2019 CFL Predictions Week 2

Saskatchewan at Ottawa
I didn't expect Ottawa to beat Calgary last week, so they're better than I thought. The Riders lost Collaros as their starting QB after the Lawrence hit in Hamilton which is problematic. The Riders defence is decent, but Ottawa is at home which gives them the edge.
REDBLACKS 20 Riders 18

BC at Edmonton
Another who knows game, without a lot of data. BC lost to the Winnipeg at home which isn't a good sign. Edmonton's offence to me isn't great. Normally I would take the Esks at home, but I'll go with Reilly as the X-factor.
Lions 28 Eskimos 26

Hamilton at Toronto
Toronto didn't play last week, so there's a not a lot on them. The Ticats were somewhat disappointing considering they injured Collaros basically right away. The offence was especially week. I'll take Hamilton though just because of their overall strength, including Canadians and defence.
Tiger-Cats 25 Argonauts 22

And that's all there is this week for games. Halifax needs to become a team pronto to balance out the schedule.

2017 CFL Predictions Week 8

Edmonton at REDBLACKS
Sure the Eskimos are undefeated, but they are still pretty injured and the REDBLACKS are are home. Ottawa isn't that bad a team so the West will lose to the East. Maybe.
REDBLACKS 29 Eskimos 26

Toronto at Montreal
A Eastern conference marquee matchup! Ugh. Probably no Ricky Ray and the Alouettes are at home. Tabernac!
Alouettes 24 Argonauts 22

Winnipeg at Hamilton
Can Hamilton win a game? Can they win a game at home? Can they beat a Western team? If this were not at home I would say no, but why not. The Cats aren't bad enough to go winless. A lot of losses sure, but not winless.
Tiger-Cats 28 Blue Bombers 25

BC at Saskatchewan
BC is the better team including last week in Vancouver. The Riders are home and traditionally in the CFL it is hard for teams to win back to back games. So maybe the Riders get lucky.
Roughriders 33 Lions 25

2017 CFL Predictions Week 7

Calgary at Toronto
The Argos are at home, but let's face it the Stamps are a way better team. The Argos probably won't be as embarrassing as the Ticats last week.
Stampeders 40 Argonauts 32

Winnipeg at Ottawa
Call me crazy, but I think the REDBLACKS bounce back at home and get win.
REDBLACKS 24 Blue Bombers 23

Hamilton at Edmonton
Will the Ticats lose by 59 points again? No. They won't win though.
Eskimos 39 Ticats 19

Saskatchewan at BC
Lions are better and are at home.
Lions 33 Roughriders 29

2017 CFL Power Rankings Week 4

1. Calgary Stampeders
Sure they lost in Montreal but I'm still keeping them number one.

2. Edmonton Eskimos
Undefeated but they beat the REDBLACKS by only two points at home.

3. BC Lions
Hamilton isn't much of a test, but the Lions now have a quarterback controversy with Travis Lulay coming off the bench and passing for over 400 yards.

4. Winnipeg Blue Bombers
The Bombers beat the Argos at home. That's something.

5. Ottawa REDBLACKS
This team can't stop losing close games. Bizarre. But they're in the East so I'm sure they'll make the playoffs.

6. Montreal Alouettes
Beating Calgary is impressive, although strikes me as a little flukey.

7. Toronto Argonauts
Still have two wins. Not a lot of fans willing to pay to be in the stadium but two wins.

8. Saskatchewan Roughriders
Bye week so no injuries.

9. Hamilton Tiger-Cats
Embarrassed at home by the Lions and now zero wins and three losses. Starting to look like a forgotten season.

Bell and Tanenbaum to Buy Argos, 2016 Grey Cup Likely in Toronto Not Hamilton

TSN is reporting that Bell and Larry Tanenbaum from MLSE will likely but the Toronto Argonauts tomorrow. The deal appears to include the Argos hosting the 2016 Grey Cup:

"Bell is the majority owner of TSN, the exclusive television rights holder of the CFL.The deal includes the Argos hosting two Grey Cup games, including the 2016 CFL championship game.

Whether either or both of those games will be played at Rogers Centre or BMO Field is yet to be determined, with the possibility the 2016 game could coincide with the NHL staging its first Toronto outdoor game at BMO."

Hamilton looked like it had a chance to host the 2016 Grey Cup (the last time was in 1996) however this deal seems to trump it. Ottawa likely has the inside edge for hosting the 2017 due to the 150th anniversary of Canada. Would the league hold the Grey Cup three years in a row in Southern Ontario? I'm guessing no unfortunately.

Likely a lot of pissed off TFC fans.

Bell and Larry Tanenbaum to Buy Argos, Rogers Doesn't Want Them, Grey Cup 2016?

TSN.ca is reporting that the mystery group that wants to buy the Argos and move it to BMO Field is actually MLSE owners Bell and Larry Tanenbaum minus the other owner of MLSE Rogers who apparently don't want the Argos.

That's a pretty good group to have and it makes sense for Bell considering that they own TSN whose prime property is pretty much the CFL now (after Rogers snarfed up the NHL). As has been reported before, two Grey Cups in ten years would be needed to hosted in Toronto to justify the deal.

Rogers appears to be trying to free ride on the Argos to some extent. Since MLSE pretty much controls BMO Field, and gets the revenue from the naming rights, the Argos being playing at BMO Field likely boosts those naming rights.

What does that mean for the Ticats chances for hosting a Grey Cup in 2016? I actually don't think it is that bad for their chances. With the Argos moving next year, I'm not sure they could be organized enough to host a Grey Cup in time for November 2016. The Cats organization which is pretty strong (plus the city has good experience as the recent Junos showed) I'm sure could be ready.

Still it is a little strange no host for 2016 has been named considering it is almost May.

Good Adam Radwanski Piece in The Globe and Mail

Adam Radwanski who writes about politics in the Globe and is an avid Argo fan has a nice piece about his father and him going to Argos games.

Toronto Star Article on John Tory and the CFL

The Toronto Star has a good article about Toronto mayoral candidate John Tory and his time as CFL commissioner.

I have to think with Tory likely to win an election (for once) that has to be good news for the Argos trying to make a deal to move into BMO field.

Argos Release Pickett and Joseph

So the new Argo regime has released quarterbacks Cody Pickett and Kerry Joseph. Probably the right move going forward, although who ends up being the starter on opening day seems somewhat unclear. Joseph was never really that great a quarterback at the best of times and with age catching up with him, can't depend on his running to get him out of trouble. How many times did Joseph attempt a pass towards the sideline and have it vector off to an empty patch of turf the past two years? Plus salary cap concerns make Joseph even more unattractive. Why pay starter dollars to someone with mediocre skills? Mediocre pay for mediocre skills a team can live with. Pickett never really showed anything. Both had the misfortune of playing behind an Argonaut offensive line that was terrible last year, despite the addition of import tackle Rob Murphy.

Trying to find a new starter internally can be difficult. Consider the Ticats, now going with Kevin Glenn, thus far failing again to develop a starting quarterback from within the organization (although what eventually happens with Porter in the next couple of years could change this).