The standings after Week 2 are posted here. Congratulations to rtk350 and jordan02 for going 4-0.
Again, just a brief explanation of the rules:
To join in, just start making picks.
To make picks, post a reply to this thread, stating which teams you think will win this week's games. You are encouraged to elaborate, or to give spreads, but only the predicted winners will be counted.
If you elaborate, your picks must be clear to me at a glance. I will not read a hundred posts of a thousand words each. If I have to read through an epic post to get your picks, I won't.
No conditional picks. If you make a conditional pick, the first team named is your pick. If you say, for example, "Edmonton if it's raining, B.C. if it's sunny", you've just picked Edmonton, rain or shine.
To be counted for a game, your pick must be in prior to the scheduled kickoff time. If the game is scheduled for 7:00pm, then a post made at 7:01 will be considered late for that game, no exceptions and no excuses.
If you want to change your pick, post a reply to the thread, stating that you want to make a change. Do not edit your original post. Changes, like picks, must be made prior to the scheduled kickoff time.
At the end of the week, participants will be ranked based on total correct picks. Ties will be broken by perfect weeks, followed by aggregate (the total point spreads of all games picked correctly minus the total point spreads of all games picked incorrectly), and lastly by percent correct. Note that this is slightly different from last year.
In the event of a dispute, my word is final.
Now on to Week 3. Hamilton has the bye this week.
Winnipeg @ Montreal
Ottawa @ Edmonton
Calgary @ Toronto
B.C. @ Saskatchewan
Not a bad week last week. My hunch paid offf (unfortunately) and the Argos won. Let's see if I can work some magic again.
Winnipeg @ Montreal: Winnipeg is headed out on the road for the first time this year. Montreal is not the team they used to be, but they do tend to play well at home. Still not impressed with Troy Smith, but...Als by 4.
Ottawa @ Edmonton: Edmonton had a close call last week, so they won't take the expansion team for granted. Ottawa is good, and will give them a fight, but I don't think they're ready for a "W" yet. Esks by 5.
Calgary @ Toronto: It always takes a few weeks for the anomalies of the season to work themselves out. Toronto won big last week, because Saskatchewan is not as good as people think they are. Calgary is. Stamps by 11.
B.C. @ Saskatchewan: I don't know about these Lions. They're the only team to lose in their own park, and they seem to have gotten themselves into a funk. That kind of thing is hard to break out of at Mosaic Stadium. I'll still give them the benefit of the doubt; Riders by 2.
Second coin flip week in a row. I need to get on track soon before the leaders leave me in the dust. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to watch many of the games this week, so I have to go by write-ups and opinions of others here.
My picks for week 3:
Winnipeg @ Montreal - The Bombers look strong this year, and if they can shut down Smith's short options and force him to throw long, they should be able to take the Als.
Ottawa @ Edmonton - The Redblacks also look good, with help from a few key Goldblacks , definitely not looking like an expansion team. The Eskimos struggled against a severely weakened Ticat team, so I don't see them doing much against the Redblacks.
Calgary @ Toronto - Not sure about this one - it's going to be a close one. The Argos were strong against the Riders, but I'm thinking the Stamps will be able to slow them down somewhat while keeping their rested offence going.
B.C. @ Saskatchewan - No idea what happened to the Riders this week, but they're at home, so should be able to take the Lions.
The whole family (Leorocks, Redblacksgirl, joeyfootball and me) are on vacation. We went to the BC home opener and next we're going to Edmonton for the REDBLACKS game! How lucky are we?
Winnipeg vs Montreal; Winnipeg - I think Drew has the upper hand on Smith. Should be a closer game than most might expect. The luster will come off Winnipeg, but not this week. Winnipeg by 7.
Ottawa vs Edmonton; Edmonton - Ottawa will be stronger as the year goes on, but I don't believe they are there yet. Reilly gets this one by 7.
Calgary vs Toronto; Calgary - probably the game of the week, but Calgary is the better team, in the end. Calgary by 7.
B.C. vs Saskatchewan; Saskatchewan - I've changed my mind three times, just while writing this and probably will again. Saskatchewan is overrated, BUT coming off a stinging loss. Kevin Glenn has the tools, but not the team unity yet. This is the toughest pick of the week and I may change my mind again before game time. Saskatchewan by 3.
, definitely not looking like an expansion team. The Eskimos struggled against a severely weakened Ticat team, so I don't see them doing much against the Redblacks.