Revenge games are on the CFL agenda this week, including the Banjo Bowl in Winnipeg. We also have our first Saturday tripleheader. Be sure to move around at halftime and in between games for improved circulation.
Friday Night Football showcases the Ottawa long road trip to Vancouver.
The Saturday tripleheader starts with an early trip for the Battle of Southern Ontario at BMO Field. The Banjo Bowl rests in the middle followed by the Battle of Alberta with a few on-field shadows in the provincial capital.
All 4 games will be within a 24-hour period.
Montréal is hot right now, but still gets an extended Labour Day vacation.
TSN
Friday
Ottawa @ BC, 10p
Saturday
Hamilton @ Toronto, 1p
Saskatchewan @ Winnipeg, 4p
Calgary @ Edmonton, 7p
Bye week: Montréal
The Montréal Alouettes did finish the 2016 season with 3 straight wins. The Alouettes won in Regina, at home against Calgary, and at Hamilton. That was the last time Montréal won more than 1 in a row. The recent success may not mean much in terms of the 2018 playoffs chase, but the efforts in La Belle Province is keeping the East on its toes. Beating Toronto was impressive but defeating Ottawa in the nation's capital was cause for celebration.
The prairie teams played tough through most of the contest but the Saskatchewan Roughriders have won 13 of the last 14 Labour Day weekend games. Andrew Harris did his best to stop that streak with 158 rushing yards for Winnipeg. The Riders may have missed Zach Collaros more than people might have thought.
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Edmonton keeps disappearing in the second half. The Esks did show up on the turnovers sheet in the second half against their provincial rivals. Edmonton only had 3 points in the second half in a 3-point loss. The fans had sunny skies in Calgary but a game time temperature of 7° C (45° F for our American readers). Weather can be volatile in southern Alberta but that has to be one of the coldest Labour Day games and that was with sunny skies.
Hamilton has struggled at home of late compared to the Tiger-Cats start at Tim Hortons Field. The Tiger-Cats put together a solid home win in the one game Tiger-Cats fans want their team to win. Luke Tasker put together an amazing effort on that touchdown (above). Hamilton has now won 5 straight Labour Day games. Toronto did miss Duron Carter.
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Kyries Hebert set a new CFL first that he shouldn't be proud of doing: Hebert is the first CFL player to be suspended for more than 1 game from an on-field play. Hebert's 2-game suspension for a cheap hit on Montréal's B.J. Cunningham comes a few weeks after a 1-game suspension after a hit on Calgary's DaVaris Daniels. The CFL has far fewer cheap plays than the NFL. Glad to see the CFL step up and reflect that difference.
CanadianCrossing.com CFL coverage
Timing a CFL trip to Toronto this weekend could also involve the 2018 Toronto International Film Festival. You don't have to be a film nerd to go. Hollywood celebrities are in town. Enjoy the energy and people watching before and after the game. A few years back, I saw 2 films and had lunch before the Argos beat up on the Ticats at Rogers Centre.
For those who thrive on the regular CFL announcer matchups, this was your weekend. Rod Black and Duane Forde were together and in the east. Chris Cuthbert and Glen Suitor were together and in the west. We might get our first Gord Miller sighting or Rod Smith could call a game this weekend.
photo credit: CFL
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