Montreal Alouettes' Avon Cobourne is hit by B.C. Lions' Stanley Franks as he dives for the first down during first half CFL action in Vancouver, B.C., on Friday July 16, 2010. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl DyckDARRYL DYCK/The Canadian Press
Thurs 7:30 p.m.
Hamilton (1-2) at Montreal (2-1)
There have been a few Jekyll-and-Hyde teams this CFL season but none more than the Ticats. The team looked terrible in its opener, sloppy in its home-opener and then shot the lights out last week against Winnipeg. Whispers about a quarterback controversy were quelled by Kevin Glenn's performance against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers last week, in which he was good on 29 of 36 passes for 336 yards. The Als are coming off their three-game Western road trip and haven't quite looked like their old selves yet this season, including a win over the B.C. Lions a week ago without scoring a touchdown. It's the opening of the refurbished Percival-Molson Stadium that should be just the lift Montreal needs.
The Pick: Montreal.
Fri 7:30 p.m.
B.C. (1-2) at Toronto (2-1)
It's the game David Braley can't win - or lose. The first Braley Bowl pits an Argonaut team that has proved itself opportunistic thus far this season with a pair of come-from-behind wins the past two weeks in games that might have seemed out of reach. The Lions, meanwhile, are off to a slow start for the second year in a row. Casey Printers will sit this one out as the Lions give way to backup Travis Lulay. The Lions' rushing game vanished last week against the Montreal Alouettes as Jamal Robertson had just four yards on six carries and two fumbles. The Lions and their inexperienced quarterback won't find a soft touch in the Argo defence, which rose to the occasion last week against the Calgary Stampeders.
The Pick: B.C.
Sat 6:30 p.m.
Edmonton (0-3) at Winnipeg (1-2)
The Eskimos in many regards have had a pretty strong start to the season. Their defence has played well, their offence ranks among the best in the CFL and yet they have an 0-3 record. The answer lies in dropped passes and turnovers where Edmonton rates a minus-nine in the all-important giveaway-takeaway category. Winnipeg will be without starting quarterback Buck Pierce, whose injury trouble came back strong last week against the Hamilton Tiger-cats when he injured a knee. Backup Steven Jyles has just one CFL start on his resume from 2008 but his familiarity with head coach Paul LaPolice and offensive co-ordinator Jamie Barresi from their days together in Saskatchewan should help.
The Pick: Edmonton
Sat 9:30 p.m.
Saskatchewan (3-0) at Calgary (1-2)
It's become one of the CFL's best rivalries and the fact that half of McMahon Stadium will be wearing green only makes it better. The Riders are off to a perfect start, getting superb play from virtually everyone. Their defence leads the league in sacks with 11, despite the loss of John Chick and Stevie Baggs to the NFL. There are eight Roughriders that have taken down the opposing quarterback at least once. That could spell bad news for a Calgary team whose offensive line couldn't contain Toronto's front-four in last week's loss to the Argonauts, leading to a late-game collapse.
The Pick: Saskatchewan
Last week: 1-3
Season: 4-8
All times Eastern