As a show of support for Mike Bishop, I'm typing this intro with a cast on my hand.

Rusty's Picks:

Winnipeg at Montreal

One of the odder things about writing this blog is seeing the Google search terms people use to get here. While we expect the usual terms like “cfl blog” or “Pinball Clemons” (and the assortment of people who are very disappointed when they search for “cheerleaders go wild”) by far the strangest way someone has arrived here in recent weeks is by searching for “Etienne Boulay naked”. Having this happen three times in two weeks probably cements Mr. Boulay as having the oddest fan base in the league.

In any case, to the man or woman who keeps looking for that, I suggest that you watch this week’s Als game where you are sure to see Milt Stegall undress Mr. Boulay many times. 

Pick: Winnipeg

Hamilton at BC

If life was like a sports movie, this would be the game where the obnoxious Lions led by bullies Rob Murphy and Jason Jimenez would pummel the hapless Tiger-Cats, only to see the Cats band together and make a remarkable run culminating in defeating BC in the Grey Cup. Unfortunately for Hamilton fans, life is not like a sports movie. Although on the plus side, they don’t have to deal with the comedic stylings of a WR played by Sinbad, so maybe that evens things out.

Pick: BC

Saskatchewan at Edmonton

It’s a good thing this game is being played outside the friendly confines of Taylor Field. Seems they had a bit of trouble there last week with a gentleman who ran out on to the field wearing only a cape. Now maybe I’m just getting older, but in my day guys that did that at least had the common courtesy to also wear a top hat and monocle. Let’s try and class things up a bit here, Saskatchewan.

Pick: Edmonton

Toronto at Calgary

With the Argos’ signing of Rocky Butler, it appears as though most of the cast of our hit film “Rocky VII: Showdown in Steeltown” are either retired or in Toronto. I’m going to guess that the former option is more likely in the future for Mr. Maas.

Pick: Toronto

A-Rad's Picks:

Winnipeg at Montreal

If the Bombers bring their mascots with them on the road - and really, every team should - there'd be a total of four giant birds on the sidelines. If it emerges that Jude St. John has been mysteriously absent from Argos' practices this week, I'd strongly recommend that Buzz, Boomer, Blitz and Touche all invest in bulletproof vests.

Pick: Winnipeg

Hamilton at BC

You have to love that the Lions are resorting to downplaying what a cakewalk this is going to be, insisting in their press release that it will "likely turn out closer than most would expect." This is how bad it's gotten for the Ticats...host teams are worried that they're going to turn off their fans by beating up on them too badly.

Then again, the Lions really have done a pretty good job of making themselves look less scary by choosing a field goal as the greatest play in team history. Unless the team in question is the Shreveport Pirates and the kicker is Bjorn Nittmo, that's just not cool.

Pick: Hamilton (I kid, I kid. B.C. But you have to admit, I'd look like a genius if the Ticats somehow won.) 

Saskatchewan at Edmonton

Apparently, Matt Dunigan has written a book. This has great, great potential, if for no other reason than the gambling prospects. Based on his TSN.ca column, I'm putting the over/under on the number of exclamation marks in the book at 46,318.

(Admittedly, this bit of insight could've gone with pretty much any of these previews, since I'm pretty sure Dunigan played for every team in the league. But for some reason, I especially remember him on the Eskies. Also, I couldn't think of anything else to say about this game.)

Pick: Saskatchewan

Toronto at Calgary

I'll admit, I'm not as excited as I could be about Mike McMahon starting a pile of games in Bishop's absence. But it could be worse; we could have the guy chosen first overall in McMahon's draft year. That would especially be a problem playing in a city that's home to Harvey the Hound.

Pick: Toronto

Bonus pick: 

All of the Argos have been injured in practice, leaving Pinball to play the Stamps by himself. In an attempt to keep it close, the sneaky Stamps have convinced Toronto Mayor David Miller to tax Pinball $500 for every yard that he runs. How does Pinball do?*

Boatmenblog pick: Pinball 753, Stamps 17. (Learning of this plan early in the day, Pinball returns to Toronto, leads a successful coup at City Hall and is elected Toronto's new mayor by the end of the day. Unfortunately, he misses the entire first quarter en route back to Calgary; lucky for him, Henry Burris and Akili Smith somehow manage to throw three interceptions despite the lack of any defenders and the Stamps are forced to settle for two touchdowns and a field goal. Upon his return, Pinball scores 753 unanswered points - and looks damn fine in his mayoral sash doing it.)

* = Everything we need to know about football analysis, we learned from early '90s SNL sketches.