After the first four weeks of the CFL betting season, it looks like the BC Lions and the Ottawa RedBlacks have established themselves as the top teams in the West and the East. B.C. gets this week off, one that is a little bit different with a game on Monday. Saskatchewan remains the lone winless team in the league and it won’t be easy to change that with Ottawa coming to visit. Perhaps coach Chris Jones is not going to be the turnaround artist they thought he would be.
Calgary Stampeders @ Winnipeg Blue Bombers
Odds: Calgary -5.5
The Stamps were off last week, but it’s doubtful that they will have needed the extra time to prepare for a struggling Winnipeg team. The Blue Bombers lost at home to that other Alberta team last week when the Edmonton Eskimos took care of business. They were in the game until the fourth quarter, but probably shouldn’t have been given the differences in yards and time of possession. Winnipeg has not been able to get a win at home yet and Calgary has not won on the road. Right now, only a Calgary tie is all that separates these two in the West standings, but as the line indicates there is a bigger gap between these two clubs. Sometimes you have to handicap based on reality and sometimes you have to go with what the sportsbooks are telling you. In this case, they’re saying the gap is quite wide between the too as the Blue Bombers are a sizable home dog.
CFL Betting Pick: Stampeders
Ottawa RedBlacks @ Saskatchewan Roughriders
Odds: Ottawa -7
The Riders may be at home, but beating Ottawa is going to be a pretty stiff task – one made all the tougher by the fact that they will be missing starting quarterback Darian Durant. Durant threw for more than 300 yards in the first two games and has been the lone bright spot for winless Saskatchewan. Ottawa is without their projected starter Henry Burris too, but reserve Trevor Harris has been brilliant since taking over in Week 1. He leads the CFL in passing and has thrown for more than 390 yards in all three of his starts. This is is the biggest mismatch of the week and the seven points you have to give does not look overly generous. Go with Ottawa in this spot as a road fav.
CFL Betting Pick: Ottawa -7
Hamilton Tiger-Cats @ Edmonton Eskimos
Odds: Edmonton -4.5
It looks like it will be another week of waiting in Hamilton. Quarterback Zach Collaros is still not ready to take back the team from Jeremiah Masolim so the Ti-Cats will head to Edmonton hoping he can limit his mistakes. Last week, they had an easy win at Montreal, but Masoli did not play great. The underlying numbers did not reflect the final score, which was 31-7 for Hamilton. The oddsmakers certainly don’t seen fooled the way they set the number for this one. Edmonton is 2-1, but they have given up one more point than they have scored through three games. The defending champs have been excellent in converting on short yardage, seven for seven, but overall their play has been just good, not championship level. Given the way road teams have fared all season, this should be a test, but one that we’re expecting them to pass. Take them to cover.
CFL Betting Pick: Edmonton -4.5
Montreal Alouettes vs. Toronto Argonauts
Odds: Toronto -6.5
Quarterback injuries have definitely been the theme for a lot of teams this season. That includes Montreal, which has really struggled offensively this season. They are averaging less than 15 points per game. Kevin Glenn is out again this week and the duo of Rakeem Cato and Vernon Adams have not been reliable in his absence. Toronto quarterback Ricky Ray is healthy this season, but he is still struggling to get back to the level we saw before his injuries. Plus he is adapting to a new receiving corps. He has been more game manager than gunslinger this season and has yet to throw for 300 yards in a single contest. That approach will probably be enough this week.
CFL Betting Pick: Toronto -6.5
