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 5. Montreal has the bye this week.
Calgary @ Edmonton
Winnipeg @ B.C.
Ottawa @ Hamilton
Toronto @ Saskatchewan
Ugh! I'm slipping fast. With so many people going 4-0, my respectable 3-1 week doesn't seem so respectable.
Calgary @ Edmonton: The battle of the unbeatens. Jon Cornish is supposed to be ready for this game, but even with him Calgary will need to play a lot better than they did against Hamilton. Edmonton's defence is the team's strength, and the Esks have already matched their win total from last season. This one is hard to pick. Partially because of my uncertainty about Edmonton carrying over from last year, I'm going with the Stamps by 6.
Winnipeg @ B.C.: This is a similar situation. Winnipeg was so bad last year, it's still hard to pick them over a team that is consistently good, that has started winning games, and that played so well last week against Montreal. Especially when that team is playing at home. Lions by 9.
Ottawa @ Hamilton: This was supposed to be the opening of Tim Horton's Field, and I'd have been there. Instead, I'll be watching on TV as the Ticats play their first meaningful game in Hamilton in about 21 months, in front of a crowd of about 6,000. Ottawa is competitive, and won their first game last week, a one-point win at home against the Argos. Hamilton nearly beat the powerhouse Stamps in Calgary, and have lost their last two in Alberta by a total of 7 points. My guys have to be the favourites in this one. Cats by 5.
Toronto @ Saskatchewan: The last two Grey Cup champions, one of them will lose their third straight. The Argos became the first team in history to lose to the RedBlacks, and no one can ever take that away from them. Mosaic is a tough place to play, and the loss there in Week 3 must still be stinging among the Riders and their fans. Riders by 11.
Toronto: Even though Toronto lost to Ottawa last week, they only lost by one point so it was a close game from beginning to end and if they play as good as they played against Ottawa, they are going to need to step their game up a little. That is why I am picking Toronto. Toronto by 1.
Calgary @ Edmonton - Stamps assert themselves. Edmonton hasn't faced a team like this yet. Calgary by 7.
Winnipeg @ B.C. - BC is hot, Winnipeg is beatable. Lions by 13.
Ottawa @ Hamilton - Not sold on Ottawa like everyone else but Hamilton is frickin terrible. RedBlacks by 10.
Toronto @ Saskatchewan - Not confident in either squad, might as well pick my Riders by 9. Hopefully the bye week helped.
