Week 1 CFL Picks With the 2015 CFL season set to kick off Thursday night in Montreal, TSN football analyst Chris Schultz is back with his Week 1 selections. See which way he's leaning in all four games, including the re-match of last year's Grey Cup between the Calgary Stampeders and Hamilton Tiger-Cats.

Chris Schultz TSN Football Reporter Archive

Ottawa at Montreal

Both teams have early season issues moving the ball on offense. For Ottawa, it is a team issue because last season they only scored 278 points - 15 per game. Yes, they have improved in player talent but playing well-executed and efficient offense is more than individual talent; it is assignment clarity, timing and chemistry. How fast these three elements come together will determine the win/ loss total for the Redblacks by November. With Montreal, I feel all the pieces are around the quarterback but who will be the pivot? Jonathan Crompton did not have a good training camp and Dan Lefevour did not dominate. Brandon Bridge interests me but maybe this year is too early to find out what he can and can't do. Based on what I saw, Lefevour should start.

Montreal over Ottawa in a very close game

Hamilton at Calgary

The best game of Week One. You can make an easy argument for both teams but I think the Stampeders will prevail. They are coming in confident as defending Grey Cup Champions and should be, but I do not think they underestimate Hamilton at all. Right now, even with the injuries, I look at the Ticats as a better team than the one that lost the 102nd Grey Cup. In both exhibition games, Hamilton played well and are improved at receiver and quarterback as Zach Collaros is in year number two of Kent Austin’s offense. Watch out for Brandon Banks. His elusiveness when watching him in person is amazing but – and yes, there is a but - Bo Levi Mitchell should be well prepared and if Calgary can control a good Ticats front seven down field, plays should be made. And Mitchell has a great down field arm. This one will be close but I’ll take Calgary in the 4th to pull away.

Calgary over Hamilton

Edmonton at Toronto from Fort Mcmurray

Too many advantages for the Eskimos to pick an early season upset. They have already played a game in SMS Equipment Stadium on MacDonald Island, so to say this is a home game for Toronto is not true. Advantage: Edmonton. And with Trevor Harris making his second career start, his challenge is intense. Last season, Edmonton finished first on defense in fewest points allowed, fewest passing yards allowed and number one in red zone defense. The blitzes they run are well coordinated between the three elements of defensive line, linebackers and secondary. For Toronto to win, they will have to play a very clean game dominating in turnovers and very few penalties. Year number two for Chris Jones and he knows what he has in personal and now early in the season is just refining his vision for his team.

Edmonton over Toronto

Winnipeg at Saskatchewan

Tough opening game for Winnipeg, who did not play well against Hamilton last week. The two problems last year, I believe, will improve this season - run defense and pass blocking. Run defense will improve because Richie Hall is a fundamentally sound coach, while pass blocking will improve because the addition of Stanley Bryant, Dominic Picard and 2nd overall pick, Sukh Chungh. Winnipeg will be better in controlling the line of scrimmage. For the Riders, you can't dismiss the fact they were 8-2 last year, lost Darian Durant and imploded. Both the offensive coordinator and defensive coordinator are new so how long before the starting 12 master the two new systems and languages?

At home and game number one - Riders over Bombers