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Any input on the Ham game-liking the under at 53'?? Thanks
Have been following F.Williams write ups for the last few years. Usually very good insight.
From The Sports Network
By Fred Williams, CFL Editor
DATE & TIME: Saturday, June 30th, 10 p.m. (et)
GAME NOTES: Another CFL head coach will be making a debut this weekend.
Charlie Taaffe will make his first official appearance on Hamilton's sideline in this game. Taaffe was the CFL's coach of the year in 1999 and 2000 with Montreal before heading to the University of Maryland. Last season, he was at the University of Pittsburgh before reuniting with Hamilton general manager Marcel Desjardins, who was Montreal's longtime assistant GM before joining the Ticats last year.
Taaffe has a reputation of being an offensive technician capable of working wonders with quarterbacks. He did great work with Anthony Calvillo in Montreal after Calvillo struggled prior with Hamilton. He will be asked to do the same with the Ticats and starter Jason Maas.
Maas came to Hamilton amid much fanfare after helping Edmonton win the 2005 Grey Cup. But Maas struggled mightily last year, throwing 17 interceptions compared to just eight touchdowns. It got so bad that Maas was benched the last two games of the year.
But Maas is back as Hamilton's starter, and it will be interesting to see what influence Taaffe has on the eight-year player. Rookie Timmy Chang was so impressive in the exhibition season that he begins the year as Hamilton's backup. The former University of Hawaii star proved to be a quick study of the Canadian game and is definitely the Ticats' quarterback of the future.
Canadian Jesse Lumsden starts the season as the CFL's long Canadian-born starting running back. After spending the last two summers in NFL camps, Lumsden signed a long-term deal with Hamilton in the offseason and should benefit from having a full camp with his team.
Desjardins was busy this winter changing the Ticats' roster, and also changing the club's personality as well. The club is younger, much younger, as well as talented. What will be interesting to see is if Hamilton's players need time to come together as a team, or because of their youth will they simply go out and play with a reckless abandon that simply surprises people?
There's no denying the talent base of the Stampeders. Twice the club has finished second in the West Division standings and is expected to again contend for top spot in the conference. However, the Stampeders haven't been able to follow that up with success in the playoffs. Both times, the club has been sent packing in the division semifinals, prompting many to question whether quarterback Henry Burris can lead the team to the promised land.
Burris finished third in passing last year with 4,453 yards and threw a league-leading 23 touchdowns. But he also finished tied for the league lead in interceptions with 18.
In the off-season, the Stampeders signed former NFL first rounder Akili Smith, and there are those in Calgary who believe Smith outplayed Burris during camp and should be the starter. The question remains whether Burris will be on a short leash this year.
Calgary's receiving corps features stalwarts Nik Lewis and Jeremaine Copeland, and will be strengthened by the return of Marc Boeritger following five seasons in the NFL.
The running game is in good hands with Joffrey Reynolds, who was second in the CFL in rushing last year with 1,541 yards, a 5.9-yard average per carry and nine touchdowns.
Defensively, pass defense was Calgary's biggest challenge as the club allowed a league-worst 277.8 yards per game. The Stampeders traded defensive back Coby Rhinehart to Montreal even though he led the team in tackles (63) and interceptions (seven).
Kicker Sandro DeAngelis was money in the bank last year, leading the CFL in scoring (214 points) and field goals (56).
The numbers: Hamilton was tied with Edmonton last year with the CFL's worst road record at 2-7.
Keys to the game: The Stampeders have a new offensive coordinator in George Cortez, but certainly have plenty of weapons to make his gameplan work. Catching Burris isn't easy because he has excellent mobility and his offensive line allowed the least number of sacks in the CFL.
And the group up front is versatile enough to give Reynolds running lanes all game long.
Montreal's defense faces a stiff challenge in trying to corral the Stampeders offense. And with the Als publicly stating they're willing to sacrifice some games early while they learn and adjust to their new scheme, this game could get out of hand early.
Sports Network Predicted Outcome: Calgary 38,Hamilton 21
Don't know this next guy, but heard lots of good about him.
Ron Raymond?s CFL Week 1 Picks
The CFL season gets underway this Thursday and unlike the NFL, sports bettors are pretty much on the same footing as the sportsbooks for Week 1, as none of the CFL exhibition games are televised, but fortunately we are able to catch some of the games on the Internet.
Here are my picks for week 1 and I hope you like Road Teams.
