With just four weeks to go in the CFL regular season, there is still lots to play for. The top team in the league is trying to cinch up the #1 seed, while the East division is still up for grabs and there are plenty of spots in the playoffs still in play.
Calgary Stampeders @ Hamilton Tiger-Cats
Odds: Stampeders -9
The 12-1-1 Stampeders return from a bye to take on the 4-10 Tiger-Cats, who are five points out of a playoff spot as they’ll probably need to catch Ottawa in the East; fourth place in the West is Edmonton on 16 points. That means Hamilton would lose out on the playoffs due to the crossover, but they’ve won four of their last five. Still, that run might slow down here as the Stampeders have won 12 in a row SU over the Tiger-Cats, who have covered in five of those games. This includes a 60-1 thrashing in Calgary in Week 6. This will be closer, but the Stampeders still win handily.
The Stamps are a perfect 7-0 at home this season but are still a healthy 5-1-1 on the road. Home-field advantage won’t be significant in this spot as the Ti-Cats are just 1-6 at home.
Pick: Stampeders -9
Ottawa RedBlacks @ Saskatchewan Roughriders
Odds: Roughriders -3
The 6-9-1 RedBlacks are chasing down Toronto in the East as they visit 8-6 Saskatchewan, who are 5-2 SU and 3-4 ATS in seven meetings against this latest iteration of the Ottawa CFL team. The Roughriders won 18-17 in Ottawa in Week 15, but they have to decide whether to make the switch to Brandon Bridge over Kevin Glenn; Bridge has been better this season, although it’s a smaller sample size. Give the nod to Ottawa, who fought back from 19 points down to win in British Columbia last week.
The RedBlacks have actually been better away from home than in front of their home audience. They are 2-5-1 at home but are 4-4 in road games this season. However, Saskatchewan does play better at home as they are 4-2 at home compared to 4-4 in road games. This will be a showdown of the highest scoring offense in the East (421 points scored this season) and the West’s second-stingiest defense.
Pick: RedBlacks +3
British Columbia Lions @ Winnipeg Blue Bombers
Odds: N/A
The 6-8 Lions are in big trouble after their loss to the RedBlacks, while 10-4 Winnipeg were stunned at home by Hamilton, but more importantly, they lost quarterback Matt Nichols to a hand injury. That is why this game is off the board as the Blue Bombers have Dominique Davis ready to step in, but they’re obviously better with Nichols under center. The Blue Bombers are 5-5 SU and 7-3 ATS in their last 10 meetings with the Lions, who have their backs against the wall this week and beat Winnipeg 45-42 at home in Week 5.
The Blue Bombers are are 5-2 at home this season and will have to rely on that home-field advantage to give them a little boost. The Lions are both 3-4 at home and away, so the venue hasn’t been much of a factor for them.
Pick: Lions
Toronto Argonauts @ Edmonton Eskimos
Odds: Eskimos -7
The 7-8 Argonauts travel to face the 8-6 Eskimos, who snapped a six-game skid last week at Montreal (who have this week’s bye). The Eskimos still didn’t play great, but fortunately, they were playing a terrible Montreal team. The Argonauts lost to Saskatchewan at home and have Ottawa hot on their heels, but they’ve been bad on the road, going 2-5 SU this season. They’re 5-5 SU and 4-6 ATS in their last 10 meetings against the Eskimos, who fell 34-26 in Toronto in Week 13. The Eskimos will look to return the favor this weekend, but it’ll be close as Ricky Ray goes up against his former team.
Toronto has been fairly lousy on the road this season as they are just 2-5 in away games, which is in contrast to their 5-3 home record. The Eskimos are both 4-3 at home and away. Edmonton has somehow allowed the most points of any team in the West Division after starting out the season so well. Look for the Argos to keep this game close.
Pick: Argonauts +7
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