The Watch List: Marquee Match-Up

The Alouettes return home to face top team in the west the Edmonton Eskimoes. Here is what to watch in tonights game.

-RB Jerome Messum should see a lot carries early on, Kavis Reed will want the Als to concentrate on the run game to give Ricky Ray more time in the pocket later in the game.

-To counter the Als injuries on the Defensive Line (McElveen and Bekasiak), look for Ferri and Emry to get more blitzes than normal.

-John Bowman had 4 sacks in his first 3 games, none in the last 3 weeks. He is too good not to hit Ray at least once tonight.

-Look for shorter and quicker passes form Ray throughout the game as Fred Stamps and Adarius Bowman will not play. Marcus Henry will see more balls. Take the over of 6 balls to Jason Barnes at slotback.

-For the Als, success goes through Brandon Whitaker, he’ll need to catch 3-5 balls to go with over ten carries for an Alouette win.

-Anthony Calvillo only has 2 TD passes in his last 3 games. He’ll have at least 2 tonight.

-If Damon Duval misses just 1 FG, he will hear it from the Alouette faithful.

Here are some interesting numbers heading into tonights game, The Eskimoes have lost their last 3 games at Percival Molson Stadium. The average margin of victory for Montreal has been 29 points. Montreal also holds a 10 point playoff win over Edmonton at the Olympic Stadium in 2008.

The spread is 6 and a half, so it is tempting to take the Alouettes by a TD. But I like the way that Kavis Reed has his team thinking let alone playing. In an exciting tight game I’ll take the Alouettes by a late Sean Whyte FG 38-36.

Playoffs? I'm Talking about Playoffs

It's time to breakdown playoff scenarios in the CFL. Kudos to the CFL schedule maker this year as week 19 should be a dandy with 3 of the 4 match-ups having playoff implications.

So with a quick look, three teams have made the playoffs, one team as been eliminated. Leaving four teams for three playoff spots. And since the cross-over is in play a tie-game may make the difference the best way to break this down is to tell you how the four teams that haven't clinched, could miss out on the playoffs.

Hamilton (8-9) misses the Playoffs if they lose to Winnipeg AND Edmonton and BC Tie.

Winnipeg (7-10) misses the Playoffs if they lose or tie to Hamilton

Edmonton (8-9) misses the Playoffs if they lose to BC AND Winnipeg wins

BC (8-9) misses the Playoffs if they lose to Edmonton AND Winnipeg wins

Good thing the game between Winnipeg and Hamilton is on Sunday after all of Friday and Saturday's action.

Now the interesting thing in all of this is if Edmonton and BC tie, they both make the Playoffs. With Edmonton making the jump to the East in the cross-over to face either Hamilton or Winnipeg on the road.

In the West Division title chase both Saskatchewan and Calgary have clinched a home playoff date. However they face off in Riderville Saturday night with a first round bye on the line. If Saskatchewan wins then Calgary will host the winner of Edmonton and BC in the Division Semi-final on November 15th. If Calgary wins or ties (don't rule it out) Saskatchewan they will have home field for their entire palyoff run.

Montreal, they know their date that's November 22nd at the Big O versus either or the remaining playoff hopefuls (Winnipeg, Hamilton, Edmonton or BC)

Toronto, we'll they can go catch the Leafs at the ACC on Saturday night against the Red Wings.