After a couple of weeks of CFL betting action, there are just two undefeated teams left. That can still be true next week as neither the B.C. Lions nor Hamilton Tiger-Cats will be playing each other. The West may be the stronger of the two divisions this season, but there are still three teams out there that enter the week looking for their first win. At least one will get into the win column with Saskatchewan visiting Edmonton to close out the weekend.
Winnipeg Blue Bombers @ Hamilton Tiger-Cats
Odds: Hamilton -10
After looking pretty sharp beating Toronto in the opener, the Ti-Cats laid a stinker last week losing 28-3 at home to B.C. All of those points were singles too. Quarterback Jeremiah Masoli turned back into a pumpkin with two interceptions and even though it was their home opener, Hamilton was pretty lifeless. Luckily, they get as good an opponent as any to bounce back against with Winnipeg visiting. The Blue Bombers are 0-2 and only the Argos have given up more points, mostly because Hamilton scorched them in the opener. Winnipeg lost at Calgary last week and the final score was not reflective of the Stamps dominance. The Blue Bombers scored 15 unanswered in the fourth to make it respectable.
CFL Betting Pick: Hamilton -10
Toronto Argonauts @ BC Lions
Odds: BC -4.5
Toronto was beat pretty soundly in their opener, but in a similar fashion did not have too much trouble beating Saskatchewan last week. They won by 13 points which might have made it look a bit of a route, but really they followed the simple formula for road success, which is get up on your opponent early – they were winning 14-0 at the end of the first quarter – and salt away the clock. When you do that, you can play balanced football which is what they did, holding that margin most of the game.
The Lions come into this one with a 2-0 record, having given up the fewest points in the league. Their strategy against Hamilton was to pound away at them and they had success running for more than 100 yards. Look for them to try and work over the Argos similarly.
CFL Betting Pick: BC -4.5
Calgary Stampeders vs. Ottawa RedBlacks
Odds: Pick’em
This has to be the game of the week. Ottawa is 2-0 and the Stamps are definitely a contender in the West. Ottawa was very convincing against Montreal last week, out-gaining the Alouettes by more than 200 yards. The offense was clicking like it was mid-season already. Some of that was due to Montreal’s ineptitude, but at the same time, it looks like this iteration of the Ottawa franchise is not going to be a laughing stock. They are looking to get back to the Grey Cup and get one step further after losing in the game last year.
After a close road loss to B.C. in the opener, Calgary had no problems with Winnipeg last week. Like Ottawa, they also rolled up more than 500 yards of offense and CFL leading rusher Jerome Massam churned out 137 yards on the ground. Winnipeg put up some yards and points late, but really this was a blow out.
This is a tight betting line, but we’ll go with the home team here.
CFL Betting Pick: Ottawa
Saskatchewan Roughriders vs. Edmonton Eskimos
Odds: Edmonton -11.5
Saskatchewan’s hopes of an overhaul leading to immediate success were dashed in their opener. Yes, it is just one game, but losing at home by double digits to Toronto is not going to instill much confidence that things are pointed back in the right direction. They dominated Toronto in every which way but on the scoreboard, so perhaps it was a fluky result. The Roughriders outgained the Argos 389 to 252 and won the turnover battle.
Edmonton, the defending champs were off last week, giving them an extra week to digest losing to Ottawa at home in a Grey Cup rematch (45-37) in Week 1. You can bet they will be extra focused for this one. Saskatchewan is walking into a lion’s den. It’s a big number to lay in this spot but this should be a matchup of best-versus-worst. The Eskimos should be motivated – especially with their former coach manning the other sideline.
CFL Betting Pick: Edmonton -11.5
