Montreal at Saskatchewan, 4 p.m., TSN – TSN's replay two nights ago of last year's Grey Cup final was almost as stunning upon second viewing – the first time two teams have celebrated a Grey Cup victory on the same night. Kavis Reed – the Roughriders' special teams coach who forgot to account for the extra (13th) man which gave the Als a second chance to kick the winning field goal – is gone to Winnipeg. But many of the same protagonists return, including the relentless Alouette pitch and catch duo of Anthony Calvillo and Ben Cahoon, senior CFL citizens approaching their 38th birthdays. This could be just the first of three meetings between the Als and 'Riders. Many suspect they'll be the only two teams still standing for the 98th Grey Cup game Nov. 28 in Edmonton.
Pick: Montreal
Toronto at Calgary, 7 p.m., TSN – Jeremaine Copeland joined the Stampeders in 2005, the year after Calgary ended the season at 4-14, and he helped them improve by seven wins to finish second in the West. Now, he's returning to Calgary with a good-sized cow chip on his shoulder after being traded to the Argos. Copeland, who had 81 catches and 12 touchdown receptions last season, is expected to be a major contributor to establishing respectability in Toronto. And really, that's all the Argos -- 7-29 over the past two seasons -- are looking for. The team's starting quarterback is Cleo Lemon, a 30-year-old who is new to the CFL game and recalls the old bromide: If life hands you lemons, made lemonade. Okay, Cleo, start squeezin'.
Pick: Calgary
FRIDAY
Hamilton at Winnipeg, 5 p.m., TSN – While other teams have been turning their rosters inside out, the Tiger-Cats are trusting that a core of 32 returning players will add stability and upward mobility to a team which went 9-9 last season. That was good enough to put the Tiger-Cats in the playoffs for the first time since 2004. The more intriguing team from a Lions perspective, of course, is Winnipeg, where Buck Pierce landed following his release by Wally Buono. Pierce was named as the Blue Bombers' starting quarterback last week by head coach Paul LaPolice, the former Saskatchewan offensive coordinator. Pierce will endear himself to Manitobans early if he can outduel Kevin Glenn, the Ticat starter who would love to stick to his former team.
Pick: Hamilton
SUNDAY
B.C. at Edmonton, 4 p.m., TSN – No team playing host to a Grey Cup game has won it since the Lions beat Baltimore in '94 at BC Place, but the Eskimos might decide it's about time. Despite their lacklustre home record last season (5-4) and a penchant for giving up the big play on defence, the Esks are the trendy pick to emerge from the West and represent Canada's left half in the season finale at Commonwealth Stadium. Deep threat Kelly Campbell is back from the NFL and underrated ex-Argo Andre Talbot adds another component to the receiving corps which includes Kamau Peterson and the dangerous Fred Stamps. If Ricky Ray stays as sharp as he's looked in preseason, the Edmonton QB could make it a long night for most teams. The still-evolving Lions might be the first.
Pick: Edmonton
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