Upsets add a jolt of adrenaline to the CFL playoffs, when one bounce can send a favoured team packing and make underdogs suddenly believe they can topple giants.
Expect to see one surprise ending during Sunday’s two semifinal games, while the other should go according to form.
TORONTO AT HAMILTON
Stop Argos running back Cory Boyd on the ground and limit Toronto special teams sensation Chad Owens, and the Hamilton Tiger-Cats will punch their ticket to the East final. The Ticats have been superior to the Argos this season, defeating them in each of their three meetings by a 74-28 total. The Tabbies shouldn’t lose in their own backyard Sunday when they host the Argos for a chance to challenge the Montreal Alouettes in the East final.
The Argos exceeded expectations this season, winning nine games with a quarterback, Cleo Lemon, who seems unsuited for the Canadian game. Turnovers killed the Argos in the first two meetings with Hamilton, but it was the Ticats’ 30-3 thrashing of the Double Blue last month that is the true indicator of where these two teams stand.
The Ticats have an offence that includes three 1,000-yard receivers, a defence ranked among the best in the league, and a quarterback in Kevin Glenn who threw for more than 5,000 yards.
The Ticats still need to be wary. Last November they were also expected to win the semi, but were upset by the B.C. Lions.
Pick: Hamilton by 10.
B.C. AT SASKATCHEWAN
In the West, an upset has been in the making for weeks as the Saskatchewan Roughriders clinched second place but sputtered down the home stretch, losing four of their last five games.
This is the fourth successive year in which the Riders will stage a home playoff game, but they looked like anything but a Grey Cup contender during the past month or so. In fact, early hopes of again finishing first in the West were dashed by a late season slump that has made them look susceptible to an upset.
The Riders defence struggles defending the run, although the Roughies held Lions tailback Jamal Robertson to 57 yards on eight rushes when B.C. won 23-17 last month. Still, Robertson is capable of bowling over any CFL defence, posting a 6.2 yard average this season.
Accentuating the run defence problem for the Riders is a troubling ankle injury to middle linebacker Barrin Simpson, whose 104 defensive tackles led the league.
The Riders’ own running game is also a concern. The pass-happy squad (QB Darian Durant piled up a league-high 5,542 passing yards this season) can light it up in fair weather, but what happens if it’s a windy and cold November day in Regina?
Pick: B.C. by 3
