Thanks to the ever so interesting way that the CFL makes a schedule, we only have three games this week, and three teams off on bye. It's also very disappointing to see that the CFL didn't schedule a RedBlacks/Alouettes game on this rivalry weekend either.
1) Winnipeg @ Saskatchewan
The Labour Day classic usually lives up to that moniker between these two teams, and this one should be no different. The only issue is that the Blue Bombers are missing their two biggest starters, QB Matt Nichols, and RB Andrew Harris. That being said, the Bombers have impressive depth and lots of heart. It will be a close game, but the Bombers should come out on top.
PICK: Blue Bombers
2) Toronto @ Hamilton
Beat down anyone?
PICK: Tiger-Cats
3) Edmonton @ Calgary
This is a tough one to call. Both teams aren't very consistent this year, and their defences haven't been really effective. Calgary has been completely beatable at home this year, while Edmonton has struggled with rhythm and red zone production. After getting taken to overtime and losing last week, I think Calgary might just squeak past the Eskimos here.
PICK: Stampeders
BYE: B.C., Montreal, Ottawa
LAST WEEK: 4-0
SEASON: 32-11
Agree with our picks? Leave a comment below!
Wednesday, August 28, 2019
Sunday, August 25, 2019
Andrew Luck retires, effective immediately! (NFL)
Adam Schefter of ESPN has reported that quarterback Andrew Luck of the Indianapolis Colts, will announce today his decision to retire from the NFL. He has apparently notified Colts' owner Jim Irsay, and there will be a press conference at some point this afternoon.
Andrew Luck has had numerous injuries throughout his career, missing the better part of the last three seasons because of it. This news is most surprising, as he had performed quite well in the 2018-19 campaign, leading the Colts back into the playoffs. He had missed all of the previous season due to a shoulder injury, and looked to be back in prime form.
With Luck suddenly retiring, this would suggest that back-up quarterback Jacoby Brissett will take over the reins and lead the team to open the 2019-20 season in a couple of weeks. As good as Brissett is, this move by Luck might just throw the Colts into some quick turmoil, as Luck has been their leader for some time now, and may leave a void. On the other hand, it might give Brissett a giant reason to become a star player in his own right, and give him the drive to make the Colts his team.
If the Colts can quickly figure out an offence around Brissett, and keep their defence going strong from last season, they might very well be a playoff-calibre team again this year, and go futher than they did last season. For now, we all await the press conference to get the details of Andrew Luck's surprise departure.
Andrew Luck has had numerous injuries throughout his career, missing the better part of the last three seasons because of it. This news is most surprising, as he had performed quite well in the 2018-19 campaign, leading the Colts back into the playoffs. He had missed all of the previous season due to a shoulder injury, and looked to be back in prime form.
With Luck suddenly retiring, this would suggest that back-up quarterback Jacoby Brissett will take over the reins and lead the team to open the 2019-20 season in a couple of weeks. As good as Brissett is, this move by Luck might just throw the Colts into some quick turmoil, as Luck has been their leader for some time now, and may leave a void. On the other hand, it might give Brissett a giant reason to become a star player in his own right, and give him the drive to make the Colts his team.
If the Colts can quickly figure out an offence around Brissett, and keep their defence going strong from last season, they might very well be a playoff-calibre team again this year, and go futher than they did last season. For now, we all await the press conference to get the details of Andrew Luck's surprise departure.
Saturday, August 24, 2019
The Winnipeg NFL debacle. (NFL/CFL)
The Oakland Raiders and Green Bay Packers played a preseason game in Winnipeg at IG Field on Thursday night, and everything about it seemed completely wrong. An NFL player player showing up the day before and wearing a t-shirt that read, 'Winnipeg, Alberta' set the tone for the mess that happened out Manitoba way. I will try to sum up the mess below, as best I can.
Really small field. The NFL should already have known that the CFL plays on a much bigger field, and should have planned ahead accordingly with the Bombers organization and IG Field. To freak out at the last moment and having to serve up an NFL field that was only 80 yards long (Yeah, you heard that right) was an embarassment in itself.
