Winnipeg Blue Bombers' Buck Pierce (4) wipes his head at the end of their CFL game against Toronto Argonauts in Winnipeg, Friday, July 9, 2010. Toronto defeated Winnipeg 36-34. (The Canadian Press/John Woods)John Woods/The Canadian Press
B.C. Lions (1-7) at Montreal Alouettes (6-2)
Friday, 7:30 p.m.
The Lions limp into Montreal, where the Als have been nearly unbeatable under head coach Marc Trestman. The good news for B.C.? Als quarterback Anthony Calvillo is out, recovering from the bruised sternum he suffered on Aug. 19. In his place, Chris Leak gets his first CFL start. The former University of Florida star is no stranger to pressure, having led the Gators to a U.S. college championship during his senior year. The Lions couldn't match Calgary's talent a week ago, and were steamrolled in the second half. Casey Printers makes his second consecutive start for B.C. after completing just 10 of 26 passes last week, while running for his life much of the game.
The Pick Montreal
Winnipeg Blue Bombers (2-6) at Saskatchewan Roughriders (5-3)
Sunday, 4 p.m.
It's a meeting of CFL teams that have reasons to be concerned. The Bombers have dropped four games in a row, and their last outing at Montreal was a blowout. The Bombers haven't named a starting quarterback for Sunday, but there hasn't been much to chose from this season between Buck Pierce and Steven Jyles. The Roughriders are coming off a game at Edmonton in which they blew a 14-point lead and failed to score a point in the final three quarters. Quarterback Darian Durant had his worst performance of the season, and needs to be better at distributing the ball to Saskatchewan's many playmakers.
The Pick Winnipeg
Toronto Argonauts (5-3) at Hamilton Tiger-Cats (4-4)
Monday, 2:30 p.m.
It's the first truly meaningful Labour Day game in a while in Steeltown. While uncertainty has surrounded the future of the Tiger-Cats in Hamilton, the team has found its stride, ripping off three wins in a row, including a 16-12 win at Toronto before the bye week. Hamilton quarterback Kevin Glenn is playing some of the best football of his career and receiver Arland Bruce III leads the league in both catches and yards. The Argos are the feel-good story of the first half of the season, but have done it mostly with special teams and defence (with a hand from rookie running back Cory Boyd). Toronto doesn't have a single receiver in the league's top 19, and throwing the ball remains a challenge behind first-year quarterback Cleo Lemon.
The Pick Hamilton
Edmonton Eskimos (2-6) at Calgary Stampeders (7-1)
Monday, 6 p.m.
Despite a disastrous start to the season, the Esks would actually be in the playoffs if the CFL season ended today. That's reason enough to make this game at least a bit interesting (as is seeing if veteran quarterback Ricky Ray will be benched at any point in favour of the more mobile Jared Zabransky). Edmonton's performance against Saskatchewan last week, was proof the green and gold has not quit on coach Richie Hall. There's a talent gap between the Esks and Stamps, however, one that was clearly apparent when met Aug. 15 - a 56-15 Calgary win. The Stamps are statistically dominant on defence, have a superb one-two punch out of the backfield (Joffrey Reynolds and Jon Cornish) and aside from a few brief instances, quarterback Henry Burris has been on fire most of the season.
The Pick Calgary
Last week 1-1; SEASON 15-17
All times Eastern