B.C.Lions @ Toronto
Line: B.C.Lions ?2.0 & O/U 48.0
Ron?s Comment: Controversy never seems to go away in Argos land, when they are not bringing in a rent a player like Ricky Williams, they failed to address their QB situation due to the loyalty and respect factors. In fact, Coach Clemons needs to be more assertive when it comes to making team decisions and not let his ?player coach? emotions get involved in his decision making for his starting line up. Nevertheless, when you talk about the Toronto Argonauts, their real shinning light is not a player, but the defensive coordinator Rich Stubbler. When the offense sputters, it seems the defense always keeps the boatmen in the game. The UNDER is 35-15-0 for Toronto as a home team the last 5 years and with Damon Allen starting game 1, I don?t see this offense being too productive out of the gate. Michael Bishop seems to be the guy who should be starting and he might get the call if Allen doesn?t move the chains. As for the Lions, they are a bit better than a .500 ball club on the road the last 2 years and I look for their defense to keep the Argos at bay.
Forecast: B.C.Lions 24 Toronto 15
Ron?s Pick: UNDER 48.0
Winnipeg @ Edmonton
Line: Edmonton ?2.0 & O/U 47.0
Ron?s Comment: The Edmonton Eskimos didn?t impress on offense during their first 2 exhibition games and only mustered up 21 points in 2 games. However, keep in mind most football teams never show anything on tape during the exhibition games and stick to a very vanilla offense. The Winnipeg Blue Bombers went 1-1 in the pre-season, splitting both games with Hamilton and allowed the most points against in the pre-season with 59. When you look at this matchup on paper, you have Ricky Ray going up against Kevin Glenn and the nod goes to Ray here. When you look at the offensive weapons both team posses, you have Ricky Ray and Jason Tucker as a dangerous one-two combination and then you have Milt Stegall and Charles Roberts who can hurt you via the air and run. Basically, this game will come down to which defense will hold the offense in the 4th quarter and the Blue Bombers have a great defensive coordinator in former Ottawa Rough Rider and former Defensive coordinator for the now defunct Ottawa Renegades, Greg Marshall. Marshall will have to throw the kitchen sink at Ricky Ray and make sure he doesn?t have time to sit in the pocket and kill you with his nice touch with the deep ball. The bookmakers must be anticipating a low scoring week 1, as two totals are in the high 40?s, one on 50 and the other at 52.5. I like this game to go OVER the total, as the OVER is 7-3-0 for the Blue Bombers when they travel to Edmonton in their last 10 trips.
Forecast: Winnipeg 35 Edmonton 27
Ron?s Pick: OVER 47.0
Saskatchewan @ Montreal
Line: Montreal ?3.5 & O/U 50.0
Ron?s Comment: When this line came out, I predicted Montreal would have been a ?5.0 point Home Favorite with the OVER/UNDER set at 55.0. To be honest, all the totals in all 4 games are a bit low in my opinion and I?m assuming the Bookmakers are going with the assumption that most defenses are always 3 weeks ahead of each offense. However, this is the CFL and you can score 21 points in the 3-minute warning! When I look at giving out a total and especially when it?s the OVER, I normally do a QB vs. QB matchup breakdown and you have two good QB going this Friday night at Molson Stadium. Anthony Calvillo and Kerry Joseph can move the football and they use to have some nice shootouts when AC would meet Kerry when he was with the Renegades. Both teams have great offensive weapons and I see no reason why either team can?t put 30 points respectively for their clubs this week. I really like this game to hit 60 + points this weekend. Play the OVER.
Forecast: Saskatchewan 40 Montreal 35
Ron?s Pick: OVER 50.0 (5* BEST BET)
Hamilton @ Calgary
Line: Calgary ?9.5 & O/U 52.5 Ron?s Comment: Charlie Taaffe is back coaching in the CFL and he?s already made his mark along with GM Marcel Desjardins. The Tabbies got rid of veteran and respected players Hitchcock and Morreale and will have a tough QB decision to make if Jason Maas doesn?t find his groove in the early part of the season. Former Hawaii standout QB Timmy Chang looked decent in the pre-season and will most like push Maas for the starting position. Speaking of back up QB, Akili Smith looked good in his last outing last week in a 23-21 lost to Saskatchewan and will be a solid back up to veteran Henri Burris who struggled late last season. Hamilton went 1-1 in the pre-season and managed to put some points on the board, as they scored 59 points in 2 games. However, that was pre-season against the Blue Bombers and the Stampeders are always tough at home. In fact, Calgary went 8-2 SU at home last season and 7-3 ATS. Calgary looked pretty dominant vs. the Eskimos in week 1 of the pre-season and I see no reason why they don?t blowout the Ticats at home this Saturday night who have a QB situation that is pretty much unstable.
Forecast: Calgary 35 Hamilton 21
Ron?s Pick: Calgary ?9.5
Good Luck Hawkeye .