The end zones were started at the 10-yard line to make up for the chunks of turf that were needed to cover the holes in the ground for the CFL uprights. The fact that an entity as big and organized as the NFL failed to take this into consideration ahead of time is a joke. This was never an issue when the Buffalo Bills played home games in Toronto some years ago, as the logistics were planned out ahead of time.
You get benched, you get benched, everyone gets benched! Both teams sat two thirds of their starting rosters, including the QB's and other key players. I know it's preseason and all, but when you're trying to make further inroads in the Canadian market, sitting all the known players isn't exactly what you'd call a 'good idea'. No one wants to pay to see backups and third stringers, and this was evident in the low attendance in the stands.
At least put the star players in for the first quarter, and then pull them out for safety's sake. Give the fans a taste of the real action first and foremost, or did the NFL forget that without the fan, they are nothing?
As big as the NFL is, they could learn a lot from the CFL and how we do things up here. I've been a fan of all three major leagues (CFL, NFL, NCAA) since I was a kid, and let me say that no one puts on a better game than the CFL. Let this be a lesson for the No Fun League.
I for one, hope they learn from it.
Really small field. The NFL should already have known that the CFL plays on a much bigger field, and should have planned ahead accordingly with the Bombers organization and IG Field. To freak out at the last moment and having to serve up an NFL field that was only 80 yards long (Yeah, you heard that right) was an embarassment in itself.
The end zones were started at the 10-yard line to make up for the chunks of turf that were needed to cover the holes in the ground for the CFL uprights. The fact that an entity as big and organized as the NFL failed to take this into consideration ahead of time is a joke. This was never an issue when the Buffalo Bills played home games in Toronto some years ago, as the logistics were planned out ahead of time.
You get benched, you get benched, everyone gets benched! Both teams sat two thirds of their starting rosters, including the QB's and other key players. I know it's preseason and all, but when you're trying to make further inroads in the Canadian market, sitting all the known players isn't exactly what you'd call a 'good idea'. No one wants to pay to see backups and third stringers, and this was evident in the low attendance in the stands.
At least put the star players in for the first quarter, and then pull them out for safety's sake. Give the fans a taste of the real action first and foremost, or did the NFL forget that without the fan, they are nothing?
As big as the NFL is, they could learn a lot from the CFL and how we do things up here. I've been a fan of all three major leagues (CFL, NFL, NCAA) since I was a kid, and let me say that no one puts on a better game than the CFL. Let this be a lesson for the No Fun League.
I for one, hope they learn from it.
Wednesday, August 21, 2019
CFL Week 11 predictions! (CFL)
1) Winnipeg @ Edmonton
Bombers QB Matt Nichols is on the 6-week injured list, and even though that sucks, it gives back-up QB Chris Streveler some time to shine. With all due respect to the Eskimos, the Bombers will win a close one in Edmonton.
PICK: Blue Bombers
2) Ottawa @ Saskatchewan
Inconsistency has plagued the RedBlacks all season long, and this week will be no different for them. The Roughriders are at home, and on a 4-game win streak. They should be able to take care of the RedBlacks in this one.
PICK: Roughriders
3) Hamilton @ B.C.
The Lions are just a mess, and the Ticats should be able to roll right over them. Little else to say about this game.
PICK: Tiger-Cats
4) Montreal @ Toronto
The Als are coming off a huge win over a decent Calgary team last week. This time around, they play an awful Toronto team that can't seem to get anything going. Even though the Argos are at home, this won't end well for them.
PICK: Alouettes
BYE: Calgary
LAST WEEK: 4-0
SEASON: 28-11
Like our picks? Leave a comment below!
Bombers QB Matt Nichols is on the 6-week injured list, and even though that sucks, it gives back-up QB Chris Streveler some time to shine. With all due respect to the Eskimos, the Bombers will win a close one in Edmonton.
PICK: Blue Bombers
2) Ottawa @ Saskatchewan
Inconsistency has plagued the RedBlacks all season long, and this week will be no different for them. The Roughriders are at home, and on a 4-game win streak. They should be able to take care of the RedBlacks in this one.
