2025 @CFL hot stove league

[GA Russell]

Montreal Alouettes 28....Saskatchewan Roughriders 17

http://www.sportsnetwork.com/merge/tsnform.aspx?c=sportsnetwork&page=cfl/news/news.aspx?id=4529967

http://www.tsn.ca/cfl/story/?id=405446

The Als dominated the first half, and the game didn't look like it would be much. But the Riders held the Als to six points in the second half, and in the process made a game of it. For most of the fourth quarter, the Als led 22-17.

Drew Willy started for the Riders. I believe that Darian Durant was dressed but did not play because of his hip flexor injury from last week.

[GA Russell]

Edmonton today signed Matt O'Donnell.

http://www.tsn.ca/cfl/story/?id=405510

[GA Russell]

Brandon Whitaker is out for the year with a torn ACL. That should be a huge loss for the Als.

http://www.tsn.ca/cfl/story/?id=405559

[GA Russell]

Greg Xenakes Week 13 picks

http://www.sportsnetwork.com/merge/tsnform.aspx?c=sportsnetwork&page=cfl/news/news.aspx?id=4530603

[GA Russell]

Here's a photo of the model of the new Regina stadium, with accompanying article.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/football/regina-unveils-concept-design-for-new-stadium-to-house-roughriders/article4555430/

[GA Russell]

In the NFL tonight, the Giants beat the Panthers 36-7. I note that the kickers of both teams are former CFL guys: Lawrence Tynes and Justin Medlock.

http://www.theglobea...article4558316/

*****

Mike Beamish Week 13 picks and power rankings

http://blogs.vancouversun.com/2012/09/20/cfl-week-13-games-power-rankings/

Edited September 21, 2012 by GA Russell

[GA Russell]

Chris O'Leary Week 13 picks

http://www.cflblogzone.com/2012/09/cfl-picks-and-the-week-of-matt-nichols/

*****

Matthew Scianitti Week 13 picks

http://www.cflblogzone.com/2012/09/cfl-picks-week-13-buck-pierce-is-back-with-bombers/

[GA Russell]

Winnipeg Blue Bombers 34....Hamilton Tiger-cats 12

http://www.sportsnetwork.com/merge/tsnform.aspx?c=sportsnetwork&page=cfl/news/news.aspx?id=4531210

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/football/pierce-helps-bombers-down-hamilton-for-third-win-of-the-season/article4561170/

I love windy games in Regina, Winnipeg and Calgary! Tonight the wind was blowing 40-60 kph (24-36 mph) which made kicking into the wind difficult, but the kickers did their jobs on attempts inside 40 yards.

It was a close game for 45 minutes, and the Bombers led 16-12 after three. But they ran away with it in the fourth with 18 unanswered points.

Buck Pierce returned after missing eight games. The Bombers are 11-5 in the last 16 games that Pierce has started, so I guess there is a ray of hope for them as long as Pierce is in the lineup.

[GA Russell]

British Columbia Lions 19....Edmonton Eskimos 18

http://www.sportsnetwork.com/merge/tsnform.aspx?c=sportsnetwork&page=cfl/news/news.aspx?id=4531501

http://www.tsn.ca/cfl/story/?id=405888

Great game! A defensive battle. The Eskimos led for most of the game, but BC took the lead twice in the fourth quarter. Paul McCallum kicked a 46 yarder with 1:01 left to win it.

Steven Jyles started for the Eskimos, and had another good game. Kerry Joseph was scratched, though I'm not sure the extent of his injury.

[GA Russell]

Montreal Alouettes 31....Toronto Argonauts 10

http://www.sportsnetwork.com/merge/tsnform.aspx?c=sportsnetwork&page=cfl/news/news.aspx?id=4531713

http://www.tsn.ca/cfl/story/?id=405930

Not an interesting game. Ricky Ray hurt his left knee in the first quarter and never came back. Brandon Whitaker's replacement Victor Anderson had a good game and scored two touchdowns.

Swayze Waters missed a 41 yard field goal, and Montreal's Trent Guy returned it 129 yards for a touchdown. My first thought was that that would have to tie the league record, because you can't return the ball 130 yards. But of course the league reduced the depth of the end zone from 25 to 20 yards in 1986, and there were two returns for more than 130 before then. So this is tied for the third longest return.

*****

Saskatchewan Roughriders 30....Calgary Stampeders 25

http://www.sportsnetwork.com/merge/tsnform.aspx?c=sportsnetwork&page=cfl/news/news.aspx?id=4531773

http://www.tsn.ca/cfl/story/?id=405963

Good game with an exciting fourth quarter. The game was tied at 10 at halftime. The Riders took a 27-13 lead into the fourth quarter and seemed to have the game in hand. But the Stamps scored a field goal, a touchdown with a two-point convert and a single to close the score to 27-25 with 2:35 left. The Riders got a field goal which forced the Stamps to have to go for a touchdown which they couldn't do as time ran out.

