Winnipeg arrives in Vancouver after a convincing 34–20 win over the Lions one week ago, despite missing their QB Zach Collaros due to suspension. Backup Chris Streveler was sharp at QB, throwing three TDs and rushing well, while rookie Matthew Peterson replaced injured RB Brady Oliveira for 130 yards . With Collaros back, the Bombers regain their two-time Most Outstanding Player at QB, a boost to their rhythm and offensive identity.

B.C. comes into the rematch uncertain at QB. Nathan Rourke, who was hurried into 12 completions on 27 attempts in the loss, is questionable due to an upper-body injury sustained late in that same game . Backup Jeremiah Masoli is expected to play if Rourke is unable to go, but Masoli’s return from an Achilles injury last season had mixed results. The B.C. offense that flew so high last week has shown some cracks against the Bombers.

Winnipeg defended B.C. by containing Rourke and relying on coverages to shut them down last week . The Bombers will try to do the same on the road. B.C. will have to tighten up its secondary and put pressure on Collaros early to prevent him from getting into a rhythm in the slick dome.

The Bombers also have some depth in the backfield, as well. They’ve brought in rookie Quinton Cooley to dress and made an O-line shift to slot Gabe Wallace at left guard . That continuity in the trenches should allow them to maintain balance between run and pass, even without Oliveira.

Simply put, Saturday’s game in Vancouver promises a classic rematch: Winnipeg with fresh QB strength and a versatile run game, while B.C. looks to bounce back despite QB uncertainty. I'll take the points at home here on Saturday with the Lions. 

Jim's Play: 724. BC Lions 

Calgary heads into McMahon Stadium looking to continue their hot start to the 2025 season. Calgary’s offense is operating on all cylinders with QB Vernon Adams Jr. under center and Dedric Mills, who is leading the team in rushing yards, contributing on the ground. Meanwhile, a stingy defense that’s allowed 22.5 points per game is tied for third in the league and has a secondary that’s picked off multiple passes already.

Ottawa heads into the matchup at 0–2 and struggles on both sides of the ball. Originally expected to start Dru Brown at quarterback, the Redblacks instead went with Matthew Shiltz, who threw three interceptions last week in the 39–18 loss to Montreal. Their running back position has been inconsistent, and the team leads the league in penalties (23 in two games) to start the season, making it even harder on a defense that’s given up 35 points per game. First-year defensive coordinator William Fields will need to get the group to clean up their act and play a cleaner, more disciplined game.

The key to the game: Ottawa has to limit turnovers and penalties that have plagued them early on, while disrupting Adams Jr. and dictating tempo. Calgary will look to continue their dominance by keeping possession and controlling the pace of the game. 

Simply put, Ottawa needs a clean game from Shiltz and clean play across the board to stay in this game. Calgary is playing at home and is firing on all cylinders, and they’ll be looking to put the screws to Ottawa early and control this game into the fourth quarter.

Jim's PLay: 722. Cal Stampeders (Game of the Week)

The Toronto Argonauts and the Winnipeg Blue Bombers are set to face off in the 111th Grey Cup on Sunday, November 17, 2024, at BC Place in Vancouver, British Columbia. This championship game features two of the Canadian Football League's (CFL) most storied franchises, each aiming to secure the coveted Grey Cup trophy. The Argonauts concluded the regular season with a 12-8 record. They advanced to the Grey Cup by defeating the Montreal Alouettes 30-28 in the Eastern Final. Toronto's offense has been dynamic, with quarterback Nick Arbuckle leading a balanced attack that effectively utilizes both the passing and rushing games. Defensively, the Argonauts have demonstrated resilience, particularly in high-pressure situations. The Blue Bombers finished the regular season at 12-7. They secured their Grey Cup berth by overcoming the Saskatchewan Roughriders 38-22 in the Western Final. Winnipeg's offense is spearheaded by quarterback Zach Collaros, who has been instrumental in orchestrating a potent aerial attack. Historically, the Argonauts have had success against the Blue Bombers in Grey Cup matchups, holding a perfect 7-0 record in championship games. In the 2022 Grey Cup, Toronto edged Winnipeg 24-23, showcasing their ability to perform under pressure. During the 2024 regular season, the Argonauts defeated the Blue Bombers twice by narrow margins, winning 16-14 in July and 14-11 in October. I'm a bit surprised that Winnipeg is such a big favorite here today considering the success that Toronto has had against them. Play Toronto plus the generous points. 

Western Conference final in the CFL has the Saskatchewan Roughriders and the Winnipeg Blue Bombers facing off from the Princess Auto Stadium in Winnipeg. Winnipeg Blue Bombers finished the regular season with an 11-7 record, securing first place in the West Division. Saskatchewan Roughriders concluded the regular season at 9-8-1, placing second in the West Division. The teams met three times during the regular season: July 19, 2024: Saskatchewan defeated Winnipeg 19-9 at Mosaic Stadium. Septemmber 1, 2024 (Labour Day Classic): Winnipeg edged out Saskatchewan 35-33 in a thrilling game at Mosaic Stadium. September 7, 2024 (Banjo Bowl): Winnipeg secured a 26-21 victory over Saskatchewan at Princess Auto Stadium.  Winnipeg Blue Bombers QB Zach Collaros a seasoned quarterback known for his leadership and playmaking abilities. Brady Oliveira (RB) is a dynamic running back contributing significantly to the team's ground game. Saskatchewan Roughriders QB Trevor Harris is an experienced quarterback who threw for 279 yards and a touchdown in the West Semi-Final against the BC Lions. The Roughriders are coming off a momentum-building win in the West Semi-Final and will be motivated to avenge their regular-season losses. Their offense, led by Harris and bolstered by Ouellette, has the potential to challenge Winnipeg's defense. I'll take the points here with the Rough Riders on Saturday.

As the Hamilton Tiger-Cats gear up to face the Ottawa Redblacks in the last week of the regular season, each team's performance and season record shed light on what fans might expect. The Redblacks hold an 8-8-1 record, thriving on their home turf with an undefeated streak of 6-0-1. Hamilton, meanwhile, stands at 7-10 and, though their season ends here without a playoff bid, their offensive game has been exceptional. Led by quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell, they top the CFL in both total and passing yards per game. While Ottawa heads to the postseason, they're contending with multiple injuries and a recent losing streak. Still, their defense has been critical, with a knack for turnovers and four recent interceptions, including two pick-sixes. Hamilton's offense impressed with last week's decisive 42-20 win over the Stampeders, marking them 5-1 in their last six games, both straight up and against the spread. Bo Levi Mitchell's leadership has been instrumental, as he leads the league in passing yards (5,026) and touchdowns (31), making him a major threat against Ottawa's secondary. Although there's little at stake tonight, the Tiger-Cats are poised to make a statement in their final game. Play Hamilton.

The CFL contest between the Calgary Stampeders and Hamilton Tiger-Cats on October 18, 2024, is shaping up to be a competitive game, especially as both teams are eager to end their regular season on a high note. The Calgary Stampeders have had a tough season with a 4-11-1 record, placing them 5th in the West Division. They've struggled, particularly in recent games, with a five-game winless streak and issues with their offensive consistency and defensive lapses. Key players like quarterback Jake Maier have shown potential but have been inconsistent under pressure, which has led to Calgary's difficulties. Calgary's offensive stats have been modest, and their defense has allowed more points than they've scored in most matchups this season. On the other side, the Hamilton Tiger-Cats have a slightly better record at 6-10 and are 4th in the East Division. They've been more successful in recent weeks, winning four of their last five games. They are led by a solid offense featuring key players like receiver Tim White and running back James Butler, both of whom have been instrumental in Hamilton's resurgence. Hamilton won their last meeting earlier in the season with a 35-32 victory. Given Calgary's current struggles and Hamilton's improved form, the Tiger-Cats have the edge in this crucial late-season clash. Take Hamilton.

The Canadian Football League contest between the Toronto Argonauts and Winnipeg Blue Bombers on Friday has the markings of a close contest coming down to the wire. The Winnipeg Blue Bombers come into this game on an impressive eight-game winning streak, thanks in large part to the standout performances of running back Brady Oliveira, who leads the league with 1,254 rushing yards. Quarterback Zach Collaros has also found form after a slow start, supported by an improving offensive line. Winnipeg's defense, led by Tyrell Ford with seven interceptions, is currently one of the best in the CFL, allowing just 20.3 points per game. The Toronto Argonauts, meanwhile, have struggled with consistency this season, especially on the road, where they are just 2-5. Quarterback Chad Kelly has had a rough season, posting a negative touchdown-to-interception ratio, which could be problematic against Winnipeg's strong secondary. Toronto's defense has allowed over 30 points in four of their last five games, which could spell trouble against a high-scoring Blue Bombers offense. The Blue Bombers' balanced attack and stout defense make them the side for me here on Friday. Play Winnipeg.