PICK: Roughriders
3) Hamilton @ B.C.
The Lions are just a mess, and the Ticats should be able to roll right over them. Little else to say about this game.
PICK: Tiger-Cats
4) Montreal @ Toronto
The Als are coming off a huge win over a decent Calgary team last week. This time around, they play an awful Toronto team that can't seem to get anything going. Even though the Argos are at home, this won't end well for them.
PICK: Alouettes
BYE: Calgary
LAST WEEK: 4-0
SEASON: 28-11
Like our picks? Leave a comment below!
Thursday, August 15, 2019
CFL Week 10 predictions! (CFL)
1) B.C. @ Winnipeg
This one gets ugly for the Lions, and fast. After breaking their two-game losing streak last week against the Stamps, the Bombers will keep rolling, and right over the hapless Lions.
PICK: Blue Bombers
2) Edmonton @ Toronto
Another ugly game in the making, the Eskimos should make short work of the Argos.
PICK: Eskimos
3) Hamilton only beat B.C. by one point last week. Expect the RedBlacks to put up a bigger fight at home, but only win this game by a one to three point margin. The Ticats are good, but without Jeremiah Masoli, are not as consistent.
PICK: RedBlacks
4) Montreal @ Calgary
This is the hardest game of the week to figure out. Both teams are second in their divisions. Both teams are coming off a loss last week. The Stamps are still without QB Bo Levi Mitchell, but Montreal gets QB Vernon Adams Jr. back for this one. Even though Calgary is at home, I see the Alouettes pulling this one out, but not by much.
PICK: Alouettes
BYE: Saskatchewan
LAST WEEK: 4-0
SEASON: 24-11
Agree with our picks? Leave a comment below!
This one gets ugly for the Lions, and fast. After breaking their two-game losing streak last week against the Stamps, the Bombers will keep rolling, and right over the hapless Lions.
PICK: Blue Bombers
2) Edmonton @ Toronto
Another ugly game in the making, the Eskimos should make short work of the Argos.
PICK: Eskimos
3) Hamilton only beat B.C. by one point last week. Expect the RedBlacks to put up a bigger fight at home, but only win this game by a one to three point margin. The Ticats are good, but without Jeremiah Masoli, are not as consistent.
PICK: RedBlacks
4) Montreal @ Calgary
This is the hardest game of the week to figure out. Both teams are second in their divisions. Both teams are coming off a loss last week. The Stamps are still without QB Bo Levi Mitchell, but Montreal gets QB Vernon Adams Jr. back for this one. Even though Calgary is at home, I see the Alouettes pulling this one out, but not by much.
PICK: Alouettes
BYE: Saskatchewan
LAST WEEK: 4-0
SEASON: 24-11
Agree with our picks? Leave a comment below!
Sunday, August 11, 2019
TIME OUT! Kaepernick/Brown/Brady (NFL)
To deal with some of the absurd football stories that pop up from time to time, TTS introduces: 'TIME OUT!' These posts focus on the football world's most ridiculous news items, and calls a time out on some of them, and for good reason. Without further adieu, let's get started!
1) Colin Kaepernick. Will this never end, or do we get to hear about this 'man' until the end of time itself? Once a rising star in the NFL, his stock was depleted almost overnight by his willingness to turn football games into political grand stands. While I have never been one to argue against free speech and personal opinion, there is a time and a place.
Football games (and sports in general) are society's way to escape politics and the real world for a few hours here and there. The last thing we need is to see politics get into sport and ruin the games we love. Kaepernick says he wants to have football in his life. TIME OUT KAEP! We're all tired of your nonsense. You wonder why no one wants you on a football team? Look in the mirror.
2) Helmet fail? Antonio Brown (wide receiver for the Oakland Raiders) has stated that he won't ever play football again because he can't have his old football helmet. Apparently, he has been sent several newer, safer models of helmet, only to refuse them.
TTS calls a TIME OUT on Brown, and a permanent one. Brown always makes everything about him, and throws tantrums when he doesn't get his way. He is nothing more than a sideshow who's had his time under the light and needs to be disciplined once and for all. What were the Raiders thinking when they acquired him? Were they thinking? I bet the front office types in Pittsburgh are laughing their asses off right now, and for good reason.
