CFL Previews - Week 4 (July 24-27)

Football Betting Lines

07/24/2008 - Toronto, Ontario (Sportsbook Betting Lines) -

CALGARY STAMPEDERS (3-1) AT WINNIPEG BLUE BOMBERS (0-4)

DATE & TIME: Thursday, July 24, 8 p.m. (et).

GAME NOTES: The Winnipeg Blue Bombers will have a new quarterback under center.

Backup Ryan Dinwiddie will get the start for the winless Blue Bombers, replacing incumbent Kevin Glenn. Glenn is fifth in the CFL in passing with 976 yards but has thrown four times as many interceptions (eight) than touchdown passes (two).

Glenn was 18-of-28 passing for 256 yards and a touchdown but also three interceptions in the Bombers' 27-18 loss to the B.C. Lions last week.

Dinwiddie made his first CFL start in last year's Grey Cup game after Glenn suffered a broken left arm in the Bombers' win over Toronto in the East Division final. Winnipeg lost 23-19 to Saskatchewan as Dinwiddie finished 15- of-32 passing for 225 yards and threw three interceptions, including one returned for a TD to Riders defensive back James Johnson, who became the first defensive player to be named Grey Cup MVP since Baltimore defensive back Karl Anthony took it in 1994.

Winnipeg's offense has struggled the first four weeks of the season. The unit is last in the CFL in total yards (326 per game), rushing yards (55), points scored (55), touchdowns scored (six) and interceptions surrendered (10). Running back Charles Roberts, a perennial 1,000-yard rusher in the CFL, has just 161 yards so far this season.

Winnipeg's defense suffered a big blow in its loss to B.C. with middle linebacker Barrin Simpson suffering a torn pectoral muscle. Simpson was second in the CFL in tackles last season and is regarded as the glue that holds the Bombers' unit. His absence will be tough to fill.

The Bombers will face a Calgary offense that last week helped the Stampeders dismantle the Hamilton Tiger-Cats 43-16.

Quarterback Henry Burris was 26-of-33 passing for 345 yards and two touchdowns. Ken-Yon Rambo had six catches for 127 yards while Nik Lewis recorded nine catches for 125 yards and two touchdowns.

Running back Joffrey Reynolds ran for 96 yards on 11 carries and scored three touchdowns en route to taking over the CFL rushing lead with 373 yards.

Calgary's defense also forced Hamilton to commit six turnovers and held the Ticats, who were minus tailback Jesse Lumsden, to just 283 total offensive yards.

The numbers: Calgary is 1-1 on the road this season but 2-0 against East Division teams. Winnipeg is 0-2 at home and 0-2 against Western clubs.

Keys to the game: As is the case whenever facing an inexperienced quarterback, bringing pressure will be paramount for the Calgary defense. Saskatchewan showed in the Grey Cup that if a defense can get to Dinwiddie, it can force him to make mistakes.

The Stampeders are ranked third in fewest yards allowed in the CFL (351 per game) and are the stingiest unit against the run (61 yards per game). If Calgary can keep Roberts in check, then that will force Dinwiddie to the air.

Newcomer Romby Bryant has emerged as Winnipeg's top receiver with 17 catches for 309 yards and a sparkling 74-yard touchdown last week against B.C. Veterans Derick Armstrong (20 catches, 285 yards, two touchdowns) and Terrence Edwards (21 catches, 251 yards, no touchdowns) are both reliable receivers. But the unit is still awaiting the return of veteran Milt Stegall, who continues to recover from off-season knee surgery.

Winnipeg's defense will have its hands full containing an explosive Calgary offense. Burris is the man who makes the unit go and is dangerous throwing the football as well as running with it. Winnipeg has been vulnerable against the pass all season, which doesn't bode well considering the strength of the Stampeders receiving corps.

Sportsbook Betting Lines Predicted Outcome: Calgary 37, Winnipeg 19.

EDMONTON ESKIMOS (2-2) AT HAMILTON TIGER-CATS (1-3)

DATE & TIME: Friday, July 25, 7 p.m. (et).

GAME NOTES: The Hamilton Tiger-Cats expect to have their rushing leader back.

Tailback Jesse Lumsden sat out last week's loss to Calgary with a knee injury, but the speedy running back is expected to return to the lineup in time to face a battered Edmonton defense.

By missing last week's game, Lumsden relinquished the CFL rushing lead to Calgary's Joffrey Reynolds. But the Eskimos can expect to see a healthy dose of Lumsden, who is averaging an impressive 7.5 yards per carry and has surpassed 130 yards rushing in his last two starts. Included was a sensational 189-yard, two-touchdown performance in Hamilton's lone win of the year, its 32-13 victory over arch-rival Toronto two weeks ago.

