Calgary-Toronto projects as a shootout, while Saskatchewan, Edmonton and Hamilton offer intriguing spread value this weekend
Second place in the CFL’s East Division is tightening up a little, with the Toronto Argonauts and Hamilton Tiger Cats both going into Week 10 with six points, eight points behind first-place Montreal.
The Argos have one game in hand on the Ticats. The team received some good news on Sunday as they returned to practice after a bye week. Starting quarterback Chad Kelly was back in full practice after being forced to leave the game the previous weekend against the B.C. Lions with a neck injury.
Both the Argos and Ticats play this weekend.
Eight games in, the Edmonton Elks, at 6-2, are no longer a surprise in the West Division. In fact, bettors have reached a point in the season where they are looking less at preseason expectations and more at what teams have been outperforming the market.
The Elks rivalry with the Saskatchewan Roughriders (5-2, second in the West) has become must-watch football. Edmonton beat Saskatchewan 36-34 in Week 8 on a last-second field goal, only to have the Roughriders return the favour in Week 9, 28-26. That’s about as tight as it gets. They’re both Grey Cup contenders, with each scheduled to play this weekend as well.
The Montreal Alouettes are the class of the league, and a safe ATS bet, with a defence that forces mistakes and an offence that protects the football.
The Calgary Stampeders looked like they were on the rebuild road earlier in the season, but they’re legitimate, at 4-4, with dominant road wins over the Bombers in Week 8 (52-30) and the Ticats last weekend (44-20).
Week 10 gets going with the Stampeders in Toronto against the Argonauts, 7:30 p.m. EST, BMO Field.
In CFL betting at Betway, Calgary is a slight -125 Moneyline favourite, with Toronto at +105. The Stampeders are laying just 1.5 points (-110), while the Argonauts are +1.5 (-110). The Total is set at 67.5 points (Over -110, Under -110).
This one is essentially a toss-up, which is why I am looking at the 67.5 Total, with both teams showing they can score quickly and turn games into shootouts. I am going to take the Over at -110, looking at how explosive Calgary has been over the past months, averaging 43 points per game.
On Friday night, at 9 p.m. EST, the Ottawa Redblacks (0-7) take on the Roughriders in Saskatchewan, at Mosaic Stadium in Regina.
Saskatchewan is a heavy -400 Moneyline favourite at Betway, with Ottawa at +325. The Roughriders are laying 7.5 points (-110), while the Redblacks are +7.5 (-110). The Total is the highest of the week at 61.5 points (Over -105, Under -115).
Rather than laying down that Moneyline price, I am going to take Saskatchewan to cover that 7.5-point spread.
Then on Saturday, the Elks are in Montreal to play the Alouettes in a first-place showdown, 3 p.m. EST, at Percival-Molson Memorial Stadium.
At Betway, the home-side Alouettes are -200 Moneyline favourites, with the Elks at +165. Montreal is laying 3.5 points (-115), while Edmonton is +3.5 (-105). The Total is set at 58.5 points (Over -115, Under -105).
Despite Edmonton’s explosive offense, oddsmakers continue to view Montreal as the CFL’s most complete team, giving the Alouettes the edge at home. The relatively small spread suggests bookmakers expect another close contest between two Grey Cup contenders.
Take the Edmonton points, with what should be another tight finish for them.
Finally, on Saturday, the Hamilton Tiger-Cats (3-5) travel to BC Place to face the B.C. Lions (2-5) at 7 p.m. EST. At Betway, the Lions are -300 Moneyline favourites, with Hamilton at +240. The Lions are laying 7.5 points (-105), while the Tiger-Cats are +7.5 (-115). The Total sits at 56.5 points (Over -110, Under -110).
The Lions are being priced as if they’re the clearly superior team, but that hasn’t consistently shown up on the field this season. If Hamilton can protect the football, taking the points with the Tiger-Cats has some appeal, while a total of 56.5 suggests oddsmakers are expecting another high-scoring CFL game.
Best bet here is Hamilton +7.5.