The Ottawa Redblacks and the Hamilton Tiger-Cats are set to clash in a crucial late-season matchup this Saturday. Both teams are vying for playoff positioning, making this a pivotal contest in the CFL standings. The Redblacks come into this game with a sense of urgency. Their 2024 season has been inconsistent, but they remain in the hunt for a playoff spot. Ottawa's offense has shown flashes of potential, led by quarterback Dustin Crum, who has been improving in his second year under center. The team's rushing attack, powered by the dynamic De'Monte Williams, has been one of their strong points, helping balance the offense. However, the passing game has been hit or miss, largely due to injuries and an unstable offensive line. Defensively, Ottawa has struggled at times, particularly against the pass. Their secondary has been vulnerable, giving up big plays, and this will be an area of concern against Hamilton’s playmakers. The Redblacks will need a strong effort from their defensive front to pressure the Tiger-Cats' quarterback and disrupt their rhythm. The Tiger-Cats have been more stable, posting a better record than Ottawa and entering this contest as slight favorites. Quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell has been leading the charge with his wealth of experience and poise under pressure. Running back James Butler provides a reliable ground game to complement their air assault. Hamilton's defense has the potential to control the game and limit the Redblacks' offensive production. Hamilton's balanced offense and superior defense should give them the edge to cover this game.  Take Hamilton Tiger-Cats.

The Edmonton Elks host the Calgary Stampeders here in this provincial rivalry on Saturday in the CFL. Edmonton is last with a 4-8 record and Calgary is just a half game ahead of them with a 4-7 record. The difference is that Calgary has a -59 point differential while Edmonton has a +22. The Elks have been competitive and close in just about every game this year. The Stampeders come into this game looking to build momentum after an up-and-down season. Led by head coach Dave Dickenson, Calgary has seen flashes of brilliance but has struggled to find consistency. Quarterback Jake Maier has shown his ability to make big plays, but he'll need to minimize turnovers. The Edmonton Elks are in a rebuilding phase but have been in every game evidenced by their losing record but plus point differential. The team, led by head coach Chris Jones, has had struggles offensively, but the emergence of quarterback Tre Ford has provided a spark. Ford's mobility and improvisational ability have given the Elks' offense a new dimension. This matchup promises the intensity and drama fans have come to expect from the Battle of Alberta. For me, Edmonton has been the better competitor this year and I expect a win out of them here today. Play Edmonton.

The CFL week begins here on Thursday night as the BC Lions travel to Montreal to face the Alouettes. The Alouettes are currently the league's top team with a 10-1 record and are looking to extend their dominance. They boast a potent offense led by quarterback Cody Fajardo, who recently returned from injury and has shown great form. Montreal's defense has also been solid, allowing only 21.1 points per game. The BC Lions have struggled lately, losing five of their last six games. Despite a strong offensive showing in their recent 38-12 victory over Ottawa, BC's defense remains a concern, particularly against the pass. They rank near the bottom of the league in several defensive categories, making this road game against the Alouettes a tough challenge. I'll take the best team in the league at home tonight. Play Montreal.

The Calgary Stampeders come into this game vs the Edmonton Elks with a 4-6 record. The Elks are in last place in the West with a 3-8 record. The Elks may have just three wins but they have been in just about every game. Their offense, led by quarterback Tre Ford, has shown flashes of potential. The Elks will need a big game from their running back Kevin Brown and a disciplined performance from their defense. The Stampeders are having a challenging season but have managed to win just one more game than Edmonton. The Stamps' defense, anchored by linebacker Cameron Judge, has been a strong point, consistently applying pressure and creating turnovers. Calgary does have home field here today, but that hasn't seemed to faze Edmonton this season. Calgary has a -44 point differential compared to just -7 for Edmonton. Edmonton getting a few points here today but I look for them to win this game at Calgary. Play the Elks.

The Ottawa Redblacks head west to face the BC Lions in a crucial CFL showdown on Saturday. Ottawa is 7-2-1 and in 2nd place in the East while BC is in 3rd place in the West with a 5-6 record. The Redblacks have shown resilience this season, and their recent performances suggest they could pose a serious challenge to the Lions. Ottawa's quarterback has found his rhythm, leading an offense that has steadily improved and is capable of keeping pace with BC's explosive attack. The Lions, while strong at home, have shown vulnerability in recent weeks, particularly against teams that can control the tempo and limit turnovers—something Ottawa has focused on. If the Redblacks can establish their ground game and protect the football, they have a solid chance of keeping this game close and potentially pulling off the win here on Saturday. Take Ottawa

The Edmonton Elks and Montreal Alouettes conclude week 12 in the CFL here on Sunday. Montreal has been dominant this season, with a 9-1 record and a strong defense that ranks second in the league in points allowed. However, they have struggled to start games, scoring only three total points in the first quarter over their last three contests. The Edmonton Elks, meanwhile, have revived their season with a three-game winning streak and are riding high on recent strong performances. Despite their struggles earlier in the season, the Elks have been competitive, with six of their seven losses being within a touchdown. Their quarterback situation remains uncertain due to injuries, but McLeod Bethel-Thompson has been performing well in relief. The Elks seem to hang around in every game and have been winning of late. I expect another close game here on Sunday and therefor will take the points with the Elks in this matchup. Play Edmonton.

The BC Lions travel to Ottawa on Saturday to take on the Redblacks. Ottawa is 6-2-1 on the season and in 2nd in the East behind Montreal. They also have a +9 run differential. BC is 5-5 and in 2nd place in the West Conference. The Lions have a 15-point differential. The Redblacks are coming off a thrilling 31-29 victory against the Calgary Stampeders, where Jeremiah Masoli had a strong performance, supported by a robust running game led by Ryquell Armstead. On the other hand, the BC Lions have struggled recently, losing their last four games and failing to score more than 16 points in their last three outings. Despite starting the season strong, they now sit at 5-5 and are in desperate need of a win to stay competitive in the West Division. On paper the Redblacks look to be the play here today as a 1 or 1 1/2 point home dog. Yet the oddsmaker is daring us to take them and that to me is one of those traps they set. They want us on the Redblacks. Lets go against the grain here today and take BC and side with the books in this one.

 Week 11 of the CFL finishes up with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers at the BC Lions today. The Blue Bombers had last week off after thrashing of these Lions the week before, 25-0. The Winnipeg defense limited BC to just 129 yards and four first downs. The Lions have lost three in a row and needed some help so they went out and acquired former NFL QB Nathan Rourke. Rourke is familiar with the system and should settle in quickly for BC. Winnipeg has been great at home but not so good on the road and will find it even tougher here today with having to face Rourke. How much impact did Rourke make before even stepping on the field? Well, prior to his acquisition, the Lions were a 3.5-point dog. After the news broke the Lions went to a 2.5-point favorite. I look for Rourke to infuse this Lions offense with much needed jolt here today. I'm taking BC in what should be a big offensive game. Play British Columbia.

The Toronto Argonauts and Calgary Stampeders finish week 9 in the CFL here on Sunday. Toronto is 3rd in the East with a 4-3 record and +12 point differential. Calgary is 3rd in the West with a 3-4 record and -32 point differential. Toronto has been shuffling QB's as they await the return of Chad Kelly from his suspension. However, they haven't really needed him all that much since they have the CFL's best ground game with 124.4 yards per game on the ground. Ka'Deem Carey has been leading that rushing attack behind a very good Argos offensive line. He should get plenty of yards today against a Calgary team that has allowed 6.2 yards per rush attempt this year. The Argos also lead the CFL with in sacks and have the best defensive line in the CFL. They also hold the advantage today in special teams as they lead the league in punt return average and are 2nd in kickoff return average. Expect plenty of ground game here today from Carey and the Argonauts. I'll take the points with Toronto in this one.

It's Week 9 of the CFL and the Edmonton Elks are still looking for their first win of the season. Now they hit the road to face the Saskatchewan Roughriders. The Elks benched starting QB McLeod Bethel-Thompson last week trailing Hamilton 8-41 as they went to Tre Ford. Ford brings more mobility to the position but he also faces the best run defense in the CFL with Saskatchewan. Will Ford be good enough throwing the ball against the Roughriders? I doubt it as Ford will face a very good run defense and that will put a lot of pressure on him to throw the ball. Edmonton is last in the CFL in yards allowed and 2nd to last in scoring defense. Edmonton is 0-11 S/U and 3-8 ATS in their last 11 games while the Riders are 5-2 S/U and ATS in their last seven games. I don't expect much from the Elks here on Saturday against this tough defense. Take Saskatchewan.

Eastern Conference clash here today has the Penthouse vs the Outhouse. It's first place Montreal, 6-1, taking on last place Hamilton, 2-5. Hamilton is riding a two-game win streak after starting the season 0-5. However, the Alouettes will welcome back starting QB Cody Fajardo who missed last weeks game with a hamstring injury. Fajardo has a 113.3 passer rating in his six games. He will face a Tiger-Cat defense that has allowed the second most points in the CFL. Montreal also boasts one of the best defenses in the CFL, especially their pass defense which has allowed just a 80.4 passer rating this year. Montreal is 6-0-1 ATS in their last seven games vs Hamilton. I like Montreal here today as they have the much better defense and Fajardo returning to a high powered offense. Play Montreal.

