FINAL WEEK OF REGULAR SEASON CFL

By Ward Kurenoff, the wiser one.. 



Or is this the Wiser one
 in the Family??



Before we get to the games this week, some news and thoughts:



Travis Lulay, probably getting a first down, is my choice
for MVP this year.  How his shoulder holds up, will be
answered sooner than later.



The CFL announced the outstanding player nominees for 2012. Among them are:   

Quarterbacks Travis Lulay of the B.C. Lions and Anthony Calvillo of the Montreal Alouettes The other West Division nominees, all unanimous selections, include Calgary Stampeders running back Jon Cornish, Edmonton Eskimos linebacker J.C. Sherritt and Saskatchewan Roughriders slotback  Weston Dressler.  ( MY UNBIASED CHOICE) Calvillo, a three-time award winner who was also a unanimous selection, will be up against Winnipeg Blue Bombers running back Chad Simpson as well as receivers/kick-returners Chad Owens of the Toronto Argonauts and Chris Williams of the Hamilton Tiger-Cats



For TSN's Full story go to: http://www.tsn.ca/cfl/story/?id=408542

In my humble opinion, I would rank them:

Lulay, Cornish, Calvillo, Dressler, Sherritt, Owens, Williams and finally Simpson.  Which makes you wonder if Lulay isn't 100% for the Western Final, are the BC Lions good enough to win without him? That is the million dollar question.

Except for Edmonton and Hamilton and Saskatchewan possibly deciding which division they want to finish third in, the other 5 teams have nothing in terms of standings to play for.  Looks like Lulay, Calvillo, Ray, Darian Durant (I like my cereal) may play limited or no action at all this week.  Calgary is splitting between Drew Tate and Kevin Glenn and Winterpeg is playing the guy who threw the newspaper on the doorstep from the street with the best accuracy.  With playoff implications, Hamilton has to win, if they do then Edmonton has to win and if they do, Sask can win to stay in the west or lose and go to the East. 

Selfishly, I would like to see a BC/RIDER Grey Cup so in order for that to happen Edmonton must win and the Riders have to lose.  What?? I want my RIDERS to lose?  Like they have in the past 2 weeks (actual losing streak of 3) and they have caused me to go 6-2 in the past 2 weeks.  I must have been drinking the koolaid in the watermelons.

Let me get this straight folks: Shea Emery, of the Al's, low blows Mr. Labatte and gets a 15 yard penalty on the play, gets tossed for the game and gets fined by the league. Ok. Brandon Issac, of the Arrrrgos, gets no call on the play for a helmet to helmet hit on Darian Durant BUT gets a one game suspension (which means sweet tweet - considering TO has nothing to play for this week.) Doesn't this seem mixed up?

Gordo's answer to his math test question.
Now you know why I am the wiser one!!
I can remember him telling me once that the area for
 a circle was calculated by the formula: pie r squared. 
Gordo you should know that pies aren't squared -
THEY ARE ROUND!!!

Onto Week 19:

Thursday November 1: Hamilton at Toronto.

Wardo's Inside Scoop: Hamilton as stated earlier has to win to keep their playoff hopes alive.   Andy (Wish I was still a RIDER) Fantuuuuuuz mishap on the potential game winning FG in Calgary a few weeks ago may haunt the Ticats should they lose by a game at the end of things.  Oskee Wee Wee Rooster! With Toronto resting Ricky Ray for a more meaningful game like next week when these same two teams could meet in the same barn errrr stadium - I look for an inspired Ti-Cat Team to Eat Em Raw and play for their 9 lives.

Wardo's Wild Guess: Me thinks Hamilton by 7 or more and will put pressure on Edmonton to win their game.

Wardo' Cheap Seat Comment:  Should Hamilton win, they will be in the playoffs for at least approximately 18 hours until Edmonton plays.  Why is this game Thursday?  Is their a Wiggles concert in Toronto again and the Argoooos had to move their game?  Oh yeah, they are using the stadium for a baseball game.  No thats not it.  Indoor NHL hockey game? Not with Bettman in charge.  I checked - no basketball.  Must be the Wiggles!!!! Australian Rules Football anyone?

