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CFL picks: will there be a Labour Day upset on tap? – 3DownNation – 3downnation.com

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Week 12 of the CFL season is officially upon us and, as the old saying goes, the year is only now getting started.

Labour Day weekend invites historic rivalry clashes across the country and the annual bragging rights that go with them, kicking off the home stretch of the 2022 season. With sellout crowds expected in both Saskatchewan and Hamilton, fans should be in for a treat.

In our own friendly competition, Brendan McGuire has extended his lead in our straight-up picks standings to three games. Meanwhile, Santino Filoso, Joel Gasson, and Josh Smith find themselves in a three-way tie picking against the spread, with the holiday weekend looking just as crucial for them as it is for the teams on the field.

Friday, September 2: Ottawa Redblacks at Montreal Alouettes – 7:30 p.m. ET

The Redblacks finally exited their season-long slide last week, as Nick Arbuckle enacted a little vengeance against his old club in his first start with Ottawa. That may be difficult to replicate against an Alouettes team that is fresh off a bye and riding a two-game winning streak. Alas, this game won’t be the same with Gary Stern’s tweets.

DUNK: Redblacks can compete with Nick Arbuckle at quarterback. 

Straight-up: REDBLACKS. Against the spread: REDBLACKS.

HODGE: Montreal is starting to improve at a convenient time.

Straight-up: ALS. Against the spread: ALS.

ABBOTT: These Alouettes will not be gentille.

Straight-up: ALS. Against the spread: ALS.

BALLANTINE: Beating Edmonton doesn’t mean anything. Ottawa is still hot garbage. 

Straight-up: ALS. Against the spread: ALS.

FILOSO: Seven of Montreal’s ten games have been decided in the last three minutes. They’ll probably win, but not by five.

Straight-up: ALS. Against the spread: REDBLACKS.

GASSON: Montreal tightens its grip on a playoff spot. 

Straight-up: ALS. Against the spread: ALS.

HUDSON: Ottawa is better than Edmonton but I’m not going farther than that.

Straight-up: ALS. Against the spread: ALS.

LUDWIG: LaPolice just needs to get a little less in his own way and Ottawa’s in the mix.

Straight-up: ALS. Against the spread: REDBLACKS.

MCGUIRE: I am astonished at the resurgence we are seeing out of Montreal, I cannot in good conscience choose against them. Boy, that move by Marcel Desjardins to not re-sign Trevor Harris still haunts the nation’s capital.

Straight-up: ALS. Against the spread: ALS.

SMITH: Montreal off a bye seems like a smart play.

Straight-up: ALS. Against the spread: ALS.

TOTALS STRAIGHT-UP: Als 9, Redblacks 1

TOTALS AGAINST THE SPREAD: Als 7, Redblacks 3

Sunday, September 4: Winnipeg Blue Bombers at Saskatchewan Roughriders – 6:00 p.m. ET

Quarterback Cody Fajardo had a bounce-back game following his benching two weeks ago and the Saskatchewan Roughriders eked out a victory over a half-strength B.C. Lions team. Head coach Craig Dickenson has since been forced to miss the week of practice due to COVID-19 and they now face their rival Bombers coming off yet another thrilling win over Calgary. Mosaic Stadium will be full to the brim for this one but Winnipeg has extra incentive to silence the crowd — they can clinch a playoff spot with a victory.

DUNK: Anything can happen in Labour Day Classics but the Blue Bombers are built different. 

Straight-up: BOMBERS. Against the spread: BOMBERS.

HODGE: Cody Fajardo’s knee better be feeling good because he’s going to be running for his life.

Straight-up: BOMBERS. Against the spread: BOMBERS.

ABBOTT: The Riders barely beat a third-string quarterback last week. Good luck against the presumptive M.O.P

Straight-up: BOMBERS. Against the spread: BOMBERS.

BALLANTINE: Can Fajardo make it to the end of the game against this defence? Feels like the third quarter will be a Fine time for a QB switch. 

Straight-up: BOMBERS. Against the spread: BOMBERS.

FILOSO: A sold-out crowd goes home disappointed

Straight-up: BOMBERS. Against the spread: BOMBERS.

GASSON: I don’t see Labour Day weekend magic this year. 

Straight-up: BOMBERS. Against the spread: RIDERS.

HUDSON: The biggest danger for the Bombers the rest of the season is having nothing to play for. Luckily, these next couple of games have a rivalry in the mix.

Straight-up: BOMBERS. Against the spread: BOMBERS.

LUDWIG: Winnipeg won’t go 17-1 but I don’t know if I’ll pick against them until the last couple of weeks.

Straight-up: BOMBERS. Against the spread: BOMBERS.

