East Semifinal: Montreal @ Winnipeg

Sunday, November 11, 2:00 PM Eastern The Winnipeg Blue Bombers are definitely the favourite in this game, having led the East Division for almost all of the season. But it's that late season inconsistency which cost them the division crown, and which may cast doubts into the hearts of pickers everywhere. They've won only three of their last seven, but the absence of RB Charles Roberts was likely a huge factor in those losses, and Winnipeg says he'll be available for this game. QB Kevin Glenn's career year has resulted in a nomination for the Most Outstanding Player award. The caveat? This will be his first career post-season start. After reaching last year's Grey Cup, the Montreal Alouettes have struggled mightily this season. Head coach Jim Popp doesn't seem to have the same grip on his team that his predecessors had. The team is pretty banged up: no Anthony Calvillo at QB, no Jarrett Payton on the ground. But this team has a pedigree of winning, and should never be discounted entirely—they'll be only a week removed from a three-point loss to the Bombers in Winnipeg. This game could be closer than a lot of people think.

West Semifinal: Calgary @ Saskatchewan

Sunday, November 11, 5:00 PM Eastern The Saskatchewan Roughriders have had a banner year: competing for first place in the tough West Division, and ending up with their first home playoff game in who knows how many years. But their schedule could be their downfall: last week they played Toronto in a meaningless game (and looked pretty uncoordinated in doing so), before that, they beat Hamilton twice and Edmonton once, both non-playoff teams. So they won't have played well against a playoff opponent in over a month. Nonetheless, head coach Kent Austin is one of the game's most ruthless offensive specialists, so this team should still be considered a favourite. But the Calgary Stampeders are the worst kind of underdog: boatloads of talent plagued by inconsistency. QB Henry Burris has a great corps of targets, headed by WR Jermaine Copeland. RB Joffrey Reynolds is vicious when he's on. And if the game is decided by kicker Sandro DeAngelis, it'll go in Calgary favour. Calgary's lost three in a row, though, so they have a lot of work to do in order to show up for this game—but if they show up, it'll be a good one.

The Picks

Pick winner and spread for each game. Here are the scoring rules.

The Bonus

Pick the QB who will have the highest passing yardage. For your reference: the Official CFL 2007 Passing Statistics. Good luck!

posted by DrJohnEvans at 11:21 AM on November 07, 2007

I have stood here before inside the pouring rain Winnipeg by 8 With the world turning circles running 'round my brain Saskatchewan by 18 I guess I'm always hoping that you'll end this reign Bonus: Kerry Joseph But it's my destiny to be the king of pain

posted by MrFrisby at 02:01 PM on November 07, 2007

Prior to this season, I picked the Riders and the Bombers as my Grey Cup matchup, so I'm not going to deviate from that plan. Well, not this week anyway. The Bombers are the better team, and they'll show how and why on Sunday. Winnipeg by 24. And what a tragedy it would be if the inconsistent (albeit loaded with talent) Stamps ended the Riders dream season. The first home playoff game since when, 1988? Yeah ... that's gonna be a tough barn for Hank Burris to go back to. This one'll be the wildly exciting game though. Saskatchewan by 2 on a last minute FG. Congi over Deangelis ... it'll be beautiful! Top passer this weekend will be Henry Burris though.

posted by Spitztengle at 06:00 PM on November 07, 2007

Has anyone else found it hilarious that Tom Higgins has been essentially fired (by the media anyway, for their story on Hufnagel coming to coach next year), AFTER they made the playoffs? Maciocia stays (or that's the latest word anyway). And Pinball announces his departure, and does so with a plea for ticket buyers to support the playoff and Grey Cup. All of this amidst talk of the NFL coming to Toronto next year. Is this the CFL media machine attempting to simply generate stories to stay in the headline pages? Is it a pre-emptive strike against the NFL in trying to secure a Canadian fan base? All of this drama, yet nobody has talked about who's starting at QB in BC. Weird. A disadvantage of bye week? Or a good thing?

posted by Spitztengle at 01:09 AM on November 09, 2007

So it's looking like it'll be bright and sunny across the prairies on Sunday. Winnipeg by 12 Saskatchewan by 7 Burris throws a buncha yards in a losing effort.

posted by DrJohnEvans at 02:32 PM on November 09, 2007

Winny by 17 Sassy by 10 Kevin Glenn for the bonus

posted by The_Black_Hand at 12:45 PM on November 10, 2007

In case you were wondering ... Winnipeg 24 - Montreal 22 (Glenn - 161 yds; Brady 299 yds) Saskatchewan 26 - Calgary 24 (Joseph 391 yds; Burris - 323 yds) Adding to his 391 yds. passing, Joseph also scrambled for a whopping 109 yds. too! Topping Charles Roberts' 107 yds. on the ground.

posted by Spitztengle at 02:57 AM on November 12, 2007

Yeah, but Spitz is still ahead because he nailed a spread.

posted by MrFrisby at 03:11 PM on November 12, 2007