Friday November 2: Calgary at Edmonton

Wardo's Inside Scoop:  Is Drew Tate going to lead the Stamps in the playoffs considering it was Kevin Glenn who got them here?  We'll find out as each QB is supposed to play a half this Friday and John (always in a) Hufnagel will pick a starter for the playoff game sometime next week.  Cornish has some records to break but how long do you play him?  Edmonton has everything on the line if Hamilton wins.  If Hamilton loses, then Edmonton is in and with a win would be third in the West or with a loss be third in the East.  Do I have to draw pictures for anyone? Talk slower? Repeat ? Repeat? Never Mind.

Wardo's Wild Guess:  Edmonton at home. Edmonton needs this one.  Edmonton by 3 or more.

Wardos' Cheap Seat Comments: 

Will the battle of Alberta play again only in Calgary the following week? Will Fred Stamps put his stamp on this game and stomp the Stamps.  Kinda like Stamps stomps the  Stamps. Kinda like these cool CFL Stamps available at a Canada Post near you..

Saturday November 3rd: Montreal at Winterpeg:

Investors Group Field - Winterpeg

Wardo's Inside Scoop:  Is it cold in Winterpeg? Does anyone care about this game outside of these two organizations? When are they getting a new stadium in Winterpeg?  Glad I asked.  For more pictures and info on the Investors Group Field go to:  http://www.bluebombers.com/photo_gallery/gallery/id/8945

 Wardo's Wild Guess: Probably Montreal will win.  But hey - lets go BOO Bombers, especially after Halloween.  Black and Blue Manitobians by 6 or more.

Wardo's Cheap Seat Comment:  How cheap will a seat go for in the new hood? or partial hood of the stadium? Seasons duckets are anywhere from just under $200 to $1546 per season. Banjos are extra. Wins are optional and hardly available.

Saturday November 3rd: RIDERS at LIONS in the dome at BC Place (not Telus Place ..$40 Million wasn't enough for the naming rights..just saying)

Wardo's Inside Scoop:  KEEP MY DREAM ALIVE!  Hope Edmonton wins and for this week only, The Watermelon Keepers of the Prairies lose. Only way a BC/RIDER Grey Cup is going to happen this year so that's the way it has to happen.  

Both teams starting QB's as already mentioned may play limited snaps, as both teams are in the show next week but it will be a good time there on Saturday nevertheless. GO RIDERS!! Sort of!

Wardo's Wild Guess:  Since I want them to not try so hard, the RIDERS will probably win by 24 pts or something.  Go Figure!  If Edmonton wins, BC by 7.  If Edmonton loses, then RIDERS by 7.  How's that for hedging your bets? 

At least I am not a BOO
Bomber!!

Wardo's Inside Voice (Scoop): Dressler for MVP. Did RB Kory Sheets be a ghost on Halloween or was he bed ridden this week with the flu?  Nevertheless, This one is just a primer for the next three weeks coming up..also known as the playoffs.  At least the BC Lions are in the Western Finals this year, unlike another first place team in this city last May!!!! (Go Kings??..hey I won my pool with my 15th (of 16) round pick Mike Richards) Didn't Jarret Stoll take the Stanley Cup to Yorkton SK this past summer? Saskatchewan 1 - Canucks -0 

Have a great weekend!!   





HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!

(MY BROTHER) NEEDS MORE GRAINS...... :O)

LEANING ON FRIENDS TO PICK NFL WINNERS

THE HALLOWEEN EDITION: WEEK 8

“I don’t like to commit myself about heaven and hell – you see,

I have friends in both places.”

– Mark Twain

After bombing big-time with Thursday night’s Buccaneers-Vikings’ game, when I thought I knew the skinny going down in Minny, I have leaned on a few fabulous friends, a wonderful wife (the drooling president of the Mark Sanchez fan club) and a bright brother to steer us through the plethora of pigskin action this pre-Halloween weekend with some football forecasts.

