Week 8 of the CFL season featured more of the same with the Edmonton Eskimos and Winnipeg Blue Bombers picking up lopsided wins while the Ottawa Redblacks and Hamilton Tiger-Cats continued to struggle. Something will have to give this week as the Eskimos visit Winnipeg while the Redblacks visit Hamilton. Meanwhile, the Toronto Argonauts will be in tough once again without starting quarterback Ricky Ray for their rematch with the Montreal Alouettes. Here is the CFL betting breakdown for Week 9 of the season.
Thursday August 17th – 8:30 PM ET
Edmonton Eskimos @ Winnipeg Blue Bombers
CFL Betting Odds: Edmonton -1
The Blue Bombers put on a show in their 39-12 win over the Hamilton Tiger-Cats last week. Now they will face a much tougher test with a chance to prove they deserve to be considered a legitimate threat in the West division. Winnipeg’s defense will need to step up big time in order to slow down Mike Reilly and a potent Eskimos offense. Meanwhile, Matt Nichols and company will have to play even better than they did last week to even top 21 points against the Edmonton defense. The Blue Bombers can’t be overlooked in the West. However, they might not be good enough to challenge the Eskimos supremacy just yet.
The Eskimos are a perfect 7-0 so far this season and defense has been the name of their game. They have allowed just 169 points so far this season. Only two teams have allowed less points so far this season (Calgary Stampeders and the Montreal Alouettes).
Pick: Edmonton -1
Friday August 18th – 7:30 PM ET
Ottawa Redblacks @ Hamilton Tiger-Cats
CFL Betting Odds: Ottawa -3.5
Hamilton is still looking for its first win of the season. The Redblacks aren’t in much better position with just one win through eight games. This week should represent the Tiger-Cats best shot at finally getting on the board with a victory. However, there is little to take from another blowout loss last week that would suggest they can pick up the win against an equally desperate Ottawa side. The defending Grey Cup champions still have enough firepower to make Hamilton football fans suffer even more at home this week. The Redblacks are only two-point favorites, so they should be able to find a way to cover on the road in Week 9.
The Tiger-Cats have been the worst defensive team in the CFL this season. They have allowed 273 points. No other team in the entire league has allowed more than 229 points so far this year.
Pick: Ottawa -3.5
Friday August 18th – 10:30 PM ET
Calgary Stampeders @ B.C. Lions
CFL Betting Odds: Calgary -4.5
The Lions looked like an absolute mess in their blowout loss to Saskatchewan in Week 8. Things won’t get any easier for them this week against Calgary. The Stampeders had an extra week to prepare for BC following their bye and there is no reason to expect them to slow down after scoring 100 points combined over their last two games. Bo Levi Mitchell and company can score early and often and that is bad news for the Lions if Jonathon Jennings and company can’t keep up. Jennings threw four interceptions in last week’s loss to the Roughriders. He won’t turn the ball over as many times this week, but that doesn’t mean BC will be able to cover as 3.5-point underdogs at home against a tough Calgary side.
Pick: Calgary -4.5
Saturday August 19th – 4:00 PM ET
Montreal Alouettes @ Toronto Argonauts
CFL Betting Odds: NO LINE
The final matchup of Week 9 will feature a rematch from Week 8 with the Alouettes making the trip to Toronto to face the Argonauts. Montreal’s defense absolutely dominated in its 21-9 win last week and with Ray sidelined again this week there isn’t much reason to expect any different. Darian Durant threw for 237 yards and two touchdowns in last week’s win. A similar performance should result in another win as the suddenly surging Alouettes climb back to the .500 mark to take sole possession of first place in the East division.
Pick: Montreal
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