Winnipeg has underperformed this entire season and as such is one of the biggest disappointments of the CFL. The Blue Bombers are just 2-6 S/U and 1-7 ATS as we head into week 9 of the CFL. Meanwhile, the BC Lions are one of the best teams in the CFL as they lead in points scored (29.4 ppg), yards per game (406.6) and average yards per play (7.24). Winnipeg has a defensive line that is hurting and that will be exploited here today by the Lions. Winnipeg also has the 2nd worst offensive line in the league. QB Zach Collaros has struggled, tossing just three TD's and eight INT's this year. He's also missing four starting receivers, including a pair of All-Star caliber players. The Bombers are averaging just 20.4 ppg this season. I'll be laying the points with British Columbia here in this opening game of week 9.

It's the last place team in the East vs the last place team in the West to finish up week 8 of the CFL here on Sunday. Hamilton is 1-5 and last in the East. They have a -42 point differential. Edmonton still looking for its first win of the season after a 0-6 start and last place in the West. They have been competitive though with a -26 point differential. Hamilton got its first win of the season last week over Toronto, 27-24 as 3-point dog. QB Bo Levi Mitchell leads the Tiger-Cats with 12 TD's and only six INT's. Difficult to understand how a winless team is a 3-point favorite here on Sunday. Yes, Edmonton has been competitive, but they have not won a game and now are asked to cover as a favorite. Even if the Elks win today, I don't see them winning by four points or more. Mitchell should have little problems getting plenty of yards vs this Elks defense. I'm taking Hamilton plus the points.

CFL Week 7 action begins here on Friday with this East vs West clash between the Edmonton Elks and Ottawa Redblacks. The Ottawa Redblacks are 3-2 after their win last week over this Edmonton team on the road by three-points. The Elks are still looking for their first win after starting 0-5. However, they have been close in every game and have QB McLeod Bethel-Thompson as their offensive star. Ottawa returns home on Friday as they sit in third place in the East, tied with Toronto and behind first place Montreal. Ottawa is a perfect 2-0 at home this season. Ottawa had 520 total yards in their win over Edmonton last week, 37-34. QB Dru Brown leads this Redblacks team. He had 400 yards and two TD's last week in their win. While Ottawa has the better record, you have to be impressed with this Edmonton offense and how close they are in every game. I expect the Elks to be close again here on Friday and even pick up their first win of the season. Play Edmonton.

 Two of the historically worst CFL teams face off today as the Edmonton Elks host the Ottawa Redblacks. The Elks have started the season 0-4 but all four games they have been close by three points or fewer. So here they are on Sunday laying three points after not having won a game outright. The defense has been terrible this year. They are 7th in opponent passer rating and yards allowed per rush attempt. The Redblacks are 2-2 on the season and have a -29 point differential. Ottawa got good news when they found out that QB Dru Brown passed his concussion protocol this week. Brown should be more than good enough to move the ball vs this poor Elks defense. The Redblacks offensive line continues to improve, ranked fifth in the CFL after being last in 2023. The Elks are 0-4 S/U but 3-1 ATS on the season. Ottawa has seen seven of its last nine games on the road go over. The Redblacks are 5-2 ATS in their last seven trips to Edmonton and I fully expect them to cover if not win outright here today on Sunday.

 Winnipeg finally got off the loss column and put up a straight line in the win column with their win over Ottawa at home last week, 25-16. This first win coming after a 0-4 start to the season. They limited Ottawa to just 280 of offense and had three sacks. Meanwhile, Calgary is 2-2 to start the season winning both home games and dropping both road contests. Calgary QB Jake Maier has struggled vs the Winnipeg defense in recent games. Winnipeg ranks first in opponent completion percentage and second in opponent passing yards allowed. Winnipeg is 4-1 ATS in the last five following an ATS win. They are also 35-15-1 ATS in their last 51 home games. I look for Winnipeg to pick up its second win of the season here tonight. Calgary hasn't been very good on the road and that will show here against still a very good defensive Blue Bomber squad. Take Winnipeg.

CFL week 5 action continues here on Friday as the Winnipeg Blue Bombers host the Ottawa Redblacks. Winnipeg has really struggled this year, yet to win a game against four losses. The 0-4 start for the Blue Bombers is the worst start since 2012. The Blue Bombers had been to the Grey Cup for four consecutive years, but that string looks to be in jeopardy this season. Injuries have been the big issue. WR Kenny Lawler broke his arm in the season opener. WR Dalton Schoen is out for the year and WR Keric Wheatfall is out with a leg injury. If that wasn't bad enough, two-time MOP QB Zach Collaros went down in week 4 after taking a big hit before halftime. His replacement, Chris Steveler struggled to a 14-for-24 in his place. Ottawa is 2-1 after three games. They have an excellent rushing defense that is allowing just 70.3 ypg rushing this year. The Redblacks have already beaten Winnipeg this year in week 2, 23-19 as a 7-point dog. This game looks to be lower scoring with the injury issues the Blue Bombers are having. Winnipeg QB could play this week and that would be big for this team. I don't see this Grey Cup caliber team starting 0-5 on the season. I'll take Winnipeg here on Friday, despite their injury issues. Take Winnipeg.

A pair of East teams close out week four of the CFL as Ottawa hosts Hamilton. The Hamilton Tiger Cats are 0-3 to start the season and have scored 74 points again 101 points allowed for a -27 point differential. Ottawa is 1-1 and has 44 points and allowed 66 points for a -22 point differential. Despite their 0-3 record, Hamilton is coming off a strong game, especially on offense where they have been decent all season. These teams are pretty evenly matched with Hamilton avearg9ng 24.67 ppg and allowing 33.67 ppg. The Redblacks average 22 ppg and allow 33 ppg. Big edge in passing yards to the Tiger Cats who average 322.6 yards per game compared to the Redblacks 248 yards per game. Rushing edge to Ottawa with their 92.5 ypg vs Hamilton's 71.67 ypg. Hamilton has won the last five matchups between these clubs dating back to October 2021. Hamilton took the last meeting at Ottawa on Sept 8, 2023, 27-24. Ottawa is 2-12 S/U in its last 14 games and 1-5 ATS the last six games. The Redblacks are also 6-13 ATS in their last 19 home games. Hamilton seems to have Ottawa's number in recent years and I don't see that changing here on Sunday. Play Hamilton.

The Winnipeg Blue Bombers still seeking their first win of the CFL season as they head to Calgary to face the Stampeders. The Blue Bombers started the season as one of the favorites to win this year's Grey Cup. Their offense has struggled, posting just 55 points in three games. The defense has allowed 76 points in three games for a -21 point differential. They also lost the best WR in the CFL in Dalton Schoen who went on the IL. Their offensive line has also been banged up. The Calgary offense has been very good. QB Jack Maier leads the league in completion percentage at 86.4%. He should do well against a Winnipeg defense that is last in the CFL in pass rush and has allowed the most completions this year of 30 yards or more. Both these defenses have struggled, but I have to give the offensive edge to Calgary here. Too much to pass on getting points at home with Calgary against a injury plagued Winnipeg team. Play Calgary.

A battle of last year's East Final has Toronto Aronauts taking on the Montreal Alouettes on Friday. This is the marquee matchup of the week as the 3-0 Montreal team hosts the 2-0 Toronto squad. Montreal has a excellent +44 point differential as they have scored 97 points and allowed just 53. Toronto has a +11 differential, scoring 74 and allowing 63 points. Montreal is already looking like a repeat Grey Cup Champion after winning the title last season. The Montreal defense is the best, allowing just 17.6 ppg. QB Cody Farjardo is having a great season too, completing 73.1% of his passes for 305 yards per game. Toronto is playing with their best offenseive player in Chad Kelly who has been replaced by QB Cameron Dukes. Dukes has led the Argos to a 2-0 start completing 81% of his passes with five TD's and no INT's. The big difference here is defense. The Argos defense has not been very good allowing a lot of yards through the air this year. Montreal's offense should have little trouble moving the ball tonight. In addition, Montreal is 6-0-1 ATS in their last seven games vs the East. Take Montreal here on Friday.

Week 4 of the CFL begins tonight as the BC Lions host the Edmonton Elks. Jim had a perfect week 3, going 4-0! The Edmonton Elks are still looking for their first win after a 0-3 start. However, the offense has been effective under QB McLeod Bethel-Thompson. The BC Lions have started their season 2-1, scoring 79 points but allowing 76 points. The defense has been a point of contention since the middle of last season. The have allowed 374.5 yards over their last two games. The defense is last in the league in first downs allowed and opponent completion percentage. They are second to last in opponent passer rating. That's not good news for this unit tonight as they face an Elks offense that leads the league in first downs and has been very potent through the air with Bethel-Thompson. Bethel-Thompson completed 73% of his passes last week vs the Argos and passed for 326 yards per game this year. They also play the fastest pace in the league with their up-tempo attack. The one thing this Elks team lacks is a defense, which is worse than the BC defense. Since the Elks are getting just over a TD here today, I expect the offense to keep them close enough to cover this spread. Play Edmonton.