Thanks, in advance, to Chris Foulds, Michelle Watrin, Larry Krause, Bruce Bonham, Lisa and Ward Kurenoff, classy people whose opinions I value and sports backgrounds I respect.

So, without further ado, cue up Dionne Warwick’s That’s What Friends Are For and convert some educated guesses to easy cash for your friendly pools.

And should these Week 8 NFL picks prove to be worthless, like the losing lottery tickets decaying in my wallet, we now can share the blame with the Splendid Six previously introduced.

SUNDAY MORNING

Seattle Seahawks at Detroit Lions

Guest picker: Ward Kurenoff

Our 4-and-3 "Brothers of the South" – a.k.a. the Seattle Seahawks – take on the Detroit Rock City Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley Lions who are currently sitting at 2-4.

WARD KURENOFF
and the Grey Cup.

Detroit has the more high-powered attack ranking second in the league (really?) with 307 passing yards per game. They'll have a good test this week against Seattle’s secondary with former Calgary Stampeders’ Brandon Browner and Richard (Don't call me Dick) Sherman having the size to get to the Lions’ receivers which includes Calvin Johnson – all 6-5 and 236 pounds of him – with already 592 yards receiving on pace for a 1,600-yard season.

Lions' WR Nate Burleson is out for the year so look for Titus (only 23 years) Young or rookie Ryan Broyles to get more action in Hockeytown . . . or what was once a hockey town in Gary Bettman's No Hockey League.

Wardo's not-so-great prediction: If Gene Simmons was singing and flashing off his tongue to the ball hawks of Seattle, I would like the Lions’ chances.  If he brought all the babes he knows, I would like my chances! But chances are ... I would go 0-100 with the babes! Defence wins championships and the Lions are oh-not-so-great on that side of the ball.

Seattle will win by 7 or more and the buzz around Detroit will be saved for the baseball Tigers and not the lame football Lions.

Carolina Panthers

at Chicago Bears

The lowdown: Da Bears are getting it done this season with Smokey and mirrors. Unless Vancouver Canuck forward/hunter David Booth ambushes Jay Cutler’s beasts and adds Da Bears to his Twitter trophy gallery of dead animals, the Panthers will get blown over in the Windy City.

Gord’s Great Guess: ALL the experts, who rarely agree on anything, expect the Bears to declaw Carolina with ease.

I expect Chicago to claim victory by at least 8 points. Don’t expect a Boo Boo with this pick. (Think Yogi and Halloween rolled into one joke. Yep, that’s why I need help ... with the blog!)

San Diego Chargers

at Cleveland Browns

The lowdown: Earlier in the season all the pundits were crowing over the Chargers, until they were unplugged with a couple Sunday spankings.

Still, their opponents this weekend are the Charlie Browns of Cleveland and that matchup should help the San Diego squad shake whatever ails them.

Gord’s Great Guess: Not much of a guess, really. Chargers will crush Cleveland faster than Ohio’s Once-Favourite Son, LeBron King James, bolted C-Town for Miami.

Jacksonville Jaguars

at Green Bay Packers

The lowdown: All the popular pigskin pundits are picking the punishing Packers to pummel the poor Jaguars.

Now, repeat that five times. If you have no problem doing that without tripping on your tongue, congrats, you are ready to learn the words and dance steps to PSY’s Gangnam Style!

Gord’s Great Guess: Because they are playing in Mr. (Aaron) Rodgers’ neighbourhood, and Green Bay needs the win to get back in the playoff hunt, I expect the Jags to get crunched by the Cheeseheads, by 10 points or more.

Indianapolis Colts

at Tennessee Titans

The lowdown: The Colts don’t have the horses to tip the Titans in Tennessee.

The Titans’ mascot is T-Rac, which is a racoon, which is fitting for the Nashville-based squad as it is not aggressive by nature and it also sleeps for weeks at a time during the NFL season. But not this week.

Gord’s Great Guess: Do Colts’ fans consult the Gallop Polls for weekly predictions? The Nashville-based Titans will make the ghost of Johnny Cash proud this weekend by Hurtin’ the Colts real bad on the scoreboard.