MCGUIRE: Historically, Saskatchewan has done well in the Labour Day Classic when they’ve entered with an inferior record. I expect that to carry the day on Sunday. 

Straight-up: RIDERS. Against the spread: RIDERS.

SMITH: Anything can happen in the not-quite-on-Labour-Day Classic.

Straight-up: RIDERS. Against the spread: RIDERS.

TOTALS STRAIGHT-UP: Bombers 8, Riders 2

TOTALS AGAINST THE SPREAD: Bombers 7, Riders 3

Monday, September 5: Toronto Argonauts at Hamilton Tiger-Cats – 1:00 p.m. ET

Even though backup Matthew Shiltz will miss the next four-to-six weeks with a wrist injury, Dane Evans is playing for his job in Tigertown. Despite the team’s losing record, Tim Hortons Field will still be sold out for the final of four clashes with the Argos in a five-week span. Toronto earned a 2-1 edge in the series last week with a dominant second half, as McLeod Bethel-Thompson passed Doug Flutie for fourth on the team’s all-time passing yardage list.

DUNK: Toronto doesn’t win on the September holiday Monday often. 

Straight-up: ARGOS. Against the spread: ARGOS.

HODGE: I’m giving Dane Evans one more chance to remember that he’s a competent quarterback.

Straight-up: TICATS. Against the spread: TICATS.

ABBOTT: The Argos are incapable of looking good twice in a row.

Straight-up: TICATS. Against the spread: TICATS.

BALLANTINE: No reason to believe that Evans got better, and Toronto is finding their stride as a result. 

Straight-up: ARGOS. Against the spread: ARGOS.

FILOSO: Until he proves otherwise, Evans is just too much of a liability

Straight-up: ARGOS. Against the spread: ARGOS.

GASSON: Toronto is the better team but the fans will power Hamilton to a victory. 

Straight-up: TICATS. Against the spread: TICATS.

HUDSON: The law firm is a steadier QB right now than Evans. That’s the difference.

Straight-up: ARGOS. Against the spread: ARGOS.

LUDWIG: Hamilton still shouldn’t be this bad, but Dane Evans is not in a good place. Picking for the intrigue.

Straight-up: TICATS. Against the spread: TICATS.

MCGUIRE: The Ticats won the very first LDC I ever saw on television, despite having a winless record against the Rocket Ismail-led Argos. I’m going to ride the nostalgia here.

Straight-up: TICATS. Against the spread: TICATS.

SMITH: Season on the line, the Tabbies eek one out.

Straight-up: TICATS. Against the spread: TICATS.

TOTALS STRAIGHT-UP: Ticats 6, Argos 4

TOTALS AGAINST THE SPREAD: Ticats 6, Argos 4

Monday, September 5: Edmonton Elks at Calgary Stampeders – 4:30 p.m. EDT

Edmonton’s thousand days of irrelevance at home continued last week with an embarrassing performance against Ottawa but their chances of a road upset are severely hurt by the loss of their best offensive weapon, Kenny Lawler, to injury. Meanwhile, Calgary looks revitalized on offence thanks to Jake Maier at quarterback and should be a force to be reckoned with in their new black uniforms.

DUNK: Stamps win it’s just a matter of by how many points. 

Straight-up: STAMPS. Against the spread: STAMPS.

HODGE: I see no reason why this game should be close.

Straight-up: STAMPS. Against the spread: STAMPS.

ABBOTT: You better have Jake Maier on your fantasy team.

Straight-up: STAMPS. Against the spread: ELKS.

BALLANTINE: Not sure punter Cody Grace sees the field at all. 

Straight-up: STAMPS. Against the spread: STAMPS.

FILOSO: Calgary will take care of business, but that spread is simply too big for the CFL.

Straight-up: STAMPS. Against the spread: ELKS.

GASSON: That line is tempting. Calgary wins either way. 

Straight-up: STAMPS. Against the spread: STAMPS.

HUDSON: The biggest danger to Calgary was Lawler and he’s injured.

Straight-up: STAMPS. Against the spread: STAMPS.

LUDWIG: Hey, if the 2021 Elks could win on Labour Day… Nah, just kidding.

Straight-up: STAMPS. Against the spread: STAMPS.

MCGUIRE: Since they are playing on the road, the Elks at least have a shot. But not a good enough one for me to pick them straight up or to cover the spread.

Straight-up: STAMPS. Against the spread: STAMPS.

SMITH: Edmonton just lost to Ottawa. ‘Nuff said.

Straight-up: STAMPS. Against the spread: STAMPS.

