CFL Odds and Ends

First, the BC at Saskatchewan game won the sports ratings weekend battle, with 457,000 viewers beating out Federer's record breaking Wimbledon win. Likely the rabid Rider fans inflated the number. With the current economic conditions in Ontario, I wonder if advertisers value a viewer in Alberta or Saskatchewan (with on average a higher income) over one in Ontario?

That tenth best program, the Jays versus the Rangers at only 80,000 viewers. Ouch. The sucking of the Jays should really start to hammer their ratings.

Michael Jackson devotee, Arland Bruce III, is getting treatment for hemorrhoids. Couldn't they have just said lower body injury and saved him the embarassment?

The Riders are in Toronto this week and coming off a win. It will be interesting to see if Rider faithful inflate the attendance this week in Dead Ted's Dome.

Power Rankings

1. Montreal
2. Calgary
3. Saskatchewan
4. Edmonton
5. Toronto
6. BC
7. Winnipeg
8. Hamilton

Obviously Montreal beating Calgary last week puts them at the top of the heap. I'm not willing to give up on Calgary yet, but if they lose this week they will tumble down the rankings.

Saskatchewan and Edmonton are high due to their wins last week, although I don't really have a lot of respect for either team. Saskatchewan appears to be repeating their formula from last year where they win ugly with defence. Until Durrant gets injured and they really start to suck. Edmonton barely beat Winnipeg, which isn't saying much.

Toronto beat Hamilton relatively easily, which isn't much of a data point, but it all the information we have.

BC lost to Saskatchewan, although they have the Cats this week. If they lose, the number eight ranking is all theirs.

Winnipeg. Not as a big a fail as one would have thought. Still can't win games.

Hamilton. No idea how to win, comes out on the losing end of most plays, against Toronto. Considering the East's record in BC over the years, a win next week would be a miracle. Blitz relentlessly from the first play and hope Buck "Glassman" Pierce goes down early. Repeat with Jarious Jackson.

Toronto at Hamilton, First Quarter Revisited

I watched the first quarter again on TSN to see what I had missed in the stands. Quite painful to watch. The first three minutes were not bad. Then downhill with the penalties during the first fracas that the Cats appeared to get a bit screwed on. Interesting that John Williams started as fullback without the benefit of training camp, although the Cats played a lot of five receiver sets where he didn't appear. The middle linebacker Haley and the two defensive ends looked lost or incompetent or a combination of the two, although there were a few plays where the Cats got close to Joseph, but didn't close the deal. Hage's bad snaps didn't help in the first quarter, although Porter did turn one into a first down off a scramble. Porter's interception at the end of the first quarter was unfortunate. Toronto totally outplayed Hamilton in that pivotal quarter. The Cats can't start like that against BC this week.

CFL Week 2 Predictions: Part 1

Tigercatatonia's predictions for week one were quite feeble, with only Edmonton actually winning as predicted. So beware the value of these guesses, although in my defence, week one is usually the hardest to pick as no one really knows what is going on with the teams (ie last year's preseason predictions that the Cats would be decent).

Eskimos at Alouettes
A battle between undefeated teams, with the Alouettes at home. Based on the Alouettes handling of Calgary last week, Montreal has to be an early favourite. Edmonton has already lost Jesse Lumsden to injury, which will prove somewhat disruptive to their plans on offense. Calvin McCarty is a decent non-import substitute at running back so things are not totally screwed for the Northern Albertans. Likely Rickey Ray will go all pass happy, put up good looking stats and lose to Montreal who will make the big plays when it counts.
Montreal 33, Edmonton 23

Calgary at Winnipeg
Battle of the defeated teams. Winnipeg looks like they won't be outright sucky this season, despite all the prognosticators. Calgary didn't look terrible against probably the best team early in the season (Montreal) so they have an edge. Certainly one has to think that a team led by Henry Burris will beat out one led by Stefan LeFors, however Calgary seems to find ways to play a weak game now and then versus a feeble opponent. Not this week, especially with the shenanigans involving receiver Derick Armstrong in the Peg.
Calgary 42, Winnipeg 29

Ticats Sign Linebacker, Timmy Chang Charged

The Cats have signed linebacker Jamall Johnson, who played for BC last year. Last year he had 33 tackles, with six sacks, which is interesting. He played his university ball at Northwestern State, which apparently is in Louisiana, although you wouldn't know it from the name. I'm wondering if the experiment with Dennis Haley starting at linebacker is over after a single game. So much for training camp and preseason evaluation.

Jesse Lumsden apparently intends to be back this season. I assume that's the football season, not the bobsledding one.

In other news, former potential Ticat savior Timmy Chang was arrested in Hawaii on a fairly lame charge. The meth addiction can't be very far in the future. I suppose I dodged a bullet not buying a Chang jersey.

Lions versus Riders, Aftermath

Saskatchewan has a great defence again, however their offense looks to be mediocre. BC also has a decent defence and their offense seemed surprisingly weak. Maybe losing tackle Rob Murphy to free agency (blue team) hurt their offensive line more than one would think as I saw that the Lions gave up eight sacks (compared to 33 all last year if the TSN graphic is to be believed). Ouch. Maybe there's a recipe for the Cats, blitz like maniacs and hope for some bullshit turnovers. I'm not sure the defence is up to beating the Lions, although they did get some sacks last week.

Lions versus Riders

Watching the first quarter of the game. Wow, a lot of turnovers. BC looks worse than I thought and Saskatchewan better. Still betting on BC to win.