I walk the line and say Titans by 10.

New England Patriots

at St. Louis Rams

The lowdown: They are playing this game in London for some bloody hell reason. Expect Tom Brady to be up for the royal challenge and treat the Rams like little wankers. Everything should be tickety-boo for the Pats in this road game.

Some British football fans said seeing the NFL in their backyard is sick. Seeing the Rams getting kicked in the twigs and berries, however, will be more like blowing chunks sick.

Gord’s Great Guess: New England's Old England fans will be chuffed as nuts with the scoreboard, a 14-point or more victory.

You’d be barking mad to pick the Rams. Careful about saying how much you love to be a punter at this game, too.

Miami Dolphins

at New York Jets

Guest picker: Chris Foulds

CHRIS FOULDS

Almost a year ago to the week, on Oct. 17, 2011, the New York Jets, commanded by a heftier version of Rex Ryan, hosted the Miami Dolphins in a showcase AFC East clash on Monday Night Football.

The Jets prevailed 24-7 to improve to 3-3, despite Mark Sanchez's bland numbers (14-for-25, 201 yards, 1 TD toss). The Dolphins fell to 0-5 behind the arm of someone named Matt Moore, who actually had more yards and more completions than did the man-soon-to-be-overshadowed-by-God's-messenger.

The Jets of a year ago were all about a big, barking head coach with a foot fetish and a questionable quarterback. The Dolphins of a year ago were all about eliciting memories, oh sweet memories, of Dan Marino, Don Shula, Larry Czonka and Chad — the hanging one, not Pennington or Henne.

This year, the Dolphins are all about Reggie Bush, who is running more often than Ryan's mouth, the latter of which was working up a sweat by complaining about comments Bush has made in reference to the season-ending injury suffered last game by Jets' all-pro cornerback Darrelle Revis.

Bush opined that Revis's knee injury — suffered when he fell, in slow motion not unlike a geriatric tumbling slowly off a park bench, over a Dolphins' player — was karma payback for a dirty hit Bush suffered in the game, courtesy of New York's LaRon Landry.

Bush was also miffed that Ryan had said, prior to the 23-20 Jets' overtime win in Week 3, the squad needed to put "hot sauce" on Bush.

The running back is upset because he interpreted "hot sauce" as meaning "to injure."

Bush forgot that, for Ryan, every single euphemism relates to food — or feet.

The Rex Ryan Jets have never swept a season series from the Miami Dolphins and this year will be no different. Dolphins' rookie QB Ruan Tannehill is better than anybody expected and getting better every week. Mark Sanchez is . . . Mark Sanchez.

At halftime, the Jets will honour Dennis Byrd, the former defensive end temporarily paralyzed during a 1992 game against Kansas City, by retiring his jersey No. 90.

After Big Apple fans see Sanchez and the Jets fall to 3-5 at the final whistle, they will be calling for the green-and-white jersey No. 6 to join No. 90 in the rafters.

The Scoop: Miami 27 New York 14, with Sanchez throwing for 142 yards, 1 TD, 3 INT, compiling a passing completion rating of 42.2 per cent and being pelted with four oranges and a tattered Bible signed by Tim Tebow.

Atlanta Falcons

at Philadelphia Eagles

The lowdown: More than three-quarters of the experts say the Dirty Birds will pluck the Eagles on Sunday. Atlanta hasn’t lost in six outings, while the Eagles are 3-3. Even though QB Michael Vick plays in the City of Brotherly Love, he’s being booed big-time by Philly fans for turnovers and mental miscues. However, this is a chance for Vick to beat the team that ditched him after his dog fighting activities became front-page news and sickened a nation of animal lovers.

Gord’s Great Guess: Coach Andy Reid needs to win this game to save his job and team’s season. I expect the Eagles to be the first team to ground the Falcons but it will be oh-so close. It might take a field goal in overtime to decide the outcome.

