And now, two foolish people's attempts to predict the outcome of this week's CFL games:

Rusty's Picks:

Calgary v. Hamilton

As mentioned in the previous post, we'll have extensive comments about this game sometime over the weekend or early next week (depending on how many refreshments we have). If Hamilton is going to beat one of the upper echelon teams from the West this year, this might be their best chance. Most teams seem to play a bit better in the first game after a coaching change, and Sandro DeAngelis seems to have trouble keeping his lunch down while playing in Steeltown. I'm surprised this doesn't happen more often when people visit Ivor Wynne.

Pick: Calgary

Bonus Prediction: If Greg Marshall is being interviewed in Hamilton by Brian Williams, and stays for the game, TSN will show him at least 10 times. Number of times he won't be looking pissed off: 3.

Saskatchewan v. BC

These two are playing again? I realize that the schedule had to be changed after Ottawa went belly up, but this is ridiculous.

Minutes after the 2004 Grey Cup, Steve Armitage asked a dejected Jason Clermont if "this was everything he dreamed of". Full points to Clermont for not choking Armitage on the spot, but his answer was perfect. "I didn't dream about losing." This is obviously why my athletic career didn't take off. All of those hours pretending to be a member of the Cleveland Indians were useless.

Pick: BC over the Saskatchewan Penal League All-Stars

Montreal v. Winnipeg

"Chip studied specialized studies." ~The complete personal bio of Montreal HB and star of game one between these two, Chip Cox.

Sounds intense.

Pick: Winnipeg

A-Rad's Picks:

Calgary v. Hamilton

Ah, finally the season's first rematch of the classic '98 and '99 Grey Cup games. (What, you don't remember? They happened...honest.) I'm not convinced Hamilton is quite as bad as its record, nor that Calgary is quite as good as the one it has. And the new coach's first game really is a huge incentive for any team. I fear it may be time to replace that donut with the eclair.

Prediction: Hamilton

Saskatchewan v. BC

Hey, do we have to do a running diary this game as well? Could be a long night, especially if TSN has the Rod Black/Leif Peterson crew on this one.

On the bright side, this might have to be stopped early. If the 'Riders can't go five days in Regina without having someone arrested, I don't even want to think about the trouble they're going to get into in Vancouver. It's entirely possible that by the third quarter, they'll have had so many players led away in cuffs that they'll need to forfeit.

Prediction: BC

Montreal v. Winnipeg

It's well-established that we love us our mascots. So much as I can't quite bring myself to call this the battle for the East's best team, I have to respect a battle between two cities for whom one furry creature is not enough. Personally, I prefer the Bombers' Buzz and Boomer to the Als' Touche and Blitz if only because I can't respect Touche. (He's apparently the older one, but by all appearances he's Blitz's bitch.) But I do suspect that, mascots notwithstanding, the Als are going to be looking to put the new kids on the East block in their place.

Pick: Als