The Calgary Stampeders have been a model of resiliency this season.

They've been without their starting quarterback for most of the year and lost their top receiver to a season-ending injury less than a month ago. And yet the Stampeders (8-2) still find themselves tied with the Saskatchewan Roughriders atop the CFL's overall standings.

Calgary looks for a fourth straight victory when it hosts the improving Hamilton Tiger-Cats (5-5) on Friday night.

Starter Drew Tate has missed most of the season with an arm injury but the Stampeders haven't skipped a beat with veteran Kevin Glenn. And when Glenn has gone down, No. 3 Bo Levi Mitchell has stepped in admirably.

When injuries hit the club's receiving corps — most notably slotback Nik Lewis suffering a season-ending leg injury — former quarterback Brad Sinopoli, a native of Peterborough, Ont., stepped up to help fill the void. And ditto for running backs Matt Walter — the former Calgary Dinos star — and Jonathan Williams, who filled in well when incumbent Jon Cornish was out with a thigh contusion.

There's also an offensive line that's allowed a league-low 22 sacks despite missing all-star Dimitri Tsoumpas (concussion).

A big contributor to Calgary's success has been a rugged defence that's forced 28 turnovers (tied with Montreal for league lead) while allowing a CFL-low 316.3 yards per game. The Stampeders are also second in fewest points allowed (24.6 per game).

Defensive end Charleston Hughes (10 sacks) is one of the CFL's top pass rushers but Cordarro Law has quietly contributed eight sacks for a Calgary unit that's recorded 36 sacks, two behind league-leading Winnipeg.

Calgary should face a solid test from a Hamilton squad coming off a 37-29 win over B.C. Ticats quarterback Henry Burris was 25 of 35 passing for 375 yards and four touchdowns while slotbacks Andy Fantuz and Greg Ellingson and running back C.J. Gable all had 100-yard receiving efforts.

But it's hard to overlook Calgary's home record (4-0) and 4-0 mark this season versus East Division competition.

Pick — Calgary

Winnipeg Blue Bombers (2-8) at Edmonton Eskimos (1-9) on Saturday night.

The Bombers get full marks for their 25-13 home win over Saskatchewan last week that ended a seven-game losing streak. Winnipeg's defence had seven sacks and held Riders quarterback Darian Durant to just 129 passing yards.

Winnipeg starter Justin Goltz completed only eight of 17 passes for 129 yards with an interception and a lost fumble. However, he also ran for two touchdowns.

Edmonton's season has been even worse. The Eskimos have dropped eight straight, with five losses being by a combined 15 points.

Offensive lineman Simeon Rottier, scratched from last week's 22-12 loss to Calgary after stinging criticism from Edmonton GM Ed Hervey, returns to the lineup.

It's a matchup between the CFL's two worst teams but there's a sense the Eskimos are the more desperate team, which would give them the edge at home.

Pick — Edmonton.

Toronto Argonauts (6-4) at Saskatchewan Roughriders (8-2) on Saturday night.

Quarterback Zach Collaros completed 30 of 43 passes for 336 yards and two TDs in last week's 37-30 road win over Montreal, a game that saw Toronto rally from a 15-point deficit. The week before, the Alouettes returned a Collaros fumble 38 yards for a TD in a 20-9 road victory, the Argos' first game after announcing starter Ricky Ray would miss approximately six weeks with a shoulder injury.

Toronto's defence stepped up as Montreal rookie Tanner Marsh completed just 13 of 28 passes for 225 yards with a touchdown and three interceptions. The Argos, allowing 123 yards rushing per game, held the Alouettes to under 100 yards while recording five sacks, the three picks and a forced fumble.

Saskatchewan's offence struggled versus Winnipeg as CFL rushing leader Kory Sheets ran for just 65 yards on 14 carries. He was also his team's leading receiver with six catches for 57 yards.

Saskatchewan's rabid fans certain give the home team a decided advantage but so to will the desire to bounce back from a dismal performance against Winnipeg.

Pick — Saskatchewan.

Montreal Alouettes (4-6) at B.C. Lions (6-4) on Sunday afternoon.

There's definitely something about playing at B.C. Place that agrees with the Lions. The club is 5-0 at home and 1-4 on the road.

There's also the matter of redemption. Montreal rookie quarterback Tanner Marsh's late 57-yard completion set up Sean Whyte's game-ending 15-yard field goal to cap a stirring 39-38 comeback win over the Lions at Molson Stadium on Aug. 22.

Lions quarterback Travis Lulay's first two 300-yard passing performances of the season have come in his last two starts, a split with Hamilton. Emmanuel Arceneaux and Nick Moore both had 100-yard performances against the Ticats but running back Andre Harris ran for just 48 yards in the two games on 14 carries.

Montreal makes the cross-country trek following a disappointing loss to Toronto and traditionally hasn't played well in Vancouver. The expectation is that trend continues.

Pick — B.C.

News from © The Canadian Press, 2013