Washington Redskins

at Pittsburgh Steelers

Guest picker: Michelle Watrin

Well, my only "favourite NFL teams" are the New Orleans Saints (Drew Brees is from Purdue), Indianapolis Colts (where I am from), Denver Broncos (Peyton Manning) and the New York Giants (Eli Manning) and occasionally the Dallas Cowboys because I liked their old coach (Tom Landry) with the hat.

MICHELLE WATRIN

Soooo, I would pick the Redskins on Sunday because I like their uniforms better and you could dress up in a Halloween costume as a Redskin, albeit not very politically correct but pretty with lots of feathers.

And what the heck is a Steeler anyway? Who wants to grow up to be a Steeler?

My husband would have much more insight than this, and even either one of my sons could talk about the wheel offence versus anything else, but I just happily go along and enjoy the weather when it is not snowing or cold!

SUNDAY AFTERNOON

Oakland Raiders

at Kansas City Chiefs

LARRY KRAUSE

Guest picker: Larry Krause

Brady Quinn is starting over concussed quarterback Matt Cassel of Kansas City, but Cassel can play after being medically cleared.

KC fans cheered when Cassel went down two weeks ago due to the lack of production. Quinn was a highly ranked college player that never measured up in the bigs along with the backup for Oakland Matt Leinart projected to be a great pro coming out of USC.

Both “losers” have bounced around the league for the past six seasons. The starting QB for Oakland also went to USC but has had a decent career, but struggles with attitude problems.

Maybe it's a USC thing! Kansas City wins on Sunday.

New York Giants

at Dallas Cowboys

Guest picker: Bruce Bonham

The lowdown: This is a contest within a contest. It is Eli Manning vs. Tony Romo. Perhaps better phrased as Vanilla vs. Strawberry, or Mary Ann vs. Ginger.

Eli is the rock-solid guy who comes up big when the game is on the line, while Tony is Mr. Excitement, a guy who makes great plays but, more often than not, melts down when the going gets toughest.

BRUCE BONHAM

To figure this one out, all you have to do is look at the dating history of these two fine lads.

Eli Manning, or Mr. Vanilla, married his college sweetheart, Abby McGrew, in 2008. She, of course, is Mary Ann. Tony Romo, after dating celebrities Carrie Underwood and Jessica Simpson, opted to settle down with American beauty queen Candice Crawford in May of last year. She, of course, would be Ginger. And everybody knows it's better to put your money on Mary Ann than on Ginger!

Bruce's Best Bet: The Giants lost the season opener to the Cowboys in perhaps Eli Manning's poorest outing of the season. Since then, they have gone 5-1.

Kevin Ogletree had eight catches for 114 yards and two touchdowns on opening day against the Giants. Since then, he has done little to excite, much like the Cowboys, who have won one, lost one, won one, lost one, lost one, won one and are due to lose one again.

If the Giants don't take down the Cowboys this time, you can call me Gilligan!

SUNDAY NIGHT

New Orleans Saints

at Denver Broncos
Guest picker: Lisa Kurenoff

LISA KURENOFF
No. 1 Sanchez fan

Lisa's lowdown: It’s gun-slingers Drew Brees vs. Peyton Manning in Denver. Hey, I'm married to a wannabe cowboy so I know how much yeehaw and yahoo is going into this Mile High matchup, along with such cornball cowboy sayings as don't squat with your spurs on.
The jury is still out on Manning’s comeback, but when he has time in the pocket he’s a pain in the neck for defences.

The Saints, starting to shake that Bountygate monkey off their backs in recent weeks, are as inconsistent as Mitt Romney’s stance on U.S. political issues. All the football experts expect the Broncos to blitz the Saints.

Lisa's bottom line: It hasn’t been a great season for the under-achieving Saints and while they are always dangerous and have the potential to march past anybody, logic says the Broncos will put the boots to them Sunday by 8 or more points. For the record, I wanted to carefully examine the Jets' stats (smile), Mark Sanchez and Jon Bon Jovi (he plays football, right), but hubby opted to give that game to Chris Foulds. I'll be watching, very, very closely, to make sure Chris gets this one right!

