It’s my Parting Shot for Week 17 C-F-L picks from T-F-P…..
There I was – all excited that I had a perfect 3-0 Week 16 – until Rene Paredes made a 62-yard field goal, with plenty of leg to spare I might add, to give Calgary a 40-38 victory over Ottawa and avoid the slings and arrows of ridicule for being the team to surrender the RedBlacks’ first victory of 2026! On we go to this week…
…beginning with a Friday Night Football doubleheader that ends with the Saskatchewan Roughriders visiting the B-C Lions in the biggest game of the weekend when it comes to how the C-F-L’s West division might eventually shake down! I wish I could be more positive about the Green and White’s chances – but they never do anything the easy way and their finish to the season will be proof positive of that! The home team hasn’t won in the last six games involving the Riders – meaning Saskatchewan is 3-3 in that time. They’ll be 3-4 as they lose by more than 10 points to a Lions’ team that is clicking now!!
The first game tomorrow has Toronto at Winnipeg. The Bombers got bad news with Zach Collaros not only being ruled out for the game, but being placed on the six-game injured list after knocking himself silly trying to make a tackle in the Banjo Bowl after throwing a pick! The saving grace for Winnipeg is that the Argonauts have already clinched a playoff spot, although it’s too early to be resting players with four games remaining in the regular-season. I’m taking the Argos by less than a field goal!!
On Saturday, Ottawa is home to Calgary this time. Not only is turn-about fair play, but I still maintain the RedBlacks have to win at least once this year – Ottawa by less than a field goal!!
That leaves Hamilton in Edmonton. The argument could be made that the Tiger-Cats are a worse team right now than the RedBlacks! Ouch! If my B-C over Saskatchewan prediction for Friday comes true, the Elks can all but clinch a first place finish in the West with a win, which they’ll get – and send Hamilton to a fifth consecutive setback – by just under two touchdowns!!
My overall mark is 35-26 for the season – or a 57.4 per cent success rate. It’s my own version of a turtle race trying to get to 60 per cent with only a handful of weeks left in the regular-season! Fingers crossed!!
That’s my Parting Shot. I’m Les Lazaruk…and it turned out nice again!
