CFL Playoff Game of the Year. My selection is on Saskatchewan plus the points over Winnipeg at 6:30 PM ET on Saturday.

While Winnipeg enters as the higher seed with an 11-7 record, Saskatchewan has proven to be a tough, battle-tested team throughout the season, and they’ve shown the ability to rise to the occasion in big games. The Roughriders are a team built for playoff football—physical on both sides of the ball, and with a defense that can disrupt even the most potent offenses. They’ve had a knack for keeping games close, even against teams as talented as Winnipeg. While the Blue Bombers have been strong all year, particularly with their explosive offense and veteran leadership, Saskatchewan’s ability to play gritty, disciplined football in high-pressure situations should allow them to keep this game within reach.

Winnipeg has been dominant at times this season, but they've also shown vulnerabilities, particularly when facing pressure. Saskatchewan's defense, led by a strong front seven, can get after Winnipeg’s quarterback, and their secondary has been opportunistic at forcing turnovers. Offensively, the Roughriders have a solid mix of run and pass plays that can exploit any weaknesses in the Winnipeg defense. Given the magnitude of the game, expect a close, hard-fought battle with Saskatchewan making it tough for the Blue Bombers to pull away. Take Saskatchewan (10*).

Total of the Month. My selection is on the 'under' between Winnipeg and Hamilton at 7 pm et on Friday.

Winnipeg exploded for 55 points in last week's rout of the Elks at home. I expect it to find the going much tougher as it hits the road to face an upstart Tiger-Cats team on Friday in Hamilton. While the Ti-Cats are coming off a high-scoring game of their own, it's worth noting that 32-29 win in B.C. was boosted by nine overtime points. Credit Hamilton's defense for standing up once again, limiting the Lions to just 26 points in regulation time and only two offensive touchdowns. The Ti-Cats are three points clear of the Stampeders for the eighth and final playoff spot but they need to keep pushing over the course of their final three regular season games. Winnipeg continues to play well defensively, even if that side of the football was overshadowed by its offensive prowess last week. The Blue Bombers have allowed just 21, 14 and 27 points over their last three games and have yielded 23 or fewer points on five different occasions over the course of their current seven-game winning streak. The last time these two teams met back on August 23rd they combined to score 49 points and that game featured just three offensive touchdowns. Take the under (10*).

Total of the Week. My selection is on the 'under' between Hamilton and B.C. at 10:30 pm et on Friday.

We'll fade the Tiger-Cats offense as they head west to face the Lions in Vancouver on Friday. Hamilton has put up 30+ points in three straight games - all victories - and is fresh off an upset win in Toronto last Friday. While the Ti-Cats offensive surge has been impressive, I think it grinds to a halt here as B.C. comes off its bye week, which came on the heels of an ugly 33-17 home loss against the Argos. The first meeting between these two teams this season saw a whopping 72 points scored as the Lions rolled to a 44-28 victory. That came at a time when the Ti-Cats defense was non-existent. I'm anticipating a more tightly-contested affair in the rematch and believe this total has been set too high. Take the under (10*).

East Division Total of the Year. My selection is on the 'under' between Hamilton and Toronto at 7 pm et on Friday.

These two rivals last met in their annual Labor Day showdown on September 2nd and the result was higher-scoring than expected with the Tiger-Cats springing a 31-28 upset win in Hamilton. I look for a much different story to unfold in Friday's rematch in Toronto.

Both the Ti-Cats and the Argonauts turned in terrific defensive efforts last week. Toronto held B.C. to just 17 points in a much-needed road win while Hamilton gave up 21 points against Ottawa but 15 of those came after the game was well in hand, leading 29-6 in the fourth quarter. In fact, the Ti-Cats held the RedBlacks out of the end zone until the fourth quarter in that contest.

We've seen Hamilton play a much more cohesive brand of defensive football since getting its doors blown off in an embarrassing 47-22 home oss to Edmonton back on August 17th.

I expect a similar turnaround from the Argos defense moving forward, noting that just two weeks ago they gave up 41 points in an ugly defeat in Ottawa.

While the two offenses have been performing well, the defenses know what to expect given the history between these two teams, not to mention the fact that they just matched up a few weeks ago. There's added importance at this point of the season as well as the Argos look to move up in the East Division standings and the Ti-Cats fight to earn the final playoff spot. That lends itself to a tightly-contested affair. Take the under (10*).

Non-Division Total of the Month. My selection is on the 'under' between Toronto and B.C. at 10 pm et on Friday.

The first meeting between these two teams this season produced 62 total points. Both teams had different starting quarterbacks than we'll see in the rematch on Friday. That prevoius matchup also saw a whopping 30 points scored in a wild second quarter - the likes of which we aren't likely to see again on Friday.

With quarterbacks Chad Kelly of the Argos and Nathan Rourke of the Lions settling in and slinging it all over the field over the last couple of games, most bettors will likely be taking a long, hard look at the 'over' in this one. I'm not so easily convinced. I think we'll see a scenario play out where both teams march up and down the field but fail to cash in more often than not.

Toronto has fallen to 6-6 on the season thanks to consecutive losses. In those two games it allowed a whopping 72 points. Needless to say the focus will be on cleaning things up defensively on Friday. Meanwhile, B.C. has climbed above the .500 mark thanks to back-to-back wins over the RedBlacks and Alouettes. The Lions defense fuelled those two victories, giving up a grand total of 35 points and three touchdowns. B.C. has allowed more than 20 points just once in five home games this season and that came in a 24-21 win over Edmonton back in June that stayed 'under' the total. Take the under (10*).