MONDAY NIGHT

San Francisco 49ers

at Arizona Cardinals

The lowdown: The Cards have folded since gridiron insiders suggested they were Super Bowl contenders. The 49ers have slipped from the pundits’ penthouse, but they have been solid on defence save for a Sunday spanking by the red-hot New York Giants.

Gord’s Great Guess: The 49ers will win this one by as much as 9 points. As former NFL star QB and commentator Joe Theismann said, "nobody in football should be called a genius; a genius is a guy like Norman Einstein.”

Hearing rumours the NFL wanted to increase pigskin production, these poor little piggies took off!

CFL PICKS THAT CLICK FOR WEEK 18

My buddy Alex, with the CSI-like shades and Geroy Simon tribute T-shirt keeps blurting
"repeat, repeat, repeat" like a parrot. He's still an awesome friend, chirping and all.

By Ward Kurenoff

Smart, savvy, sexy brother in family

My buddy Alex, a longtime B.C. Lions’ supporter, season-ticket holder, and all-around good guy, has it made in the shade, so to speak, as he sports his Geeeeeeroy Simon T-shirt awaiting the next meaningful game for B.C., that being the Western Final on Nov. 18 as the Lions clinched first place in the division last week.

All Alex could say was "repeat." I thought I had to ask my questions slower to him but it finally dawned on me he was saying that the Lions were going to win the Grey Cup two years in a row!

One, possibly two teams in the CFL will say otherwise. That is why they play the games.

So, it is "fine" to hit another opponent under the belt. Shea Emery of the Montreal Alouettes was fined by the CFL an undisclosed amount of watermelons in last week’s game against the Riders. At least he didn’t arm-bar anyone, right Alex?

So here we go with Week 18’s picks, remembering I had three out of four right last week.

FRIDAY

B.C. Lions

at Calgary Stampeders

6 p.m., TSN, TEAM 1410 Radio

Wardo's Inside Scoop: B.C.'s "real deal" backup QB Mike Reilly is back for his second start (will he play for Edmonton or Winnipeg next year?) while starting QB Travis Lulay is resting for another week with a slight shoulder injury.

As mentioned, Geeeeeroy is back. Kalif Mitchell is back after staying off Twitter and the rest of the Lions will be practising how to throw snowballs toward the Calgary faithful at McMahon Stadium.

Calgary's dilemma will be when, or if, they play Drew Tate, the starting QB who was injured in Game 2 of the season and is now ready to go!

While this game doesn't mean much in the standings as both have clinched home field playoff games in the West, the best Canadians and MVP contenders -- Jon Cornish (Calgary RB with 1,302 rushing yards) and Andrew Harris (B.C. RB with 1,025 rushing yards) square off.

Wardo's Wild Guess: If you ask Alex, B.C. is going to be 5-0 down the stretch with one win already chalked up last week against Edmonton.

I like Calgary's snowball throwing skills better than B.C. in this one. In a tight game, Calgary by 3 or less.

Wardo's Cheap Seat Comments: Except for individual performances, this game is just for bragging rights. Speaking of which, cousin Darren Perry of Regina was braggin’ himself – pictured here on the right with Keith Aulie of the Norfolk Admirals who swept the Toronto Marlies in last year’s AHL Calder Cup.

I asked him if his name was on the Cup and then I remembered they don’t put waterboys on there. Like who really wants to brag? Maybe a certain brother who won his NFL pool last week? Maybe a certain beer hockey team which is in first place with a 6-2 record and sport such stylin’ names as Moose, Big Sexy Wheelz, Rooster, Tuna, One Eye Sniper, The Meat Brother, G Money, Tucker and BJ (it’s for Big Jim people ... geez!)

When you go 3-1 in CFL picks and the refs cost you the fourth game maybe you have something! Just saying.

SATURDAY

Winnipeg Blue Bombers

at Hamilton Tiger-Cats

10 a.m., TSN

Wardo's Inside Scoop: This is the game of the week for possible playoff implications. Added to the backdrop is this will be the final regular-season game at Ivor Wynne Stadium in Hamilton.

