The Calgary Stampeders continued to roll in week 17 with a 22-8 win over the Montreal Alouettes that pushed their record to 14-1-1. There is no doubt that the Stampeders are the clear favorites to win the Grey Cup and they should have no problem moving one more step towards that goal when they host the Toronto Argonauts this weekend. Meanwhile, the Hamilton Tiger-Cats and Ottawa Redblacks are 1-2 in the East division and will clash against one another on Friday Night Football in a rematch after Ottawa’s 30-29 win last weekend. Here is your CFL betting rundown for week 18.
Friday October 21
Hamilton Tiger-Cats @ Ottawa Redblacks
CFL Betting Odds: Ottawa -4
Hamilton and Ottawa went down to the wire in a thrilling showdown last week so it only makes sense that we get another look at the matchup that could determine which team represents the East division in the Grey Cup. Henry Burris is back and he completed nearly 70-percent of his passes for 393 yards and a touchdown in last week’s narrow win. The Redblacks are banking on Burris leading them to a championship once again and there isn’t any reason to expect him not to put up similar numbers against Hamilton this week. The Tiger-Cats have the talent but their inability to stop Burris combined with Jeremiah Masoli’s mistakes at the quarterback position will be the reasons they fall short again this week.
Pick: Ottawa -4
Friday October 21
Toronto Argonauts @ Calgary Stampeders
CFL Betting Odds: Calgary -17
These teams met a couple of weeks ago when Bo Levi Mitchell threw for 281 yards and three touchdowns while Jerome Messam averaged 7.8 yards per carry while rushing for 133 yards and a score. That tandem should be licking their chops when it comes to their potential in the rematch with the Argonauts coming off another brutal loss to Saskatchewan last week. Ricky Ray is expected to be back for Toronto after Dan LeFevour and Drew Willy combined for a terrible effort at the quarterback position last week but Ray isn’t the quarterback he once was. This game should feature the most lopsided win margin in the CFL for Week 18. The STampeders are a perfect 8-0 at home this year while the Argos are 3-4 on the road. The Argos have allowed more points in the CFL than any other team (496) and that’s a concern given that they’re up against the team that’s scored the most (547).
Pick: Calgary -17
Saturday October 22
Montreal Alouettes @ Saskatchewan Roughriders
CFL Betting Odds: Saskatchewan -7
For as bad as things are for the Argonauts, they are certainly worse for a Montreal team that just cut arguably the best wide receiver in the CFL due to behavior concerns. Duron Carter will not be on the field for the Alouettes this week and suddenly a Saskatchewan side that every team looked forward to playing against a month ago is a seven-point favorite at home. The Roughriders have turned their season around with four straight wins following a 1-10 start and while they won’t reach the playoffs, they will have a ton of positives to carry over to next season. Meanwhile, the Alouettes will be forced to start fresh and things could get a lot worse before they get better for Montreal.
In terms of the match-up itself, the Als are just 2-5 on the road this year while Saskatchewan has been better at home (3-4) than on the road (2-6). These are the CFL’s two lowest scoring teams as the Roughriders have scored the fewest points at 312 while the Alouettes have tallied the second-fewest at 315.
Pick: Saskatchewan -7
Saturday October 22
Edmonton Eskimos @ BC Lions
CFL Betting Odds: BC -2
The Eskimos had their way with Montreal in a 40-20 win in the week before their bye but they will have a much tougher test this week against a BC team that has dropped two in a row. The Lions have struggled at home this season but should have their best effort for this week in a game that will have significant playoff implications in the West. Edmonton enters this game one back of BC for third spot in the division and the combination of talent and an extra week to prepare should help them earn another important win as small underdogs for this contest.
Pick: Edmonton +2