TOTALS STRAIGHT-UP: Stamps 10, Elks 0

TOTALS AGAINST THE SPREAD: Stamps 8, Elks 2

Records to date (straight-up)

MCGUIRE — 35-12
LUDWIG — 32-15
FILOSO — 31-16
SMITH — 31-16
DUNK — 30-17
ABBOTT — 29-18
GASSON — 29-18
BALLANTINE — 28-19
HODGE — 27-20
HUDSON — 27-20

Records to date (against the spread)

FILOSO — 28-19
GASSON — 28-19
SMITH — 28-19
BALLANTINE — 27-20
ABBOTT — 26-21
LUDWIG — 25-22
HODGE — 24-23
DUNK — 23-24
MCGUIRE — 23-24
HUDSON — 20-27

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Champions Trophy host Pakistan says it’s not been told India wants to play cricket games elsewhere

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LAHORE, Pakistan (AP) — A top official of the Pakistan Cricket Board declined Friday to confirm media reports that India has decided against playing any games in host Pakistan during next year’s Champions Trophy.

“My view is if there’s any problems, they (India) should tell us in writing,” PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi told reporters in Lahore. “I’ll share that with the media as well as with the government as soon as I get such a letter.”

Indian media reported Friday that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has communicated its concerns to all the Champions Trophy stakeholders, including the PCB, over the Feb. 19-March 9 tournament and would not play in arch-rival Pakistan.

The Times of India said that “Dubai is a strong candidate to host the fixtures involving the Men in Blue” for the 50-over tournament.

Such a solution would see Pakistan having to travel to a neutral venue to play India in a group match, with another potential meeting later in the tournament if both teams advanced from their group. The final is scheduled for March 9 in Pakistan with the specific venue not yet decided.

“Our stance is clear,” Naqvi said. “They need to give us in writing any objections they may have. Until now, no discussion of the hybrid model has happened, nor are we prepared to accept one.”

Pakistan hosted last year’s Asia Cup but all India games were played in Sri Lanka under a hybrid model for the tournament. Only months later Pakistan did travel to India for the 50-over World Cup.

Political tensions have stopped bilateral cricket between the two nations since 2008 and they have competed in only multi-nation tournaments, including ICC World Cups.

“Cricket should be free of politics,” Naqvi said. “Any sport should not be entangled with politics. Our preparations for the Champions Trophy will continue unabated, and this will be a successful event.”

The PCB has already spent millions of dollars on the upgrade of stadiums in Karachi, Lahore and Rawalpindi which are due to host 15 Champions Trophy games. Naqvi hoped all the three stadiums will be ready over the next two months.

“Almost every country wants the Champions Trophy to be played here (in Pakistan),” Naqvi said. “I don’t think anyone should make this a political matter, and I don’t expect they will. I expect the tournament will be held at the home of the official hosts.”

Eight countries – Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, England, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand and Afghanistan – are due to compete in the tournament, the schedule of which is yet to be announced by the International Cricket Council.

“Normally the ICC announces the schedule of any major tournament 100 days before the event, and I hope they will announce it very soon,” Naqvi said.

___

AP cricket:

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Dabrowski, Routlife into WTA doubles final with win over Melichar-Martinez, Perez

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RIYADH, Saudi Arabia – Ottawa‘s Gabriela Dabrowski and Erin Routliffe of New Zealand are through to the doubles final at the WTA Finals after a 7-6 (7), 6-1 victory over Nicole Melichar-Martinez of the United States and Australia’s Ellen Perez in semifinal action Friday.

Dabrowski and Routliffe won a hard-fought first set against serve when Routliffe’s quick reaction at the net to defend a Perez shot gave the duo set point, causing Perez to throw down her racket in frustration.

The second seeds then cruised through the second set, winning match point on serve when Melichar-Martinez couldn’t handle Routliffe’s shot.

The showdown was a rematch of last year’s semifinal, which Melichar-Martinez and Perez won in a super tiebreak.

Dabrowski and Routliffe will face the winner of a match between Katerina Siniakova and Taylor Townsend, and Hao-Ching Chan and Veronika Kudermetova in the final on Saturday.

Dabrowski is aiming to become the first Canadian to win a WTA Finals title.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 8, 2024.

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Winger Tajon Buchanan back with Canada after recovering from broken leg

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Inter Milan winger Tajon Buchanan, recovered from a broken leg suffered in training at this summer’s Copa America, is back in Jesse Marsch’s Canada squad for the CONCACAF Nations League quarterfinal against Suriname.

The 25-year-old from Brampton, Ont., underwent surgery July 3 to repair a fractured tibia in Texas.

Canada, ranked 35th in the world, plays No. 136 Suriname on Nov. 15 in Paramaribo. The second leg of the aggregate series is four days later at Toronto’s BMO Field.