The Edmonton Elks and Toronto Argonauts meet here in week 3 CFL action. The Elks are 0-2 to start their season while Toronto is 1-0. Edmonton may have started 0-2 but they are much better then their record shows. They have scored 41 points while allowing 52 points. They opened their season with a loss to Saskatchewan, 21-29, and then lost last week to Montreal, 20-23. They led Saskatchewan in the fourth quarter but let that lead get away. Then they lost a competitive game to Montreal by just a field goal. Toronto opened their season in week one with a win over the BC Lions, 35-27, then they had last week off. The defense lost six starters from last year and that could be an issue today against Elks QB McLeod Bethel-Thompson who has looked very good thus far. Having these off weeks this early in the season I believe is an issue for a team. They are still fresh with the season just underway and it can hurt chemistry this early. Bethel-Thompson returns to play his old team in Toronto, a place he spent four years and led the CFL in passing yards in 2022. He returns to the CFL after a season in the USFL where he led that league in passing yards. He's a huge boost to this Elks offense and will keep them competitive all season. I'm taking the points in this as I look for the Elks passing game to keep them close. Play Edmonton.

 A pair of CFL West teams meet here today as the Winnipeg Blue Bombers host the BC Lions. The Lions are 1-1 and have scored 53 points while allowing 52 points. The Blue Bombers are 0-2 and have scored just 31 points while allowing 50. Winnipeg QB Zach Collaros has not been good after two games, as he has yet to throw a TD pass with three INT's. Winnipeg has also allowed the third most sacks thus far in the season. BC lost its opener to Toronto but rebounded last week with a win over Calgary. WR Alexander Hollins leads the league thus far in targets and is tied in receptions and WR Justin McInnis leads in receiving yards. While BC hasn't been flawless, they have played much better than Winnipeg thus far. I'm taking the BC Lions here tonight.

 Week one action in the Canadian Football league has British Columbia taking on Toronto here on Sunday evening. The BC Lions had a good season in 2023, finishing the regular season strong before winning their first playoff game and losing in the West Finals. Toronto had a great regular season last year, with a 16-2 record. However, they were embarrassed at home by Montreal in the East Finals. The Toronto Argonauts will be without last year's starting QB Chad Kelly, who is serving a nine game suspension. The oddsmaker has responded by making Toronto a 5-point or better home dog here tonight. I personally think they over corrected for Kelly being out. Cameron Dukes will have to take over at QB and while he doesn't have the name or pedigree of Kelly, he's look sharp in limited action. BC had the best defense for the first half of last season but struggled in the 2nd half, allowing 31.8 ppg their final nine regular season games. With their best defensive player, Mathieu Betts, now playing in the NFL I look for that unit to not be even as good as last year. Bottom line, Toronto is still a very good team and Dukes will fill in fine for Kelly. I'm taking Toronto has a home dog here on Sunday night.

Opening game of the season for both teams tonight as the Hamilton Tiger-Cats open at Calgary Stampeders. Hamilton was 8-11 S/U and 9-9-1 ATS last season after acquirin former Calgary starting QB Bo Levi Mitchell in what turned out to be a average season. A lot is expected from Mitchell this season who will have one of the best WR in the CFL in Tim White and an excellent running back in James Butler. Calgary was 6-13 S/U and 9-10 ATS last season. The Stampeders had their first losing season in 16 years and not much more is expected this year with a win over/under of just 6.5 games. This is a Calgary team that didn't really improve over the offseason and isn't expected to do much this year. Conversely, the Tiger-Cats are expected to be better with a healthy team. Play Hamilton.

 The defending Grey Cup Champion Toronto Argonauts return home to host the Calgary Stampeders. The Argos are 7-1 and have the CFL 2nd best point differential of +93. They are 4-0 at home this season and coming off a bye week. The Argos are 5-0 ATS in the week following a bye week. They are also 5-0 ATS in their last five home games and 18-6-2 ATS in their last 26 overall games. Calgary is 3-7 and have lost two straight games. They have a -38 point differential. Lots of points to lay here tonight, but Toronto should be able to pull it off. Play Toronto.

CFL West action here on Sunday to close out the week has British Columbia taking on Saskatchewn. BC is in 2nd place in the West with a 7-2 record, one game back of Winnipeg. BC has a plus 80 point differential this season. Saskatchewan is 4-5 and sits in third place in the division. They have a -67 point differential. BC does well vs losing teams, covering their last five times. They are also 5-1-1 ATS their last seven vs the West. The Lions are 6-2-1 ATS in their last nine games overall. The Roughriders are 1-4-1 ATS in their last six games overall and 2-7-1 ATS in their last 10 games after a straight-up loss. BC in a fight for first so I don't see any letup here today. Take B.C. Lions.

CFL east division action here has the third place Hamilton Tiger-Cats taking on the second place Montreal Alouettes. Montreal is 5-3 on the season, they've won three straight games and have a plus 44 point differential. Hamilton is 3-6 on the season and has lost two straight games. Montreal has done well versus the number going 26-12 ATS their last 38 games. They are also 5-2-1 ATS in their last eight games versus the Eastern conference. Ottawa has not been so good going just 19-41 ATS in their last 60 home games they are also 3-7 ATS in their last 10 overall games. Moreover they are 0-5 ATS in their last five versus the east conference teams The Alouettes are 7-1 ATS their last eight meetings versus Ottawa. I'll be on Montreal on this one.

 CFL West action here today has the Winnipeg Blue Bombers taking on the Calgary Stampeders. Winnnipeg sits in 1st place in the West with a 7-1 record and has won three straight games. The Stampeders are in 4th place with a 3-6 record and is coming off a loss last week. The Bombers have been very good, going 26-11 ATS vs the West. However, they are just 2-5 ATS in their last seven road games and 1-6 ATS in their last seven week 11 games. Calgary has been great in week 11 games, going 15-0-1 ATS their last 16 times. They are also 13-3-1 ATS in their last 17 games following an ATS loss. No doubt Winnipeg is the better team, but I'm not discounting Calgary out here today. I'll take the points at home with Calgary.

The Edmonton Elks are in last place in the West with a 0-9 record. They have the worst point differential in the CFL with a -116 mark. The Elks are also 3-7 ATS in their last 10 games and 6-20 ATS their last 26 after covering the previous week. Hamilton is coming off a bye week and that has been good for this club as they are 10-1 ATS their last 10 following a bye. They are also 4-1 ATS their last five vs a team with a losing record. The Tiger-Cats are third in the East with a 3-5 record. The Cats have also covered five of the last six meetings in this series. I'm taking Hamilton as they should be well rested vs this poor Elks club. Play Hamilton.

The Defending Grey Cup Champion Toronto Argonauts six game win streak came to end last week at Calgary. Toronto returns home for the first time in over a month with their game against Ottawa this evening. Ottawa has played much better of late but are still 3-5 overall and 0-3 vs other East teams. Ottawa is 11-23 ATS in their last 23 games following an ATS loss. They are also 1-4 ATS in their last five vs a team with a winning record. Toronto is 4-0 ATS in their last four vs an East team and 4-0 ATS in their last four home games. They have also covered eight of the last nine games overall. Toronto is 6-2 ATS in the last eight in this series and 4-1 ATS in the last five at Toronto. With Toronto having a much need week off next week I expect a great effort here after that loss last week. Play Toronto.

Calgary's long streak of post season appearances is in jeopardy this year as they sit just 3-5 on the season both S/U and ATS. They will face a BC Lions team that is 2nd in the West with a 6-2 record, a half game back of Winnipeg who won last night. BC also has a positive point differential of +52 compared to Calgary's -9 mark. Calgary coming off a win and cover last week. Though that hasn't been good of late as they are just 2-10 ATS in their last 12 times coming off a cover. They are also 1-4 ATS in their last five games vs the West teams. BC coming off a loss and they usually bounce back, evidenced by their 5-0 ATS mark the last times in that spot. They are also 4-0 ATS the last four vs a losing team and 5-0-1 ATS in their last six games at home. The Lions are 4-1 ATS in their last five meetings with Calgary. They are also 16-6-1 ATS in their last 23 vs Calgary at British Columbia. I'm taking BC here tonight.

Reason: It's the East vs the West here tonight as the Montreal Alouettes host Saskatchewan. Montreal is 2nd in the East with a 4-3 record and have won their last two games. Saskatchewan sits third in the West with a 4-4 record. They have also allowed more point then they have scored for a negative 38 point differential. Sas Roughriders are just 3-10-1 ATS in their last 14 games and 2-5-1 ATS in their last eight road games. They also have trouble against winning teams with a 0-6-1 ATS mark their last seven. The Roughriders have lost three of their last four games while Montreal has covered back-to-back games. In addition the Alouettes margin of victory in those games has been 10-points. Take Montreal today.

One of the best CFL teams plays one of the worst here today. Or, as I like to phrase it, the Penthouse vs the Outhouse. You have Winnipeg Blue Bombers who are 6-2 and atop the CFL West standings. They have scored 240 points (tops in the West). They face the Edmonton Elks here today who are looking for their first win of the season after losing all eight games. They have a CFL low 105 total points and have allowed a high of 212 points. Winnipeg is 4-0 ATS in their last four games following a bye week. They are also 44-21 ATS in their last 65 vs the West. Edmonton is 2-7 ATS in their last nine games and 5-13 ATS their last 18 vs the West. Winnipeg is also 6-2 ATS in the alst eight meetings with Edmonton. It's a lot of points to lay on the road, but I don't see Edmonton getting much if any here tonight. Play Winnipeg.

