Week 3 of the CFL season gets underway on Thursday with the British Columbia Lions heading east to face the Montreal Alouettes. Then on Friday night, the Calgary Stampeders visit the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. Saturday features a doubleheader as the Ottawa RedBlacks host the Toronto Argonauts and in the nightcap, the Hamilton Tiger-Cats visit the Saskatchewan Roughriders.
The Edmonton Eskimos have the week off but they’d probably rather be playing. At 2-0, they are the only team that’s left with a perfect record so far. There are a couple of other undefeated teams but they are the only team that’s 2-0 through two weeks.
British Columbia Lions @ Montreal Alouettes
Odds: Lions -2.5
The Lions (1-1) went to Toronto and got a 28-15 win in Week 2 for their first victory of the season, while the Alouettes (1-1) fell 23-19 in Edmonton. Montreal’s offense has to improve as their defense is keeping them in games, leading the league in points allowed, but they’re second-last in points scored. The Lions are more balanced, ranking fourth in both points allowed and points scored.
The Lions are 6-4 SU and ATS in their last 10 against Montreal, winning in both categories in their last three meetings.
Pick: Lions -2.5
Calgary Stampeders @ Winnipeg Blue Bombers
Odds: Stampeders -3.5
The Stampeders (1-0-1) won a 43-39 shootout at home with Ottawa for their first win of the season after tying the RedBlacks in Ottawa in their season opener. Both teams are fairly strong, so it has been a very challenging start to the season for both sides to have the Grey Cup rematch in back-to-back weeks. Calgary’s offense continues to impress, though, as they’ve managed 74 points so far this season. That’s the best number in the league to date. Only one other team – Ottawa – has more than 55 points. The Stamps defense needs to play better thought as they’ve been abused to the tune of 70 points so far. Only them and Ottawa have allowed at least 70 points so far this season.
The Blue Bombers (1-0) made their 2017 debut with a 43-40 overtime win in Saskatchewan. The Blue Bombers made some big plays on defense when they needed to, but they still gave up far too much against the Roughriders, and the Stampeders are better offensively than that.
The Stampeders are 8-2 SU and 5-4-1 ATS in their last 10 against the Blue Bombers. Calgary has won the last six ATS.
Pick: Stampeders -3.5
Toronto Argonauts @ Ottawa RedBlacks
Odds: RedBlacks -5
The RedBlacks (0-1-1) scored a lot against Calgary, but they committed too many penalties and their defense couldn’t stop the Stampeders. The Argonauts (1-1) gave up 18 fourth-quarter points in their loss to the Lions, committing too many turnovers and failing to take advantage of their chances when they took the ball from their opponents. That’s not a good recipe.
Quarterback Ricky Ray has shown that he’s still got it – even though he’s in the twilight of his career. He enters Week 3 leading the league in passing yards with 833 and he’s also posted a healthy quarterback efficiency of 105.4.
The Argonauts are 6-4 SU and 5-5 ATS in their last 10 meetings with Ottawa, who were 2-1 SU and ATS against the Argonauts last year.
Pick: RedBlacks -5
Hamilton Tiger-Cats @ Saskatchewan Roughriders
Odds: Roughriders -1
The Ti-Cats (0-1) had the week off after falling 32-15 at home to Toronto in their season opener, and the Roughriders couldn’t stop the Blue Bombers in their first game in Mosaic Stadium. Sure, the Winnipeg loss went to two overtimes, but Saskatchewan fans can’t be happy about losing to their rivals in their first game in a new building.
The key to this game could be protecting the quarterback as the Tiger-Cats allowed five sacks in Week 1 against the Argonauts. Saskatchewan has four sacks this season and may take this opportunity to get after it a little. Roughriders quarterback Kevin Glenn has played well so far, tossing five touchdowns in two games. That ties him for the most in the CFL so far this young season.
The two have split their last 10 meetings both SU and ATS, but Hamilton has won four of the last five both SU and ATS.
Pick: Roughriders -1
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