There is also a return for veteran winger Junior Hoilett, who last played for Canada in June in a 4-0 loss to the Netherlands in Marsch’s debut at the Canadian helm. The 34-year-old from Brampton, now with Scotland’s Hibernian, has 15 goals in 63 senior appearances for Canada.

Midfielder Ismael Kone, recovered from an ankle injury sustained on club duty with France’s Marseille, also returns. He missed Canada’s last three matches since the fourth-place Copa America loss to Uruguay in July.

But Canada will be without centre back Derek Cornelius, who exited Marseille’s win Sunday over Nantes on a stretcher after suffering an apparent rib injury.

The Canadian men will prepare for Suriname next week at a camp in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

“We are looking forward to getting the group together again with the mindset that there is a trophy on the line,” Marsch said in a statement. “We want to end 2024 the right way with two excellent performances against a competitive Suriname squad and continue building on our tremendous growth this past summer.”

The quarterfinal winners advance to the Nations League Finals at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif., with the two semifinals scheduled for March 20 and the final and third-place playoff March 23, and qualify for the 2025 CONCACAF Gold Cup.

Thirteen of the 23 players on the Canadian roster are 25 or younger, with 19-year-old defender Jamie Knight-Lebel, currently playing for England’s Crewe Alexandra on loan from Bristol City, the youngest.

Bayern Munich star Alphonso Davies captains the side with Stephen Eustaquio, Jonathan Osorio, Richie Laryea, Alistair Johnston and Kamal Miller adding veteran support.

Jonathan David, Cyle Larin and Theo Bair are joined in attack by Minnesota United’s Tani Oluwaseyi.

Niko Sigur, a 21-year-old midfielder with Croatia’s Hadjuk Split, continues in the squad after making his debut in the September friendly against Mexico.

Suriname made it to the Nations League quarterfinals by finishing second to Costa Rica in Group A of the Nations League, ahead of No. 104 Guatemala, No. 161 Guyana and unranked Martinique and Guadeloupe.

“A good team,” Osorio said of Suriname. “These games are always tricky and they’re not easy at all … Suriname is a (former) Dutch colony and they’ll have Dutch players playing at high levels.”

“They won’t be someone we overlook at all,” added the Toronto FC captain, who has 81 Canada caps to his credit.

Located on the northeast coast of South America between Guyana and French Guiana, Suriname was granted independence in 1975 by the Netherlands.

Canada has faced Suriname twice before, both in World Cup qualifying play, winning 4-0 in suburban Chicago in June 2021 and 2-1 in Mexico City in October 1977.

The Canadian men, along with Mexico, the United States and Panama, received a bye into the final eight of the CONCACAF Nations League.

Canada, No. 2 in the CONCACAF rankings, drew Suriname as the best-placed runner-up from League A play.

Canada lost to Jamaica in last year’s Nations League quarterfinal, ousted on the away-goals rule after the series ended in a 4-4 draw. The Canadians lost 2-0 to the U.S. in the final of the 2022-23 tournament and finished fifth in 2019-20.

Canada defeated Panama 2-1 last time out, in an Oct. 15 friendly in Toronto.

Goalkeepers Maxime Crepeau and Jonathan Sirois, defenders Joel Waterman, Laryea and Miller and Osorio took part in a pre-camp this week in Toronto for North America-based players.

Canada Roster

Goalkeepers: Maxime Crepeau, Portland Timbers (MLS); Jonathan Sirois, CF Montreal (MLS); Dayne St. Clair, Minnesota United FC (MLS).

Defenders: Moise Bombito, OGC Nice (France); Alphonso Davies, Bayern Munich (Germany); Richie Laryea, Toronto FC (MLS); Alistair Johnston, Celtic (Scotland); Jamie Knight-Lebel. Crewe Alexandra, on loan from Bristol City (England); Kamal Miller, Portland Timbers (MLS); Joel Waterman, CF Montreal (MLS).

Midfielders: Ali Ahmed. Vancouver Whitecaps (MLS); Tajon Buchanan, Inter Milan (Italy); Mathieu Choiniere, Grasshopper Zurich (Switzerland); Stephen Eustaquio, FC Porto (Portugal); Junior Hoilett, Hibernian FC (Scotland); Ismael Kone, Olympique Marseille (France); Jonathan Osorio, Toronto FC (MLS); Jacob Shaffelburg, Nashville SC (MLS); Niko Sigur, Hadjuk Split (Croatia).

Forwards: Theo Bair, AJ Auxerre (France); Jonathan David, LOSC Lille (France); Cyle Larin, RCD Mallorca (Spain); Tani Oluwaseyi, Minnesota United (MLS).

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This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 8, 2024.

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