The run game is vitally important to the Ticats, who lead the CFL in rushing with an average of 189 yards on the ground per game. But Hamilton is also last overall in passing, averaging just 226 yards per game.

The presence of Lumsden should help take some of the onus off quarterback Casey Printers, who was 17-of-26 passing for 209 yards and two interceptions last week against Calgary. On the season, Printers has completed 66-of-102 passes for 860 yards with four interceptions and no touchdown passes.

Edmonton is also coming into this game on a losing note.

The Eskimos couldn't hold on to a 31-28 lead late in their game in Toronto last weekend. Argonauts quarterback Kerry Joseph marched his team 109 yards in just over a minute, capping the drive with a 13-yard touchdown run that earned the Double Blue an inspirational 35-31 victory.

But the Eskimos lost more than just the game.

Rush end Fred Perry, a key off-season acquisition for the Eskimos, suffered a broken leg and dislocated ankle late in the contest. The injuries will likely finish Perry's season and there are concerns they could also be career- threatening.

The Eskimos players admitted afterwards that the loss of Perry, who was injured when an Edmonton player accidentally rolled up on his legs, was a big one for the defense.

The defeat took away from a sparkling 94-yard kickoff return for a touchdown by Tristan Jackson, who took an interception and punt back for touchdowns in the first game between the two teams in Edmonton.

The numbers: Edmonton is 0-2 on the road this year and 1-1 against East Division teams. Hamilton is 0-2 at home and 0-2 against Western clubs.

Keys to the game: It's becoming very apparent that Hamilton's offense goes as Lumsden goes. If the Ticats can effectively establish the run, then that opens everything else up. Printers becomes much more dangerous with Lumsden running the ball as the quarterback doesn't become so much the focal point of the offense.

Printers can then use his mobility to either head up field or buy time for his receivers down the field.

Even with Perry in the lineup, Edmonton's defense was vulnerable. The Eskimos are last in the CFL in points allowed (31.5 per game) and are ranked sixth in yards allowed (413 per game). And the unit has given up a league-high 15 touchdowns overall and nine touchdown passes, second-highest in the league.

Then again, Hamilton's not much better, giving up 414 yards a game and 30 points per game.

Edmonton's focus on offense is quarterback Ricky Ray throwing the ball. Ray is third in the CFL in passing with 1,205 yards. As an offense, the Eskimos are ranked a distant seventh in rushing, averaging 90 yards per game.

Sportsbook Betting Lines Predicted Outcome: Hamilton 24, Edmonton 23.

MONTREAL ALOUETTES (2-2) AT BRITISH COLUMBIA LIONS (2-2)

DATE & TIME: Friday, July 25, 10 p.m. (et).

GAME NOTES: The Montreal Alouettes hope to have safety Matthieu Proulx when they face the B.C. Lions

The game would be Proulxs first of the season. He missed the opening four due to a hamstring ailment.

The Alouettes expected Proulx, 27, to be their starting safety when training camp ended last month, replacing Etienne Boulay, who is with the NFL's New York Jets. But Proulx was injured in Montreal's final exhibition game against Winnipeg and has been slow to return. Proulx was replaced this season by Pascal Masson but his return wont be Montreals only change.

The release of kick-punt returner Jason Armstead creates an opening on specials teams, with veteran Brian Bratton expected to fill Armstead's spot.

Montreal is coming off a 41-33 loss to Saskatchewan, a game the Alouettes led 24-22 heading into the fourth quarter. Anthony Calvillo was stellar once again, completing 29-of-41 passes for 352 yards with four touchdowns against one interception.

Kerry Watkins led a balanced receiving attack with six catches for 86 yards and a touchdown as Calvillo had completions to seven different Montreal receivers.

Montreal went with mostly a passing attack against Saskatchewan, running the ball just five times for only 13 yards.

Linebacker Reggie Hunt, who played for the Grey Cup-champion Roughriders last year, had a team-high eight tackles for Montreal in his first-ever game with the Als. He also had a sack and two interceptions against his former team.

The B.C. Lions finished their 27-18 win over Winnipeg with a bang, outscoring the Bombers 16-0 in the fourth quarter.

Jarious Jackson was 23-of-38 passing for 396 yards and a touchdown but with two interceptions. Geroy Simon led the way with five catches for 117 yards and a touchdown while Paris Jackson added six catches for 114 yards.

The Lions rolled up a whopping 502 yards offensively against Winnipeg but also surrendered three sacks and three turnovers.

Korey Banks was outstanding defensively for B.C., recording five tackles, two sacks and two interceptions. The Lions finished with four sacks and four turnovers while holding Winnipeg to 276 total yards.

The numbers: Montreal is 1-1 on the road this year but 0-2 against Western clubs. B.C. is 1-1 at home and 2-0 against East Division squads.

