[b0c79d27]Klemu's Games of the Week[/b0c79d27]

Let's start out with a brief review of last week:

[b0c79d27]New Orleans 21 - Boise 24[/b0c79d27]
Once again Klemu is right. Although Boise didn't cover my point spread of 4, my spread was much closer than Vegas' 9-point spread. Unfortunately for me, Sherman New's 29/147 rushing effort wasn't enough to give him the MVP as I predicted. Branden Lin's 297 yard 3 TD performance was just what the doctor ordered. As for New Orleans, they're not quite dead. A win over Memphis this weekend, coupled with a Tampa loss and New Orleans backs into a wildcard spot.

[b0c79d27]Santa Cruz 14 - Durham 21[/b0c79d27]
Durham made a believer out of me in this game facing a feisty, playoff hungry Privateer team. I called for the upset Santa Cruz victory and I was dead wrong. I suppose I'm allowed to be wrong once each season . . . but I don't like it. Santa Cruz's William Sheehan got stymied by the dogged defense of Durham, gaining only 37 yards on 11 attempts for a 3.3 average. Despite throwing 2 picks, Durham's Edwin Kimber pulled the MVP because he couple those picks with 3 TD tosses to lead his team to victory. And Motormouth had a respectable game. Although he didn't tally any sacks, he did successfully put pressure on Brett Hedges. Santa Cruz isn't completely out yet, but will need a miracle to get into the playoffs. Along with their victory over Sacramento, Santa Cruz will need to hope that Long Beach can pull off the upset against Huntington Beach. Good luck, Privateers . . .

[b0c79d27]New York 17 - Honolulu 23[/b0c79d27]
I finally got an MVP call right (in addition to calling the game correctly). Honolulu's Ronnie Tu led the Wave to a 23-17 victory throwing for 2 TD's and over 300 yards. The 67 yard strike to Rusty McNeil capped it in the fourth quarter. With a win over the Rounders this weekend, the Wave will secure home field advantage in the NC for the playoffs. A loss to Las Vegas and they'll be vulnerable to the Toros stealing the division from them. New York is locked with a playoff spot and can only move down to the 4 seed in the AC with a loss and a Shreveport win.

[b0c79d27]El Paso 13 - Detroit 41[/b0c79d27]
What the hell is going on here? I thought El Paso was supposed to be good. El Paso has already clinched their division, so they may be just phoning it in for the remainder of the season. With wins over Seattle and Oregon earlier this season, El Paso secured a first round bye, but have a sliver of chance to get home field throughout the NC playoffs. For this to happen they need for Honolulu to lose. On the other side of the ball Detroit's Freddy Mathias won the MVP honors with 3 TD passes and over 300 yards passing. Detroit has secured a first round by in the AC, but can still steal homefield throughout the AC with a win this week and a Durham loss.

With that business taken care of, we can now move onto the important part of the program, this week's games of the week. There are so many games to chose from this week, but I'll try to pick the ones that matter the most. This always happens in the CFL, with such a limited schedule. Everything comes down to the last week.

[b0c79d27]#4 Tampa Bay(8-7) at Durham(13-2)[/b0c79d27]
Why should I watch this game? It's freakin' Motormouth Bowl IV! That and there are some important thing on the line for this game. If Tampa wins, they're in the playoffs. If Tampa loses and New Orleans wins, New Orleans is in the playoffs. If Tampa and New Orleans lose and Boston can beat Atlantic City, then Boston is in. If Durham wins, their fans get to party for two weeks as Durham will lock up the home field advantage throughout the AC playoffs.

They already have a first round bye clinced.

What should I expect? Motormouth to get a case of diarrhea of the mouth and talk a lot of smack. Durham will play this game tough because homefield advantage is something worth playing for. If you're going to the game, make sure to wear your raincoats, it should be coming down hard out there. Tampa Bay's Lane Manuel will have nobody to throw to this weekend as veteran Jermaine Stroman is out for a long time with hip trouble. Rookie Tim Musial is also out of action, on the IR list. Watch as Durham blitzes the crap out of Manuel. This will be a defensive game all the way.

