The CFL season is only three weeks old and already it seems as though teams are hitting the panic button. The defending Grey Cup champion Ottawa Redblacks are 0-2-1 while the Hamilton Tiger-Cats are 0-2. Both teams are back in action this week with the Redblacks travelling to face the Edmonton Eskimos while Hamilton will host the BC Lions. Here is your CFL rundown for Week 4 of the season.
Thursday July 13, 2017
Toronto Argonauts @ Winnipeg Blue Bombers
CFL Betting Odds: Winnipeg -3
The Argos benefited from a botched extra point in the fourth quarter to squeeze out a one-point win over Ottawa last week. They won’t be as lucky on Thursday. The Blue Bombers were brought back down to earth by the Calgary Stampeders in their second game. However, it will serve as a wake-up call and a chance to reset heading in to this Week 4 showdown. The Winnipeg defense will need to step up in order to slow down Ricky Ray and the Toronto offense at home. The Blue Bombers offense also has a lot more to give after getting shut down by the Stampeders. Winnipeg will win and cover at home.
Pick: Winnipeg -3
Friday July 14, 2017
Calgary Stampeders @ Montreal Alouettes
CFL Betting Odds: Calgary -5
The Stampeders absolutely dominated Winnipeg in Week 3 and will look to build on that victory as they head back out East for a favorable matchup with Montreal. The Alouettes play tough enough defense to hang around for a while but their offense isn’t good enough to cover the number even at home against a dominant Calgary team that is only beginning to round in to form. Wide receivers DaVaris Daniels and Kamar Jordan looked dominant on the field together last week. If the Stampeders can build on that victory then they should have no problem pulling away from Montreal in the second half.
Pick: Calgary -5
Friday July 14, 2017
Ottawa Redblacks @ Edmonton Eskimos
CFL Betting Odds: Edmonton -5.5
The defending Grey Cup champions haven’t hit the panic button just yet but they will need to figure things out in a hurry to avoid falling to 0-3-1 against Edmonton. Trevor Harris has been able to move the football through the air but the defense absolutely has to be better if Ottawa is going to get in to the win column. The Eskimos will welcome back running back Kendial Lawrence this week. However, it won’t be enough to cover the 5.5-point spread against a desperate Redblacks team.
Pick: Ottawa +5.5
Saturday July 15, 2017
BC Lions @ Hamilton Tiger-Cats
CFL Betting Odds: BC -4
The Lions are four-point favorites on the road in what was once a tough environment for opponents to play in Tim Hortons Field. That is a testament to how bad the Tiger-Cats have been early on this season as they have produced a minus-34 point differential through just two games. The Ti-Cats have looked toothless through two games as they have scored just 35 points on offense. Every single other team has scored at least 52 points, which shows you just how inept the Ti-Cats unit has been even though they’ve played just two games.
Dumb penalties and undisciplined play have been the biggest issues for Hamilton as they gained just 216 yards while taking 15 penalties for 187 yards in last week’s loss to Saskatchewan. If you’re sub-250 yards of offense in the CFL, you’re in big trouble. The league is built around offense these days.
It’s not as if the Ti-Cats defense has been much better. Running back Jeremiah Johnson has been outstanding for BC and should have no problem continuing his strong start to the season against the Tiger-Cats.
Oddly enough, the Lions are a perfect 2-0 on the road so far this season while they’ve lost their only home game. They’ve also lost their only divisional game but they’ve won both of their contests against the East Division. Both of those stats are good omens for the Lions as they travel out East. They should win and cover on the road as things go from bad to worst for Hamilton in Week 4.
Pick: BC -4
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