 Two CFL teams both in need of a win meet here today as the Saskatchewan Roughriders host the Ottawa Redblacks. Ottawa is 3-4 on the season while Saskatchewan is also 3-4. Ottawa is also 3-4 ATS this season and their last four games have been decided by just one possession. The Roughriders offense is not good and has been even worse the last two weeks as they have combined for just 22 points vs Toronto and BC. They are also 2-4-1 ATS this season. The Redblacks have been competitive while Saskatchewan has not been. I look for a Ottawa road win here today. Play Ottawa.

 Montreal is in 2nd place in the CFL East with a 3-3 record, but that's six points back of the 1st place Toronto Argonauts who lost their first game of the season on Friday and fell to 6-1. They will take on third place Hamilton who is 3-4 on the season, also with six points. Both these teams are coming off wins. This will also be the second time these teams have met this season with Montreal taking game one, 38-12 at Hamilton in week three. Six of the last eight meetings between these teams have gone UNDER. Montreal is 25-12 ATS in their lats 37 road games and 5-2 ATS in their last seven vs a losing team. Hamilton is 3-9 ATS in their last 12 vs the East and 2-6 ATS in their last eight following an ATS WIN. I like Montreal here on the road to take their second straight game vs Hamilton. Play Montreal.

The Toronto Argonauts are the best team in the CFL this year with a 6-0 record and a league leading 217 points. Their defense is very good too as the team has a +93 point differential. Meanwhile, Calgary is 2-5 on the season and allowing 192 points with a -22 point differential. The Argos are 6-0 ATS following a S/U win and 4-0-1 ATS in their last five road games. They are also 17-5-2 ATS in their last 24 overall games. Calgary is just 7-22 ATS in their last 29 homes games and 1-4 ATS in their last five overall games. Toronto should pull away in this contest for an easy win. Play Toronto.

 The two top teams in the CFL West conference meet here today as the 6-1 BC Lions take on the 5-2 Winnipeg Jets. BC is known for their defense as they have allowed just 94 points this season. They will have their work cut out for them tonight as the Blue Bombers are 2nd in the CFL in points scored. Winnipeg is 7-3 ATS in their last 10 home games and 40-19 ATS in their last 59 vs a team with a winning record. The Blue Bombers have also done well in this matchup, going 5-1 ATS the last six vs B.C and 22-8-1 ATS the last 31 meetings. I'm going to take Winnipeg as I see them being able to score a lot of points tonight. Play Winnipeg.

CFL Action here on Sunday has the East division Ottawa Redblacks vs the West division Calgary Stampeeders. Ottawa is 2-3 overall and tied for 2nd in the division, but well behind undefeated Toronto which is 5-0. Calgary is also 2-3 and in fourth place in the West. Ottawa is a rushing team led by their QB Dustin Crum who leads with 201 yards and three touchdowns. Calgary also a rushing team as they average 96.2 yards per game. Both teams pretty even with an edge to the home club. This game comes down to the rushing of both teams. Otttawa gets the edge here plus they also have the better rush defense. I'll take the points with Ottawa and their better ground game and ground defense.

A couple of West CFL teams meet here on Saturday as Saskatchewan hosts the Calgary Stampeders. Saskatchewan is 3-1 and in 3rd place in the division. They have allowed more points (95) then they have scored (85), despite their winning record. As for Calgary, they are 1-3 and in 4th place. Both teams failed to cover last time out with Calgary getting eight points in a loss to Winnipeg and Saskatchewan just beating Edmonton 12-11 as a 7-point favorite. The Roughriders were very lucky to even pull out that win against a winless Edmonton team. Calgary is 11-2-1 ATS in their last 14 times after failing to cover the previous game. I think we have to throw out the records here today as these teams are pretty even. That being said, the way Saskatchewan played vs Edmonton left a lot to be desired. I'll take Calgary here on Saturday.

 Week 4 of the CFL season begins tonight with the 3-0 BC Lions taking on the 2-0 Toronto Argonauts. The Lions looking for their best start since 2007 with a win tonight. Toronto hasn't started a season 3-0 since 1991. BC has a great defense, allowing just 7 ppg this year. They will face a Toronto offense that averages 37.5 ppg and 399 of offense. BC also leads the league in QB sacks with 11 while Toronto allows the fewest sacks (1). Toronto has really upped their own pass attack as they are blitzing on almost every down. That resulted in six sacks vs Edomonton. This will be a choir here today against one of the best offensive lines in the CFL. BC also has one of the best receiving cores in the CFL and that will bring problems to the Argos. Yes, Toronto is the reigning CFL Champion, but I see them tested big time here tonight by what might be the best team in the CFL. I'll take the BC Lions here tonight.

 Winnipeg is arguably the best team in the CFL, at least before the season started. Thus far they are proving prognosticators correct with their 2-1 start. Winnipeg has averaged 31 ppg thus far. Montreal is off to a fast start at 2-0 and tied for the East division lead with Toronto. The difference between the two records has been the level of competition. Montreal coming off a easy win over Hamilton, 38-12. Their 309 yards of offense is only good for 7th in the CFL thus far. Winnipeg looks to rebound after suffering its first loss last week to the Lions, 6-30. Winnipeg still averages 31 ppg this year, ranking 4th. While the line looks tough, I still am not convinced that Montreal is the real deal after who they played. I'll take the preseason best team in Winnipeg Blue Bombers today.

CFL action today has the Saskatchewan Roughriders taking on the Calgary Stampeders. Calgary is 7-20 ATS in their last 27 home games and they are a slight home favorite here today. Calgary bounced back last week with a win over the Redblacks, 26-15. Saskatchewan has an impressive offense, gaining 755 total yards in their two games this season. They are 1-1 on the season, losing their home game and winning their away game. Calgary is also 1-1, losing their home game and winning their away game last week. It's early in the season so we are still looking for some form on these teams. However, I see today's matchup as very even and with that I usually like the dog. I'll take the small points here with Saskatchwan.

The Montreal Alouettes come into this week 3 clash with a 1-0 record while Hamilton looks for its first win at 0-2. The Alouettes won and covered their first game vs Ottawa on June 10, 19-12. Hamilton got blown away by Toronto, 32-14, despite being a small favorite. Hamilton has a lot of injuries coming into this game, especially on the OL as four players hit the report. QB Bo Levi Mitchell is also doubtful with an adductor injury. I have to take the visitor here today until I see more out of this Hamilton squad. Play Montreal.

Week 13 of the CFL is upon us as Ottawa takes on Montreal at the Molson Stadium. The Ottawa Redblacks have split their last four games while Montreal has split their last eight games. The Redblacks have covered five of their last six road games and are 4-1 ATS vs the East. Meanwhile, Montreal is 4-10 ATS in their last 14 home games. What's somewhat surprising is that Ottawa is 9-0 in their last nine trips to Montreal. Ottawa getting four points here tonight looks like a lot to me. I'll take the points with the Redblacks.

These teams should be very tired of seeing each other by now as this is the third time in four weeks that they will have met. They met in week 9 and week 10 with the home team winning both time. Both teams also look to rebound after losing their last time out. Hamilton lost to Montreal, 28-29, while Toronto lost to Calgary, 19-22. I look for a close game here tonight between two evenly matched teams. That being said, the points look the way to go as Hamilton can win this game outright. Play Hamilton Tiger-Cats.

Ottawa finally break into the win column last game with a win to make them 1-6 on the season. Conversely, Calgary (4-2) is looking to break their first losing streak of the season. The Calgary Stampeders might be without their head coach Dave Dickerson who was forced to remain home with Covid protocols. Ottawa got their first win of the season with a win over Toronto last Sunday, 23-13. The Redblacks have been without injured QB Jeremiah Masoli. However, his replacement, Caleb Evans, who had a career high 82.8% completion last week and has now thrown 90 passes without an INT. Calgary is 2-5 ATS in their last seven games. Tonight they are laying five point on the road. I'll take the Redblacks here tonight and won't be surprised by an outright win. Play Ottawa.

Week 8 CFL action has the BC Lions playing at the Saskatchewan Rough Riders. BC is led by QB Rourke who has been one of the best QB's in the league. Rourke averages over 300 yards passing per week and a completion rate that is well above 70#. He also has 14 TD's and 6 INT's. Rourke should have a field day against this RoughRider team that has allowed 30 points or more in each of the last two games. The RoughRiders secondary has allowed the second most passing yards in the league (281) and the second most TD's. This BC team also has a solid defense that held Hamilton to just 12 points last week. I look for a BC win here tonight.

Two teams in the CFL both looking for their first win of the season. Edmonton Elks are 0-3 and play at the 0-3 Hamilton Tiger-Cats tonight. Edmonton has lost 11 of their last 12 regular season games while Hamilton has lost five of their last nine regular season games. But what stands out for me in this matchup is that Hamilton is 6-1 ATS vs their last seven teams that have a losing record. They are also good at home, going 14-6-1 ATS in their last 21 at home. Hamilton has also covered the last four in this series. I'll lay the 6.5 or 7 points here tonight with Hamilton.