3) Real estate. Tom Brady has reportedly sold his house in Massachusetts. We're going to call a TIME OUT on this one right away, and let me get straight to the point: No one outside of Massachusetts gives a damn. Period.
Agree with the time outs we called? Leave a comment below!
1) Colin Kaepernick. Will this never end, or do we get to hear about this 'man' until the end of time itself? Once a rising star in the NFL, his stock was depleted almost overnight by his willingness to turn football games into political grand stands. While I have never been one to argue against free speech and personal opinion, there is a time and a place.
Football games (and sports in general) are society's way to escape politics and the real world for a few hours here and there. The last thing we need is to see politics get into sport and ruin the games we love. Kaepernick says he wants to have football in his life. TIME OUT KAEP! We're all tired of your nonsense. You wonder why no one wants you on a football team? Look in the mirror.
2) Helmet fail? Antonio Brown (wide receiver for the Oakland Raiders) has stated that he won't ever play football again because he can't have his old football helmet. Apparently, he has been sent several newer, safer models of helmet, only to refuse them.
TTS calls a TIME OUT on Brown, and a permanent one. Brown always makes everything about him, and throws tantrums when he doesn't get his way. He is nothing more than a sideshow who's had his time under the light and needs to be disciplined once and for all. What were the Raiders thinking when they acquired him? Were they thinking? I bet the front office types in Pittsburgh are laughing their asses off right now, and for good reason.
3) Real estate. Tom Brady has reportedly sold his house in Massachusetts. We're going to call a TIME OUT on this one right away, and let me get straight to the point: No one outside of Massachusetts gives a damn. Period.
Agree with the time outs we called? Leave a comment below!
Wednesday, August 7, 2019
CFL Week 9 predictions! (CFL)
If anyone noticed, last week was bizzarro land in the CFL. Up was down, down was up, and the teams that should have won actually lost, and vice versa. Look for a return to normality this week, which is what we sorely need. Anyways, onto the picks!
1) Calgary @ Winnipeg
The Bombers have lost two in a row (ugh), with that ugly loss to the Argos last week (more ugh) of all teams. They are back home, and will be looking to bounce back and make a statement. What better team to make an example of than the Stamps? Bombers should take this one by a TD.
PICK: Blue Bombers
2) Saskatchewan @ Montreal
Vernon Adams Jr. is out of this game due to injury, so the 'Riders should be able to leave Montreal with a W here. All they need to do is be consistent on offence and defence.
PICK: Roughriders
3) Ottawa @ Edmonton
Not sure what the deal is with both teams. Rick Campbell and squad can't seem to do anything right as of late, while the Esks are under performing heavily right now. The Eskimos win this game, but not by much.
PICK: Eskimos
4) B.C. @ Hamilton
The Tiger-Cats will run wild. 'Nuff said.
PICK: Tiger-Cats
BYE: Toronto
LAST WEEK: 1-3
SEASON: 20-11
Agree with our picks? Leave a comment below!
1) Calgary @ Winnipeg
The Bombers have lost two in a row (ugh), with that ugly loss to the Argos last week (more ugh) of all teams. They are back home, and will be looking to bounce back and make a statement. What better team to make an example of than the Stamps? Bombers should take this one by a TD.
PICK: Blue Bombers
2) Saskatchewan @ Montreal
Vernon Adams Jr. is out of this game due to injury, so the 'Riders should be able to leave Montreal with a W here. All they need to do is be consistent on offence and defence.
PICK: Roughriders
3) Ottawa @ Edmonton
Not sure what the deal is with both teams. Rick Campbell and squad can't seem to do anything right as of late, while the Esks are under performing heavily right now. The Eskimos win this game, but not by much.
PICK: Eskimos
4) B.C. @ Hamilton
The Tiger-Cats will run wild. 'Nuff said.
PICK: Tiger-Cats
BYE: Toronto
LAST WEEK: 1-3
SEASON: 20-11
Agree with our picks? Leave a comment below!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)