Smitty's Selections: Week 10

August is now in the rear-view mirror, the kiddies are getting ready to go back to school and Canada's Largest Ribfest is this weekend. That can only mean one thing: Labour Day! Every game this week is the first half of back-to-back games, so each team will want to get the upper hand going into the second contest next week.

British Columbia at Toronto

These two teams could, despite being in opposite divisions, be battling for a playoff spot at the end of the year. That means this game is important for both clubs. Both teams are coming off a bye that was preceded by a victory; the Lions crushed the Eskimos, while the Argos squeaked out a win over the Roughriders. Toronto has the advantage playing at home, but I think we are seeing another classic BC second-half surge. I'll take the Lions.

Winner: BC, 29-21

Winnipeg at Saskatchewan

I look at this game and it screams "UPSET!" and "TRAP GAME!" I know these two teams hate one another; I know that Winnipeg would love nothing more than to bury Saskatchewan even further; I know that it makes no sense to think that the 1-7 Roughriders should even be on the same field as the 7-1 Blue Bombers. Yet, for some reason, my gut is telling me Saskatchewan will find a way to pull this one out. Winnipeg is the vastly superior team, but I think a week off coupled with a coaching change will have the Riders ready to go. Saskatchewan wins this one and gives false hope to Rider fans everywhere.

Winner: Saskatchewan, 27-24

Montreal at Hamilton

No Toronto? No problem. From a football standpoint, this is a better game. The Als and Ti-Cats are locked in a deathmatch for second place in the East. The last two meetings have gone Hamilton's way, but that means about as much as Hamilton's 7-0-1 all-time record against Montreal on Labour Day. This should be a very good game, perhaps the best of the week, but Labour Day is Hamilton's day, and they will do what they normally do on the blue-collar holiday: win.

Winner: Hamilton, 36-30

Edmonton at Calgary

This game features two teams going in opposite directions right now, as Calgary is rolling, while Edmonton is reeling. The Stamps have won four in a row, while Edmonton has lost their last three. If this game was at Commonwealth, I'd like the Eskimos, who are coming off a bye. But it's at McMahon, and Calgary is playing superb football right now. I don't see them dropping one to their archrival.

Winner: Calgary, 37-28

Recap
British Columbia, Saskatchewan, Hamilton, Calgary

Season Record: 18-14