Yet, despite it being Never Win Stadium for the past few seasons, there is a chance for a home playoff game for the Tabbies.

Essentially, these teams have to win their next two and Edmonton has to lose two. And considering that Toronto will lose to the Riders on Saturday there may be three teams with 7-11 records.

So, whom do you like? Bucky again? Or the good or bad Henry Burris?

Andy Fantuuuuuuz must be chompin at the bit on this one. Chris Williams of the Ticats has 1,150 receiving yards with a league-leading 14 TDs.

Hamilton has the worst points-against record with 515 and the black and Blue Bombers have the second worst at 492. The Lions, by contrast, sport the best defence at 307 points given up.

Wardo's Wild Guess: Winnipeg is brutal on the road and is worse against the Riders -- 52-0 is banjo music to my ears!  Methinks Hamilton is due, however.

At home their weapons will show up. High-scoring affair, Hamilton by 7 or more.

Wardo’s Cheap Seat Comments: What if Hamilton goes 5-0 down the stretch and wins the Grey Cup with a 7-11 record? Do they get free Slurpies with their Grey Cup ring?

It won’t happen but just saying if could happen in theory.

Mind you, in theory my brother is smarter than I am, but only if he has Einstein on his side. After all, I only have Moose and the Meat Brothers on my side so advantage goes to Team Gringo. Mind you, who won the playoff hockey pool this year? Enough said!

SATURDAY

Toronto Argonauts

At Saskatchewan Roughriders

1 p.m., TSN

Ah yes, the game we are all waiting for this week.

Wardo's Inside Scoop: Punter Jamie Boreham is in Regina in case punter Chris Milo doesn’t recover as quickly from his sprained left ankle.

Kudos to Weston Dressler for Special (ain’t that special!) Teams Player of the week. He leads the CFL with 1,189 receiving yards followed closely by the Arrrrrrrrgos’ Chad Owens with four fewer.

It is cold in Regina. But not as cold as my brother’s ex-girlfriend(s). Why do they call them ex's? Shouldn’t you call them y's? Like why did I go out with them in the first place?

Oh yeah, they bought the beer -- so Gordo tells me! (Editor's note: So, you want to live in the past, eh? There's a photo at the end of this football fiction that will "remind" people of the past! Thank me later, bro!) 

Wardo's Not-So-Wild Guess: Riders! Who do you think I am going to choose?

Maybe the 12-pack over the six-pack, but really folks.

Riders are at home, they beat the Arrrrgoooos senseless a few weeks ago. More of the same Saturday.

This is a tune-up game before they head into similar weather conditions in Calgary for the West Semifinal on Nov. 11.

Wardo’s Cheap Seat Comments: Maybe the Riders should lose the next two and actually get the crossover playoff berth and play in the East?

Would you rather play Calgary and B.C. on their home turf or against Montreal and one of the three Eastern teams to be determined?

Wouldn’t a RIDER and probably a B.C. Grey Cup – the 100^th anniversary Grey Cup – in Toronto be awesome? The folks out east would like it, I am sure! That would be the only "home" game of the playoffs at the Grey Cup. Remember the Riders beat the Lions twice in a home environment.

SUNDAY

Edmonton Eskimos

at Montreal Alouettes

10 a.m., TSN

Wardo's Inside Scoop: Montreal has nothing to play for with the East already locked up. They had nothing to play for last week and they beat -- or should I say got a gift from a certain zebra -- to finish with more points than the Riders last week. Did I mention this before, anywhere: I am not bitter!

Edmonton needs one win to cross over into the East playoffs and they play Calgary next week at home.

Jamel Richardson was the offensive player of the week with honourable mention to AC, the ageless wonder, but Edmonton has Fred Stamps and Cary (nice catch) Koch, but Hugh Charles is questionable for the Eskies.

Wardo's Wild Guess:  Although Edmonton needs this one more than Montreal --and you never know how hard Montreal will play -- it is their final home game before they travel to Winterpeg for the final tune-up before the Eastern Final.

Anthony Calvillo is the CFL's leading passer with 4,761 yards. Montreal plays for the fans and wins by 10 or more.

