Shame on all of us. Doesn't this seem to happen every year? The league gets very predictable down the final stretch of the regular season and then WHAM!! The playoffs arrive and things don't make sense anymore.
Playing favourites and taking home teams doesn't pay when it comes to the CFL playoffs. Remember last year when Winnipeg went into Toronto as a touchdown underdog and stunned the Argos while they pined for a Grey Cup appearance in their own building? Or what about the Riders grinding out a win at B.C. Place?
Anything can happen, as demonstrated by the Lions and Eskimos' easy walkthrough to this point. None of us forecasted it, while two of us completely whiffed; myself included.
We'll try to get things figured out with our Division Final picks:
BACK'EM UP
Each week we ask someone to back up their picks. Jack "steps up and in" to provide his insight on the Division finals. He's informed me that he's tossed analysis aside and is playing hunches this week. Of course, Als over Eskimos, is clearly just his hunch.
Montreal over Edmonton — The Alouettes and Eskimos split a pair of home-field blowouts this season. My bet is neither of those games are accurate barometers for how the final will go down. Ricky Ray and Anthony Calvillo are both elite QBs on top of their games. In fact, both offences are so good, that side of the game is a wash. The Als' defence is the better of the two units, though, and has more of a chance to tilt the field toward the home team. Montreal has the better ground attack as well. Those factors bode well for controlling the clock and punching a ticket to the Grey Cup.
Calgary over B.C. — The B.C. Lions are on a roll coming off an impressive road victory in Regina. They boast the league's best defensive line and a ball-hawking secondary. They also have serious playmakers on offence like Stefan Logan and Geroy Simon. But something tells me it's time Henry Burris steps up in a playoff game. The Stamps' talent on offence and a drastically improved defence should win the day.
DIVISON SEMI-FINAL RECORDS:
Andy 1-1
Jack 1-1
D.J. 1-1
Bob 0-2
Derek 0-2
Jann 1-1