich was on The Fan 590 earlier this week and declared that this week's game was a "statement game, for sure." Mighty words from the Tiger-Cat boss. Montreal enters this game having already sewn up top spot in the East, and will be without Diamond Ferri, Avon Cobourne and Tim Maypray. The last time these teams met when the Als were missing a key player, the Cats got smoked 27-6 at home. After watching the Cats the last two weeks put the boots to their opponents, I get the sense that the best is yet to come from Hamilton.

Winner: Hamilton, 31-28

British Columbia (5-10) at Calgary (11-4)

Calgary are coming off a big win last week, one that virtually guarantees them the top seed in the West. BC, however, are coming off their second straight overtime loss, this one at the hands of the Edmonton Eskimos. Not a must win for the Lions, but it's starting to get to the point where if they don't start winning soon, they may miss the playoffs for the first time in Wally Buono's tenure. BC is the only team to beat Calgary at home this season, but I don't expect a repeat of that minor miracle.

Winner: Calgary, 41-21

Toronto (7-8) at Winnipeg (4-11)

This is a big game. The Bombers cannot catch the Argos for third in the East, but they can still cross over into the West if they go on a run to end the season. It is likely that the Bombers will miss the post-season once again in 2010, so they could very well just be out to play spoiler. The Argos looked atrocious last week in their home loss to the Tiger-Cats, and a couple of key Argos (the key Argos?), Cory Boyd and Chad Owens, did not leave that game unscathed. I'm with everyone else in saying that the Bombers are better than their 4-11 record indicates. As everyone who has read my stuff knows, I am a big believer in Steven Jyles. His counterpart is Cleo Lemon. 'Nuff said.

Winner: Winnipeg, 37-24

Saskatchewan (9-6) at Edmonton (5-10)

You'd think that picking a winner between a 9-6 team and a 5-10 team would be easy, but for some reason this game is giving me fits. The Riders are the better team; I don't think anyone would dispute that fact. But Edmonton has won three of their last four, and are playing with an intensity I haven't seen all season, which has them right back in the thick of the playoff race. The Riders are coming off back-to-back losses at home, so perhaps a little travel will do them good. I just can't see the Riders dropping three in a row. But I won't be surprised if they do.

Winner: Saskatchewan, 38-28

Recap
Hamilton, Calgary, Winnipeg, Saskatchewan

Season Record: 33-27