Week 4 of Canadian football league action begins tonight as BC takes on the Redblacks from Ottawa. BC is in the tough West where three teams are undefeated, including BC which is 2-0. BC has been dominating thus far, scoring 103 points and allowing just 18. BC has lost seven of their last 10 regular season games however. QB Nathan Rourke has completed 87.8% of his passes for 718 yards and seven TD's. Ottawa looks for their first win after a 0-2 start. QB Jeremiah Masoli has completed 70.8% of his passes for 711 yards and 1 TD. BC looks the better team, but it's early in the season and I had a big upset winner last week with Montreal a small home dog beating Saskatchwan. I look for the same here today as Ottawa gets their first win of the season as a small home dog. Play Ottawa.

Week 3 action in the CFL finds the unbeaten Saskatchewan Rough Riders taking on the winless Montreal Alouettes. Coby Fajardo has been playing very well at QB for The Riders, completing 72.4% of his passes for 558 yards and two TD's. The ground game has also been good, averaging 129.5 yards per game. Montreal has lost five of their last six regular season games. Vernon Adams has completed 55.6% of his passes for 264 yards, 1 TD and 2 INT. Montreal is a home dog here tonight and they are really in a must win position. Lose and they go to 0-3 on the season. I'll take a chance with a home dog in the CFL. Play Montreal.

The Grey Cup Finals are here and it's Hamilton vs Winnipeg for the Championship. Hamilton had little trouble advancing to today's Grey Cup with a big win over Edmonton last week, 36-16. Hamilton is now 16-3 on the season and 14-4-1 ATS. The Tigercats average a league best 30.9 ppg and allow a league best 18.9 ppg. Winnipeg is 13-7 S/U and 14-6 ATS on the season. The Blue Bombers beat Saskatchewan last week, 20-13, to advance. It was the team's third win in a row and fifth cover in a row. Winnipeg averages 28.1 points and allows 21.8 points. Still, Hamilton is the class of the Canadian football league and today's Cup is theirs to win or lose. I'm taking the best team in this league to win today. Play Hamilton

Hamilton is tied for the best record in the CFL with a 5-1 record both S/U and ATS. The Tiger Cats lone loss was at Montreal, 29-36 as a 12.5 point favorite. The Cats don't much like playing these early Thursday games, evidenced by their 1-5-1 ATS mark the last 7 Thursday. Meanwhile, the Roughriders are 4-1 ATS in their last five games. The are 3-3 S/U and 4-2 ATS on the season. Saskatchewan has won two of its three home games this year while Hamilton is 1-1 on the road. I like the host here tonight. I'll lay the short price with Saskatchewan.

 Winnipeg looking to remain unbeaten in the CFL after a 2-0 start. The Blue Bombers opened the season with a win at British Columbia, 33-23. Then in week 2 they won at home over Edmonton, 28-21. The defense has been very good, allowing 23 and under both games thus far. They allowed just four rushing yards in the win over BC. Ottawa has also started the season 2-0. The Redblacks opened with a win at Calgary, 32-28 and then beat Saskatchewan on the road, 44-41. The Bombers have covered eight of their last 10 games overall. They are also a excellent road team, as Winnipeg is 21-8 in their last 29 road games. In addition. Winnipeg is 4-0 ATS in their last four meetings with the Redblacks at Ottawa and 4-1 ATS in their last four overall. I'm taking the visitor here today. Play Winnipeg.

The British Columbia Lions still looking for that first win of the young CFL season after a 0-2 start. The Lions have allowed an average of 36 ppg while scoring just 23 ppg thus far. The Lions opened with a loss at home to Winnipeg, 23-33 and then lost at Edmonton, 23-39. Calgary has just one game under their belt and that was a loss at home to Ottaw, 28-32. The stats are pretty even at this point, but Calgary is the much better team. I like Calgary at home here today with that one fewer game. The Stampeders had last week off to prepare for this game, so I'm not afraid to lay the points here today. Play Calgary.

Edmonton has the second best record in the West at 6-3 S/U, however the Eskimos are only 3-6 ATS. Hamilton is 3-5 and tied for second in the East, trailing first place Ottawa by 2.5 games. This is the second meeting between these teams, having met back in week two. In that game, Hamilton trounced the Eskimos scoring 38 points in the process. Edmonton does not do well against losing teams, evidenced the the 1-5 ATS record in their last six tries. Hamilton had little issues in their first meeting in Edmonton and I don't see that changing here tonight as the venue moves to Hamilton. Play Hamilton.          

The CFL East is the weaker of the two divisions in the league. Tonight, the only team with a winning record in the division, Ottawa, hosts last place Montreal. The Alouttes are just 1-6 S/U and 2-5 ATS on the season. Montreal also averages the fewest points in the league while giving up the most points. In addition, the Alouettes are just 5-17 ATS in their last 22 games and 2-7 ATS in their last nine road games. The Ottawa Redblacks are 7-3 ATS vs a team with a losing record and 7-3 ATS vs the weaker East their last 10. Ottawa should have little issues scoring against the leagues worst defense tonight. Take Ottawa in a one sided win

With the NFL preseason starting tonight the CFL will lose some interest with bettors. However, there is still money to be made in the CFL and tonight that money is on BC. The Lions are last in the CFL West with a 2-4 record. However, they are 4-2 ATS and they are 2-0 S/U at home where they are tonight. Edmonton is 2nd in the West with a 5-2 record both S/U and a 3-4 ATS mark. Edmonton is only 4-9-2 ATS when playing a team with a losing record. I'm taking the Lions on their home turf tonight as they are 2-0 at home and getting some points here. Play British Columbia.

CFL West matchup here tonight as Edmonton Eskimos hos the Saskatchewan Rough Riders. Edmonton is 4-2 on the season with a 2-4 ATS mark. The Rough Riders are 3-3 S/U and ATS this season. Edmonton has not been good to bettors, especially at home where they are 7-15 ATS in their last 22 tries. Saskatchewan is coming off a loss to Calgary, 22-34. After a loss, the RoughRiders are 8-2 ATS their last 10 times. Saskatchewan has had the advantage in this series of late, covering four of the last five meetings in the series. Play Saskatchewan tonight.

A day game for the CFL today has Winnipeg playing at Toronto. Winnipeg is 2-3 on the season and fourth in the tough West conference. Toronto is 1-3 and tied for last in the weaker East conference. The Toronto Argonauts average the fewest points in the CFL, just 15.2 ppg. Meanwhile, Winnipeg averages the most points in the CFL with 32.2 ppg. The Winnipeg Blue Bombers are a nice 16-5 ATS in their last 21 away games and 17-8 ATS in their last 25 overall. Winnipeg has covered the last four meetings in this series. Play Winnipeg today.

Ottawa sits atop a weak East Conference in the CFL with just 2-2 record. The Redblacks are 1-1 both at home and on the road this year. British Columbia is 4th in the West with a 2-2 record, but 0-2 S/U on the road. The Lions average 20.7 ppg while allowing 20.5 ppg. The Redblacks average 21.2 ppg and allow 20 ppg. The Redblacks are also 8-2 ATS in their last 10 games following a ATS loss and 5-0 ATS their last five following a straight up loss. BC is just 3-8 ATS overall their last 11 games and 1-7 ATS in their last eight road games. This is as much a play against the Lions on the road as it is on Ottawa. Play Ottawa here tonight.

Edmonton is 2-2 in the young CFL season and 1-3 ATS. They face a Toronto Argonaut team that has struggled on the road. The Argos are just 4-12 ATS in their last 16 away games. Edmonton returns home after losing at Toronto last week, 17-20. The Eskimos were a 3.5 road favorite, but failed to cover. This despite having 370 yards passing to Toronto's 208 yards through the air. Toronto is 1-2 S/U and ATS on the season. The Argos offense has not been good, averaging just 15.3 ppg while allowing 28.3 ppg. Their win vs Edmonton last week was their first of the season after losing at home to Calgary 7-41 and at Saskatchewan, 19-27. Edmonton will have revenge on their mind at home here tonight. The Argos got lucky last week, don't expect that here tonight. Take Edmonton.

Week four of the CFL finds British Columbia (1-1 S/U 1-1 ATS_ playing at Winnipeg (1-2 S/U, 2-1 ATS). The Winnipeg Blue Bombers opened the season with a narrow loss to Edmonton, 30-33, but covered the seven-point line. Then they won easily at Montreal, 56-10 and lost at Hamilton, 17-31. The Bombers have also gone over in two of their three games. The BC Lions opened with a win at home over Montreal, 22-10, had a bye week 2 and then lost at Edmonton, 22-41. This is the first of a home and home series between these clubs. The Lions are 2-7 ATS in their last nine games and 2-10-1 ATS in their last 13 vs the West. In addition, they have covered just one of their last seven road games. Take Winnipeg today.

