I thought the changes to the ranking system would make this almost impossible, but after 15 weeks, there is a highly improbable 4-way tie for third place! Weird!
Here are the rules, in a nutshell:
Each week I will start a thread, like this one, listing the games being played that week.
To join in, just start making picks. You can join in at any time, but the later you join the harder it will be to catch up.
To make your picks, reply to the thread, stating which teams you think will win. You can elaborate or pontificate all you want, but the predicted winners must be obvious at a glance.
In order to be accepted, your post must be made prior to the scheduled kickoff. No exceptions for any reason.
If you want to change your pick prior to game time, post another reply. DO NOT change your original post.
At the end of the week, the standings will be posted. Rankings are based on the number of correct picks, followed by the aggregate spread (point spread of games picked correctly minus point spread of games picked incorrectly), followed by the percentage of correct picks.
At the end of the season, the top 8 participants will qualify to make picks for the post-season.
These are the games for Week 16:
B.C. @ Calgary
Edmonton @ Saskatchewan
Winnipeg @ Montreal
Toronto @ Hamilton
I started the week so well, going against the grain by picking my Ticats, but then banked everything on the Eskimos and dropped from 26th to 27th this week. Well, I’ve learned from that mistake.
B.C. @ Calgary: The battle for first in the west continues. The Lions without Lulay vs the Stamps with Glenn, probably the hottest QB in the CFL right now. Calgary is 6-1 at home, while the Lions are below .500 on the road. Maybe not such a hard pick after all. Stamps by 6.
Edmonton @ Saskatchewan: Saskatchewan has ended their losing streak, but I don’t really think they’re out of their funk just yet. However, a good cure for that funk is playing the Eskimos. Edmonton is the only team in the league that has not beaten a team in their own division, and I don’t see that changing this week. Riders by 9.
Winnipeg @ Montreal: Winnipeg is playing for pride now, and there isn’t much of that to go around. They’re also playing for jobs, and probably by the start of next season, most of these guys won’t have the ones they have now. Montreal is looking to get a home playoff game, and still has an outside shot at first. Als by 4.
Toronto @ Hamilton: The Argos must be glad to be on the road again, since they don’t play well at home. (An interesting stat the media won’t mention: in the last six games, the Argos lost the two games that Chad Owens played in, and won all four that he sat out.) Both these teams are guaranteed a playoff spot, and either can get the bye into the final. Ricky Ray might start, which would definitely help the Argos. But Bad Hank made his appearance two weeks ago, which means he’s not due to show up again for some time. Good Hank is better than any QB the Argos have. Cats by 3.
A home team sweep! (Another interesting stat: The home team has won exactly half of the games so far this year.)
Ouch, a 2-2 week has dropped me out of a playoff position to 10th, this week looks like a all-home sweep. Let's go with that...
Calgary - The top team, at home, yeah, like I'm going to bet against that...
Saskatchewan - Playing against Edmonton, yeah, like I'm going to bet against that...
Montreal - Playing against Winnipeg, yeah, like I'm going to bet against that...
Hamilton - Playing a team they beat handily last week, yeah, like....okay, this could either way, Hamilton has been consistent in their inconsistency and Toronto has been fantastic on the road, however if Hamilton plays like they did last week, even with Ray in the lineup, it should be a Cat victory...fingers crossed
Four way tie? Thats just weird! Whats stranger is that me and Dust have picked the same teams every week the entire season! Will post my picks later in the week. Thanks
B.C. @ Calgary - BC's a lousy road team
Edmonton @ Saskatchewan - should be a given but.......
Winnipeg @ Montreal - Montreal should not lose this one
Toronto @ Hamilton - Argos are a good road team but their first 4 losses came in pairs so I'm going with the Ti Cats
Ugh! Yet another coin flip week drops me out of the playoffs. And it doesn't look like this week will help move me back up, as it seems everyone else is going with the same picks. But at least I won't lose ground, I guess....
My picks for week 16:
B.C. @ Calgary - This could go either way, but I think the Stamps are just a bit better, and they're at home.
Edmonton @ Saskatchewan - Kind of a given here. And now that Sheets is back (wish I'd realized that before making last week's picks ), I suspect that it won't be close.
Winnipeg @ Montreal - No comment required.
Toronto @ Hamilton - The Argos will be better prepared this week, so it will be closer than last week. But I'm hoping that home field, and some more innovative plays from Austin, will swing the game in the Ticats favour.
), I suspect that it won't be close.