Wardo’s Cheap Seat Comments: Will Shea Emery keep his hands to himself this week?

Will the players from the southern States who play for the Eskimos wear parkas? Where is Steven Jyles, the guy they got back for Ricky Ray anyways?

Would Mike Reilly really want to be an Eskimo? After this season does Eric Tillman, the Eskimos' GM, need stronger medication? Because I don’t think their QB situation worked out like he thought it would.

Have a great weekend folks!

Our late Grandpa Kurenoff teaches Ward how to clean fish, but the camera-loving tot
with the Lions cap poses for the photog. Speaking of fish stories, enjoy today's picks!

VIKINGS SHOULD BEAT BUCS THURSDAY!

Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Minnesota Vikings

5:20 p.m., Thursday

Not since a scandalous 2005 houseboat sex party on Lake Minnetonka with several Florida hookers have the Vikings been this excited about letting little Buccers from Tampa Bay drop anchor at the Mall of America Field.

The 5-2 Vikings, who are ahead of the Green Bay Packers (4-3) and just behind the Chicago Bears (5-1) in the tough NFC North, are slightly favoured to shipwreck the Buccaneers (2-4), who have been on fire offensively but can’t play defence when it matters.

It should be a high scoring affair – imagine using the word affair in a Vikings-related story, eh – and the good folks at Bleacher Report suggest this just might be “the best Thursday night game” on the NFL schedule, which is good considering it will be up against Game 2 of the World Series in San Francisco where the comeback Giants face the Detroit Tigers.

The big news for the wonderful wife today is not baseball’s Fall Classic or Thursday Night Football, but the fact Marky Mark Sanchez has split with Desperate Housewives star Eva Longoria. The 25-year-old Jets quarterback is now single again and the smiling wife has him back on her  ever-growing list of options, which is starting to resemble a very thick NFL playbook!

Longoria, at age 37, recently released a new cook book, a new fragrance and now a quarterback who likes to connect with ladies from around the globe, but can’t find receivers 10 yards in front of him. Just saying!

Thursday prediction: Vikings, by 8 points or more.

REFS RUIN RUN OF PERFECTION!

Rider fans at Mosiac Stadium in Regina couldn't help Saskatchewan
 beat Montreal or help Ward keep his perfect streak going.

By Ward Kurenoff

Cute one in the family

Mr. Perfect is not perfect anymore.

With an "interesting" – replacement ref-type pass interference -- call (no bias here whatsoever) that wiped out a Saskatchewan interception and allowed the Montreal crew another TD (which was the winning margin) the Riders managed to lose on Saturday and thus my perfection is no more.

I know the CFL has bigger (foot) balls, but Shea Emery’s punch below the belt proves now that Mr. Brendon Labatte (yes, I will call him Mr. as he's frickin’ huge) now possess possibly bigger . . .

Speaking of swollen, does anyone feel for Andy Fantuuuuz? Game essentially won with a 30-yard field goal attempt for the Ticats but the ball was apparently frozen, snowy, icy, etc. and two ex-Riders couldn't connect for the final three points to win in Calgary.

Ironically, it allowed the riders to at least clinch a crossover playoff game. And it didn't make me 2-2 for the weekend. Thanks Andy, I guess!

I see Winnipeg and the Ticats play this weekend. Makes you wonder if the Blue Bombers could play the banjo for the final 45 seconds that they could of been in a better position for the playoffs, too. Only in the CFL -- and that is what makes it great!

More thoughts and picks coming up later in the week. I won't allow any B.C. Lions to tweet me until then!

Speaking of tweets, Emery did use social media to say sorry to Labatte. Check it out at:

http://www.tsn.ca/cfl/story/?id=407853

WEEK 18 SCHEDULE

Friday, 6 p.m., TSN

B.C. at Calgary

Saturday, 10 a.m., TSN

Winnipeg at Hamilton

Saturday, 1 p.m., TSN

Toronto at Saskatchewan

Sunday, 10 a.m., TSN

Edmonton at Montreal