[GA Russell]

Here's something I didn't know: In both the CFL and the NFL, it is legal to tackle a man with his hair.

http://www.tsn.ca/cfl/story/?id=406026

[GA Russell]

Ricky Ray's knee injury is a strained MCL ligament, and he will miss the next game.

http://www.tsn.ca/cfl/story/?id=406076

[GA Russell]

Greg Xenakes Week 14 picks

http://www.sportsnetwork.com/merge/tsnform.aspx?c=sportsnetwork&page=cfl/news/news.aspx?id=4532302

*****

Third-stringer Matt Nicholls will start at QB for the Eskimos against the Stampeders.

http://www.tsn.ca/cfl/story/?id=406161

*****

I thought that Drew Tate was out for the year, but he will dress for the game against the Eskimos.

http://www.tsn.ca/cfl/story/?id=406155

[GA Russell]

The press is now spelling Matt Nichols' name with one l.

http://www.canada.com/sports/football/cfl/Nichols+eager+baptism+fire+with+Esks/7304678/story.html

http://www.tsn.ca/cfl/story/?id=406223

[GA Russell]

Chris O'Leary Week 14 picks

http://www.cflblogzone.com/2012/09/cfl-picks-matt-nichols-and-the-future/

[GA Russell]

Matthew Scianitti Week 14 picks

http://www.cflblogzone.com/2012/09/cfl-picks-week-14-ticats-face-another-must-win-game/

[GA Russell]

Hamilton Tiger-Cats 41....Montreal Alouettes 28

http://www.sportsnetwork.com/merge/tsnform.aspx?c=sportsnetwork&page=cfl/news/news.aspx?id=4532752

http://www.tsn.ca/cfl/story/?id=406335

Surprise! The Ticats dominated the entire game. I guess that's why they play the games.

Luca Congi has now kicked 21 consecutive field goals

*****

Calgary Stampeders 39....Edmonton Eskimos 15

http://www.sportsnetwork.com/merge/tsnform.aspx?c=sportsnetwork&page=cfl/news/news.aspx?id=4532808

http://www.tsn.ca/cfl/story/?id=406341

Only moderately interesting. Matt Nichols made a number of rookie mistakes as you might expect.

Jon Cornish became the eighth Canadian to rush for 1,000 yards in league history.

[GA Russell]

Toronto Argonauts 29....Winnipeg Blue Bombers 10

http://www.sportsnetwork.com/merge/tsnform.aspx?c=sportsnetwork&page=cfl/news/news.aspx?id=4533007

http://www.tsn.ca/cfl/story/?id=406406

The Argos scored a quick 21 points in the first quarter, and then lost the momentum. But the Bombers were unable to score more than 10 in the second quarter.

Buck Pierce had to leave the game after a helmet hit to his chin.

*****

Saskatchewan Roughriders 27....British Columbia Lions 21

http://www.sportsnetwork.com/merge/tsnform.aspx?c=sportsnetwork&page=cfl/news/news.aspx?id=4533105

http://www.tsn.ca/cfl/story/?id=406426

Another big surprise! The Riders dominated the game until the Lions made it exciting in the fourth. The Lions lost both Arland Bruce and Geroy Simon in the first half.

[GA Russell]

Kavis Reed has made himself offensive coordinator, and demoted Marcus Crandell to quarterbacks coach. Edmonton is now in last place in the West, four points behind the Riders.

http://www.tsn.ca/cfl/story/?id=406472

[GA Russell]

Tim Burke has confirmed that Buck Pierce suffered a mild concussion when he was hit on the chin by a helmet. Nevertheless, he may play in the next game, which is Monday (Thanksgiving or Columbus Day).

http://www.tsn.ca/cfl/story/?id=406604

[GA Russell]

Greg Xenakes Week 15 picks

http://www.sportsnetwork.com/merge/tsnform.aspx?c=sportsnetwork&page=cfl/news/news.aspx?id=4533902

[GA Russell]

Tonight's game will be carried by the NBC Sports cable channel at 9:00 pm eastern.

*****

Matthew Scianitti Week 15 picks

http://www.cflblogzone.com/2012/10/cfl-picks-week-15-kavis-reed-puts-eskimos-on-his-back/

*****

Chris O'Leary Week 15 picks

http://www.cflblogzone.com/2012/10/cfl-picks-and-the-esks-do-or-die-friday/

[GA Russell]

This weekend...if BC, Calgary and Sask win, and Edmonton loses; the first three will clinch playoff spots.

Edmonton has lost five in a row.

[GA Russell]

Edmonton Eskimos 35....Hamilton Tiger-cats 20

http://www.sportsnetwork.com/merge/tsnform.aspx?c=sportsnetwork&page=cfl/news/news.aspx?id=4534273

http://www.tsn.ca/cfl/story/?id=406869

See saw battle for three quarters, at which point the Ticats led 20-17. But the Eskimos scored 18 unanswered points in the fourth. The Ticats had six turnovers.

[GA Russell]

British Columbia Lions 27....Calgary Stampeders 22

http://www.sportsnetwork.com/merge/tsnform.aspx?c=sportsnetwork&page=cfl/news/news.aspx?id=4534547

http://www.tsn.ca/cfl/story/?id=406923

The Lions dominated the game, but were unable to pull away from the Stamps on the scoreboard.