Keys to the game: How Calvillo goes is how Montreal's offense goes. And usually, Calvillo goes pretty good. He's leading the CFL in completions (110), attempts (159), yards (1,377), touchdowns (11) and has thrown just two interceptions.

Montreal is second in the CFL in yards gained (423 per game) and first overall in yards passing (346 per game) and passing touchdowns (11).

B.C. counters with a defense that's first in the CFL in fewest yards allowed passing (243 per game) and total yards allowed (323 yards per game). The Lions also lead the league in interceptions with 11 and sacks with 14. And they're third in fewest points allowed (21.5 per game).

B.C.'s passing attack is second only to Montreal (341 per game) but the Lions have punted a CFL-high 33 times, suggesting the unit is having trouble finishing a lot of its drives. Montreal's defense is no push-over either with 11 sacks and averaging 22 points against per game.

Sportsbook Betting Lines Predicted Outcome: B.C. 22, Montreal 20.

TORONTO ARGONAUTS (2-2) AT SASKATCHEWAN ROUGHRIDERS (4-0)

DATE & TIME: Sunday, July 27, 7 p.m. (et).

GAME NOTES: Toronto Argonauts quarterback Kerry Joseph makes his first appearance in Regina since being dealt in the offseason by the Grey Cup- champion Saskatchewan Roughriders.

Joseph was the toast of the town in November after being named the CFL's outstanding player and guiding the Riders to a 23-19 Grey Cup win over Winnipeg, just the franchise's third-ever title and first since 1989.

But when talks on a new contract extension broke down, the Riders traded Joseph and a 2010 third-round pick to Toronto for offensive lineman Glenn January, defensive lineman Ronald Flemons, Toronto's 2008 first-round pick and 2010 second-round selection.

Joseph struggled in his first three starts with Toronto, but was a one-man show last week in guiding the Argos to a 35-31 home win over Edmonton. Joseph guided the Double Blue 109 yards in just over a minute, running the final 13 yards for the winning touchdown with less than 30 seconds to play.

Joseph finished the game 22-of-38 passing for 343 yards and a touchdown and also added 118 yards rushing and the game-winning score. Joseph became the first Argos quarterback to throw for more than 300 yards and run for more than 100 yards in the same game since Doug Flutie in 1997.

Joseph also had some help.

James Robinson finished with 10 catches for 194 yards and a touchdown (which covered 90 yards) while Tyler Scott had six catches for 89 yards. What's most impressive about Scott's numbers is five of his receptions came on Toronto's game-winning drive.

Joseph led a very potent Argos offensive attack that recorded 544 total yards, including 201 yards rushing. Toronto didn't give up a sack and only had one turnover.

The Roughriders haven't skipped a beat this year without Joseph. Saskatchewan is the CFL's only undefeated team, thanks in large part to No. 3 quarterback Darian Durant, who has been impressive in two straight starts. Last week against Montreal, Durant was 24-of-34 passing for 349 yards and three touchdowns as the Riders outscored the Alouettes 19-9 in the fourth quarter for the 41-33 win.

Running back Wes Cates ran for 107 yards and added 88 yards receiving on five catches and scored a touchdown. Andy Fantuz had six catches for 99 yards, both game highs.

Defensively, the Riders had a tough time containing Anthony Calvillo but did force three turnovers and recorded three sacks.

The numbers: Toronto is 1-1 on the road this season and 1-1 against West Division clubs. Saskatchewan is 2-0 at home and 2-0 versus the East Division.

Keys to the game: Joseph is at his best when he's able to effectively mix the run with the pass. He's being allowed to call his own plays now in an attempt to get a better feel for the offense, and the game against Edmonton seemed to indicate Joseph's getting the hang of things a lot better now.

But there is a big difference between Edmonton's defense and Saskatchewan's. The Riders are second in fewest yards allowed (328 per game), fewest rushing yards allowed (80 per game) and third in fewest passing yards allowed (264 per game).

And there's also the matter of playing at Mosaic Stadium, where the Riders' rabid fans give the home team a very big advantage.

For the Argos to be successful, they're going to have to give Joseph protection in passing situations and, more importantly, running lanes for him to either head up field or at least be able to run to buy himself time.

Toronto has to get Arland Bruce III more involved. An electrifying receiver who can make big catches and take short swing passes for huge gains, Bruce had just three catches for 31 yards against Edmonton.

Toronto's defense remains vulnerable against the run, giving up a whopping 6.4 yards per rushing attempt. And the Argos will have to make due without all- star linebacker Kevin Eiben, who is out with a knee injury.

The Argos remain very good against the pass, though. They're only giving up 250 yards through the air per game, second only to B.C.

But if Toronto can't stop the run, that will be very moot.

Sportsbook Betting Lines Predicted Outcome: Saskatchewan 29, Toronto 24.