Ottawa is 1-1 as we head into week four of the CFL. The Redblacks opened the season with a win at home over Saskatchewan, 40-17 and then lost in week two at Calgary, 14-24. The Redblacks have an excellent running game, as they average over 118.5 yards per game. Montreal is 1-2 through the first three weeks. The Alouettes opened with two losses and then beat Saskatchewan in week three, 23-17. Montreal averages just 14.3 ppg this season while allowing a whopping 31.7. They are also being out gained by 132 yards per game and have allowed opposing QB's to complete 73% of their passes. Montreal is just not a very good team. I'm taking Ottawa here tonight.

Hamilton had a great chance to win last week but a late INT and a broken run by Calgary shut the door on the Tiger Cats. Still, Hamilton showed they are much improved this season and this week we get almost a TD from the host, which I think is too much. Edmonton has a potent offense, which means Hamilton will have to step it up on defense. We might get Edmonton in a look ahead spot here as they host British Columbia next week and might just be looking past this Hamilton squad. The TigerCats are 6-1 ATS in their last seven games while Edmonton is 6-13 ATS in their last 19 home games. Take Hamilton.

Talk about losing streaks, the Montreal Alouttes are the Cleveland Browns of the CFL. Montreal is on a 12-game losing streak after losing in week 1 to the BC Lions, 10-22. Winnipeg is 0-1 after losing week one, 30-33. Chris Streveler had to step in at QB for the Bombers after starter Matt Nichols went down. Streveler showed he can be a star in this league with three touchdowns in week 1. I don't put much faith in this Montreal team until they can show me they can win. Lay the short number here with Winnipeg.

Week 2 CFL action has Ottawa hosting Saskatchewan on Thursday night. The Saskatchewan Roughriders opened with a nice win in week one over Toronto. QB Zach Collaros was 18-for-25 for 203 yards and one TD. The passing game was quiet at best for the RoughRiders in week 1. Ottawa looks improve on last season's 8-9-1 record. The Redblacks have lots of rest for this contest, but I liked the way Saskatchewan played in week 1. I'm going to stick with the Roughriders here again in week 2. Play Saskatcchewan.

Montreal started the preseason with a pair of losses, losing at Ottawa 7-27 and then at home to Hamilton, 15-30. British Columbia did just the opposite, winning both preseason games; 36-23 at Calgary and then 34=21 at home over Winnipeg. The BC Lions swept this series last season, winning at home 41-18. Being the first week, not a lot to go off of here. However, Montreal did not click offensively during the preseaon and can't see that changing here on the road at BC. The Lions are laying 8 or 9 at home, but I don't see that as a problem they way they have already performed. Take British Columbia.

Toronto returns as the CFL Chamption. The Argonauts should be the top team in today's matchup with Saskatchwan and opening on the road a plus for the Champs. Saskatchewan has had issues with their offensive line and at quaterback. IF it's possible the Argos look like they may be improved over last year. If the Roughriders do have offensive line issues, how will that effect QB Zach Collaros? He's been beaten up pretty good over the years by injury and any questions with the offensive line could compound those issues. Toronto looks good agains this year and I'm going to lay the small number here on the road. Play Toronto.

08/26 09:00 PM EST   CFL   (377) TORONTO VS (378) CALGARY.
Take: (377) TORONTO.
Toronto is improving under the new coaching staff, squeezing into first place. The offense is much improved and this is the biggest they've been as a dog all season. Veteran quarterback Ricky Ray returned last week and led the way in a blowout win over Montreal. Ray, 37, is a three-time Grey Cup champion with more than 57,000 career passing years. Earlier this year, he surpassed Condredge Holloway as Toronto’s all-time passing leader. And the Argonauts are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 meetings in Calgary. Play Toronto

8/26 12:30 PM  CFL   (375) BRITISH COLUMBIA VS (376) OTTAWA REDBLACKS.
Take: (375) BRITISH COLUMBIA.
British Columbia got off to a hit start but is off two clunker games. You wouldn't know it by the scored but the offensive line played well last week. The move of Antonio Johnson to left tackle, at the expense of Hunter Steward, was a gamble that paid off. This team has talent, off a 12-6 campaign. The Lions are  13-6 ATS on the road, 12-3-1 ATS following a straight up loss. They face an Ottawa squad (2-6-1) that has been a big disappointment, with sloppy play and no defense.
Ottawa is 1-3-1 at home, on a 5-11 spread run here. Play British Columbia.

08/24 07:30 PM EST   CFL   (371) WINNIPEG VS (372) MONTREAL.
Take: (371) WINNIPEG.
Winnipeg is quietly have a great season, off a 33-26 victory over the last unbeaten team, Edmonton. Winnipeg running back Andrew Harris is now on pace to do something no CFL player has ever done: Record 1,000 yards in both rushing and receiving in the same season.  Winnipeg is the second highest scoring team in the league by one point begind Calgary. Winnipeg is on a 14-3 spread run on the road. Montreal continues to struggle on offense, the second-lowest team in the league. They come off a 38-6 loss at Toronto and now jump back to playing the tougher Western division. And the Alouettes are 5-11 ATS in their last 16 home games. Play Winnipeg.

08/18 10:30 PM EST   CFL   (355) CALGARY VS (356) BRITISH COLUMBIA.
Take: (356) BRITISH COLUMBIA.
Reason: Calgary has had an easy schedule, only playing two games against the better Western division (BC has played 5). British Columbia is a strong all around team off a terrible game, getting blown out at Saskatchewan -- a team they had beaten 30-15 a week earlier. Everything just snowballed, turning it over 7 times while falling behind 29-0 at the half in a hostile environment. Now they come home after playing 5 of the last 7 on the road. And the B.C. Lions are 7-1 ATS in their last 8 games following a straight up loss. Play British Columbia.      

8/18 07:30 PM EST   CFL   (353) OTTAWA REDBLACKS VS (354) HAMILTON.
Take: (353) OTTAWA REDBLACKS
Reason: Ottawa (1-6-1) has played better than the record suggests, losing a slew of close games. Ottawa is on a 7-3 spread run, 5-0 ATS on the road and 10-4 ATS against the weaker East. They finally face a cupcake in Hamilton (0-7), the worst offensive and defensive team in the league. Hamilton is on an 8-20-2 ATS run, 0-6-2 ATS at home. And the visiting RedBlacks are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 meetings. Play Ottawa.      

8/13 08:00 PM EST  CFL   (377) BRITISH COLUMBIA VS (378) SASKATCHEWAN.
Take: (377) BRITISH COLUMBIA.
Reason: British Columbia (5-2) doesn't have the best record in the CFL but they look like either the best team or one of the best. They've outscored opponents by +39 -- second best in the league. QB Travis Lulay was methodical and masterful in reading defenses and spreading the ball around. He completed 19-of-28 passes for 338 yards and a touchdown in a 30-15 rout of the RoughRiders last week. The defense has been great as the Lions already have four interceptions as part of their 10 takeaways (they had just 29 last year). They face a Saskatchewan (2-4) team they just beat last week, one that has scored just 156 points. As the Saskatchewan Roughriders head coach, general manager and vice-president of football operations, Chris Jones has an 1-12 record against the West. Play British Columbia.

08/12 07:30 PM EST   CFL   (375) WINNIPEG VS (376) HAMILTON.
Take: (375) WINNIPEG
Reason: Winnipeg (4-2 SU, 4-2 ATS) has the offense clicking, off a 33-30 victory over Ottawa, now 2-1 SU on the road. They head to winless Hamilton (0-6 SU, 2-4 ATS). Hamilton has no defense, allowing 31 or more in every game while the offense has not topped 28. They have been outscored 93-29 the last two weeks. Play Winnipeg.

08/05 07:00 PM EST  CFL   (357) SASKATCHEWAN VS (358) BRITISH COLUMBIA.
Take: (358) BRITISH COLUMBIA.
Reason: The Saskatchewan Roughriders are in last place in the West again....just like last season when they went 5-13 and allowed the second most points in the CFL. Saskatchewan has scored 16 and 10 points in their two road games. They face a talented British Columbia squad that has the second best point differential in the league. British Columbia (4-2) comes off a 37-26 showdown loss at unbeaten Edmonton and won't be in a good mood. Play British Columbia.

08/04 09:30 PM EST  CFL   (355) HAMILTON VS (356) EDMONTON.
Take: (355) HAMILTON.
Reason: Hamilton is in bounce back mode after an embarrassing 60-1 defeat at Calgary. "It snowballed on us," said Hamilton coach Kent Austin. They had five big plays on us in the first half. "It's a humiliating loss." These teams played three close games last season, 37-31, 29-26 and 24-21. They also just met two games ago and Edmonton won 31-28 needing a last season TD to win. Play Hamilton.      

08/04 07:00 PM  EST  CFL   (353) WINNIPEG VS (354) OTTAWA REDBLACKS.
Take: (353) WINNIPEG.
Reason: Winnipeg has a powerful offense that has scored 43, 33, 42 and 41 points in four of five contests. The Blue Bombers erased a 12 point deficit in the final 1:40 to defeat the Alouettes 41-40 at Investors Group Field last week. Ottawa (1-4-1) keeps finding ways to lose games, off a 27-24 defeat at Toronto even though Toronto lost 3 key players in the second half. Play Winnipeg.      