Klemu's Kall: Vegas says Durham by 7, I say Durham by 3. You can't be giving out those points in such a big rivalry. Don't be surprised if Tampa pulls one over on Motormouth and company. Edwin Kimber wins MVP.

[b0c79d27]#3 - New York(10-5) at Harford(9-6)[/b0c79d27]
Why should I watch this game? Hartford can't win the division with a victory over the Knights, but they can wrap up the #5 seed in the division with a win. If Hartford wins and Shreveport wins, take this game on the road because it will be Hartford at New York for the playoffs. New York wants a win to get an easier 1st round opponent. Hartford has been on fire as of late.

What should I expect? Run. And Gun. This game will be the most exciting for anybody to watch. These two teams should be flying up and down the field on each others' defenses. James Oberg and Kim Pace will be doing what they can to outdo each other.

Klemu's Kall: Vegas says Hartford by 10. I say Hartford by 7. Hartford has the better team right now and if Oberg would have stayed healthy all season, the roles would have been reversed. Look for Oberg to bag the MVP honors.

[b0c79d27]#2 - Sacramento(9-6) at Santa Cruz(8-7)[/b0c79d27]
Why should I watch this game? With Sacramento in the driver's seat of the San Andreas division, all they need to do is win this game. That's the tricky part. Santa Cruz isn't completely out of the playoff picture. With a win over Sacramento, coupled with a Huntington Beach loss, Santa Cruz can sneak their way into a division win and a playoff spot.

What should I expect? How does Sacramento keep winning you ask? Here's the formula: Average Talent + Favorable Matchups + A Shitload of Turnovers = Success. You can't take anything away from Sacramento's defense. In fact, they're liable to take a lot away from Santa Cruz. Sacramento needs to get some good turnovers to win this game on the road. Guess who else is good at taking away the ball from the opposing team? That's right, it's Santa Cruz. The Privateers will also prove to be opportunistic on the football field. The big question is who will win the turnover battle in this game and who can capitalize on those opportunities.

Klemu's Kall: Vegas says Santa Cruz by 1, I say Sacramento by 1. This is my upset special of the day. Santa Cruz hasn't done terribly well at home. Sacramento has done pretty well on the road. Look for Sacramento's Paul Stith to bag and INT and return it to the house, earning him the MVP honors.

[b0c79d27]#1 - Seattle(10-5) at Oregon(10-5)[/b0c79d27]
Why should I watch this game? The winner gets to play on and the loser will most likely have their season end. The winner of the game clinches the Ring of Ice division. The loser hopes that Boise has also lost so that they can play for another week. Boise is playing at home against Anchorage.

What should I expect? Seattle has lost 3 of its last 5 games after a brilliant start to the season. Charles Dever is still looking phenomenal, however, the problem for Seattle is their defense, specifically their pass defense. Oregon has on of the better passing games in the league. Couple that with a mediocre-good defense and it spelss victory for Oregon.

Klemu's Kall: Vegas has Oregon by 2, I say Oregon by 5. The only way that Seattle has a chance is if they can successfully get pressure on Oregon's QB with their front four. Kuhn will play well enough to take home the MVP honors. He's playing against a non-existent secondary.

[b0c79d27]Klemu's Gaim uv teh Sux![/b0c79d27]

[b0c79d27]Cleveland(3-12) at Atlantic City(4-11)[/b0c79d27]
Why should I watch this game? Because your only other option involves trout, treble hooks and a well lubricated rectum.

What should I expect? Heartburn, but not from those nachos you're eating.

Klemu's Kall? Go rent some porn.

_________________
Klemu Hakkinen
-Starting RW for the Semi-Pro Mooseport Mousse Hockey Club
-Beat Writer for the CFL