8/03 07:30 PM EST  CFL   (351) CALGARY VS (352) TORONTO.
Take: (351) CALGARY.
Reason: Rebuilding Toronto is 3-3 getting outscored on the season, allowing 163 points. They are 3-0 in the weak East, 0-3 against the more powerful West. They come off a loss to the Roughriders allowing 38 points and 435 yards. Calgary (4-1-1) is playing well, outscoring opponents by close to a 2-to-1 margin (213-121). They come off a pair of blowout wins, 27-10 and 60-1. Play Calgary.      

07/29 06:30 PM EST  CFL   (375) TORONTO VS (376) SASKATCHEWAN.
Take: Mismatch Massacre of the Month: Play Toronto (375).
Reason:  Toronto is playing better defense this season under its new coaching staff. And the offense is even better behind QB Ricky Ray, who posted his fifth consecutive game with the 300+ passing yards on Monday night, a 27-24 win. Ray went 40-of-55 passing (72.7%) for 367 yards and two touchdowns. The Toronto defense was relentless, holding the Redblacks to just 276 net yards and QB Trevor Harris to a season-low 184 yards and one touchdown. Rebuilding Saskatchewan (1-3) is struggling on offense, off a 27-10 loss at Calgary. The Roughriders are 3-9 ATS vs a winning team, 21-46-3 ATS following a straight up loss. And the Argonauts are 8-2-1 ATS in their last 11 meetings in Saskatchewan. Play Toronto.      

07/28 09:30 PM EST  CFL   (373) BRITISH COLUMBIA VS (374) EDMONTON.
Take: (373) BRITISH COLUMBIA
Reason: British Columbia (4-1) has a powerhouse offense, tops in the CFL in scoring. Their only defeat was in the opener to this (4-0) Edmonton Eskimos squad. Edmonton is unbeaten but has been close in every game. British Columbia had 130 yards rushing in the first meeting as QB Jennings and RB White played well. They had a 27-17 edge in first downs but lost on a field goal on the final play. The Eskimos are 3-9 ATS in their last 12 home games. British Columbia is 4-1 despite having a three-game road trip already and has more than enough to exact revenge -- and the Lions are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 meetings. Play British Columbia.      

7/27 08:30 PM EST   CFL   (371) MONTREAL VS (372) WINNIPEG.
Take: (371) MONTREAL.
Reason: Montreal (2-3) has a strong defense and comes off a close loss at Ottawa, a game they came very close to winning as a +4 dog. The Alouettes are 5-1 ATS in their last 6 road games with a good QB one-two punch in Darius Durant and mobile Vernon Adams. They face a bad Winnipeg defense that has allowed 40+ points in two of four games. Coach Mike O'Shea is taking heat for a bad play-call the last game, a fake put with a lead on his own 26. This will be a close one, so back the dog. Play Montreal.      

07/22 09:00 PM EST  CFL   (357) SASKATCHEWAN VS (358) CALGARY.
Take: (358) CALGARY.
Reason: Saskatchewan is going backwards on defense, allowing 63 points the last two games. They head out on the road for the first time since the opener, scoring 16 points in a loss at Montreal. The Roughriders are 8-18-1 ATS vs. the Western division. The Calgary Stampeders are playing great at 2-1-1 despite opening the season with three of four games on the road. Calgary is 12-5 ATS in their last 17 home games and the Stampeders are 36-17 ATS following a straight up loss. Saskatchewan is 1-5 ATS in their last 6 meetings, including 1-4-2 ATS at Calgary. Play Calgary.

7/19 07:30 PM EST   CFL   (351) MONTREAL VS (352) OTTAWA REDBLACKS.
Take: (352) OTTAWA REDBLACKS
Reason: Montreal is 2-2 despite playing three home games already. The Alouettes are 3-7 ATS in their last 10 games following a straight up win. They are winless on the road and face an Ottawa team that is far better than that 0-3-1 record indicates. They opened the season with back to back games against powerhouse Calgary and have been outscored by just 7 total points despite that 0-3-1 record. Ottawa won the championship last year and has plenty of talent. And the Montreal Alouettes are 1-6 ATS in their last 7 meetings. Play Ottawa.      

07/15 07:30 PM EST  CFL   (377) BRITISH COLUMBIA VS (378) HAMILTON. 

Take: (377) BRITISH COLUMBIA.  

Reason: British Columbia has it all, with a good offense and a defense that is allowing 20.3 pg through three games. Four players have eclipsed 100 yards in receiving and one of them is Jeremiah Johnson, who so far has proven his ability as a duel threat. The other three are Bryan Burnham, Emmanuel Arceneaux and Nick Moore. The defense is fast, particularly in the secondary where Ronnie Yell and T.J. Lee have come back from injury with a vengeance. Hamilton is winless getting beat by a combined 69-35 in two games. BC rolled in two meetings last season and will do so again. Play British Columbia. 

07/14  10:00 PM EST  CFL   (375) OTTAWA REDBLACKS VS (376) EDMONTON. 

Take: (375) OTTAWA REDBLACKS 

Reason: Defending champion Ottawa (0-2-1) is winless but they are a talented group that has been in every game. They come off a close loss to Toronto despite QB Trevor Harris, who finished the night 30-of-43 for 370 yards with two touchdowns and one interception. Edmonton (2-0) has won two close games and is overvalued here, after a 10-8 campaign in 2016. The Edmonton Eskimos are also down three starters already whose seasons have abruptly ended due to injury. Play Ottawa.

07/14 07:00 PM EST   CFL   (373) CALGARY VS (374) MONTREAL. 

Take: (373) CALGARY.  

Reason: Montreal couldn't score against Calgary last season, getting 8 and 17 points in the two meetings. They will need a lot more than that against this high powered Calgary (2-0-1) attack that has tallied 103 points in three games. Calgary is off a 29-10 victory over Winnipeg. For the third straight game, a different Stampeders player led the team in receiving yards behind QB Bo Mitchell. Rebuilding Montreal (1-2) has scored just 52 points in three games. Play Calgary.

Saskatchewan has two games under its belt and is home. Hamilton scored just 15 points in its lone game. The Hamilton Tiger-Cats will be without WR Terrence Toliver for at least the next little while following a knee injury during the season-opener. Last season, Toliver ranked second on the Ticats with 1,036 yards on 65 catches to go with a team-leading nine touchdowns. Second straight home game for Saskatchewan (0-2), losing the first two by a total of four points. Look for a big effort by the home team to get its first win. Play Saskatchewan.

Reason: British Columbia may be 1-1 but this is a strong all around team, scoring 30 and 28 points the first two contests. They come off a win at Toronto as a dog, 28-15, with 398 yards. Montreal has a terrible offense, averaging 18 points in two games. They let a first half lead slip away last week in a 23-19 loss at Edmonton. BC won both meetings last season, 38-18 and 38-27, and will do so again. Play British Columbia.

07/01 09:00 PM  EST   CFL   (377) WINNIPEG VS (378) SASKATCHEWAN.
Take: (377) WINNIPEG.
Reason: Winnipeg opens the season here, pretty much the same screw that went 11-7 last year, including 7-2 SU on the road. The Bombers led the CFL with a +29 turnover ratio in 2016 and ended the year on a 10-3 run. Re-signing quarterback Matt Nichols, Justin Medlock, WR Darvin Adams and guard Sukh Chungh were all good moves, and they've upgraded its defensive line with the additions of Tristan Okpalaugo, Drake Nevis and first-overall draft choice Faith Ekakitie. CFL veterans like receiver Kenny Stafford, linebacker Thomas Miles and fullback Mike Miller bolster the overall depth. Saskatchewan got banged up in the opener, not getting much on offense in a 17-16 defeat. They had the worst offense by a wide margin in the CFL last year and don't look much improved. The Roughriders are 8-17-1 ATS in their last 26 vs. the Western division. Play Winnipeg.      

06/30 07:00 PM  EST   CFL   (373) BRITISH COLUMBIA VS (374) TORONTO.
Take: (374) TORONTO.
Reason: British Columbia is not in mid-season form yet, losing to Edmonton, 30-27. B.C. quarterback Jonathon Jennings was sacked five times as the Eskimos dominated the line of scrimmage. The Lions are 1-5 ATS vs. a team with a winning record. Toronto QB Ricky Ray completed 32 of 41 passes for 506 yards and a touchdown, as the Argos blew Hamilton off the field, 32-15, in the opener. This is their second straight home game. New-look Toronto is healthy and balanced, 7-3 ATS in their last 10 games in June. Play Toronto.      

6/29 09:00 PM  EST   CFL   (371) OTTAWA REDBLACKS VS (372) CALGARY.
Take: (371) OTTAWA REDBLACKS
Reason: Rematch of the championship game....and the two teams met last week! Ottawa is a big dog, but tied Calgary last week and in the regular season a year ago, while winning the title game as a big dog. It's a strong Ottawa defense that has played Calgary even in 3 of the last 4 meetings over the last 12 months. Ottawa is on a 12-4 ATS run on the road, plus 8-2 ATS as an underdog of 3.5-10.0. Play Ottawa.