West Division Total of the Year. My selection is on the 'under' between Edmonton and Calgary at 6 pm et on Monday.

When we last saw the Stampeders they suffered a wild 31-29 home loss against the RedBlacks back on August 15th. I expect them to regroup defensively in this game having had well over two weeks to prepare for the rival Elks.

Note that this total has gotten a bump thanks to the news that Elks QB Tre Ford will dress as the backup on Monday. McLeod Bethel-Thompson gets the start but we'll see how long he remains in the game. Regardless, the Stamps are familiar with what Ford can do and I don't expect them to get blindsided. He'll undoubtedly see game action on Monday.

Despite the high-scoring affair against Ottawa, there was a stretch where Calgary didn't find the end zone from just over three minutes remaining in the first quarter until a little over 10 minutes were left in the game. It's been that type of season for the Stamps offense, riddled with inconsistency.

Edmonton has quietly been one of the league's best defensive teams lately, holding three straight opponents to 22 points or less. Take the under (10*).

My selection is on the 'under' between Ottawa and B.C. at 7 pm et on Saturday.

These two teams were involved in a high-scoring affair last week as Ottawa rallied for a 34-27 victory. I look for a different story to unfold in Victoria on Saturday as B.C. looks to snap its five-game skid and that should come by tightening things up on defense.

The Lions offense has looked out of sync lately and you can be sure Ottawa isn't going to simply roll over on Saturday. I do think the RedBlacks recent offensive production (30+ points in consecutive games) is unsustainable, however. Take the under (8*).

CFL Total of the Week. My selection is on the 'under' between Edmonton and Montreal at 7 pm et on Sunday.

The Alouettes are an elite defensive team. They've yet to give up more than 26 points in a game on their way to a 9-1 record so far this season.

While Edmonton did put up 47 points in last week's rout of the Tiger-Cats that had more to do with a weak Hamilton defense than anything else. The Elks are expected to be without dual-threat QB Tre Ford again this week, meaning McLeod Bethel-Thompson will once again be under center. Even in last week's offensive explosion, Bethel-Thompson completed just 15 passes for 234 yards. Given how turnover-prone MBT has been, combined with the difficulty of this matchup, I would anticipate Edmonton scaling back the offensive playbook a little in this one.

The Elks have quietly turned things around defensively during their three-game winning streak. This isn't a bad matchup for them, noting that they did hold the Alouettes to just 23 points in a home defeat back in Week 2. Take the under (10*).

My selection is on B.C. over Ottawa at 7 pm et on Saturday.

The Lions are inexplicably coming off four straight losses having scored a grand total of just 27 points over their last three games. They welcomed quarterback Nathan Rourke back to the fold after his NFL career failed to pan out and as expected, he was rusty in last week's game against Winnipeg. I do think this Lions will return to being dynamic with Rourke under center - he's proven he can dominate at the CFL level before. We did see flashes of that dual-threat ability from Rourke last week as while his timing was off throwing the football, he did run it four times for just shy of 30 yards.

Ottawa has been living a rather charmed life. After getting rescued by the officials in a stunning tie against Saskatchewan two weeks ago, it won on a last-second field goal in Calgary last week. I'm not convinced the RedBlacks are as good as their 6-2-1 record indicates, however. The schedule is about to get a whole lot tougher, starting with this home-and-home series against the Lions. Look for B.C. to prevail on Saturday. Take B.C. (8*).

My selection is on Hamilton plus the points over Winnipeg at 8:30 pm et on Friday.

Outside of the Montreal Alouettes there really aren't any truly elite teams in the CFL this season. To see the 4-6 Blue Bombers laying double-digits against anyone is a little perplexing.

Yes, the Tiger-Cats are down-trodden and arguably the league's biggest disappointment so far this season. With that being said, they've only lost three games by double-digits this season (including last week against Edmonton) and on the two previous occasions they bounced back with strong efforts in their next contest (two-point loss in Ottawa and three-point win at home against Toronto).

Winnipeg checks in off consecutive wins - the first time it has notched back-to-back victories all season. Both wins came against a slumping Lions squad. With a home-and-home rivalry series against Saskatchewan on deck, it might be a little difficult for the Bombers to take the lowly Ti-Cats seriously in this game. We'll grab all the points we can get. Take Hamilton (8*).

CFL Game of the Month. My selection is on Saskatchewan plus the points over Toronto at 7:30 pm et on Thursday.

The Roughriders let the defending champion Alouettes off the hook last week, it really is as simple as that. They settled for too many field goal attempts (that kicker Brett Lauther inexplicably missed) and ultimately lost by the narrowest of margins. Here, I look for Saskatchewan to bounce back as it heads on the road to face what has been an up-and-down Argos squad this season.

In a swirl of controversy, Toronto has brought QB Chad Kelly back into the fold. It remains to be seen whether he'll be fully acclimated with the offense having not played for so long. I like the opportunistic nature of the Riders defense and think they can take advantage of a potentially rusty Kelly on Thursday night.

Saskatchewan checks into this game having gone 0-3-1 over its last four contests but remains atop the West Division standings. The Riders have a massive opportunity in front of them with this game followed by the Labor Day Weekend Classic at home against the Blue Bombers next week. I look for Corey Mace's squad to turn the tide on Thursday in Toronto. Take Saskatchewan (10*).

My selection is on the 'under' between Ottawa and Calgary at 9 pm et on Thursday.

Ottawa's game against Saskatchewan last Thursday had no business approaching the total but ended up barely staying 'under' thanks to double-overtime (and four OT scores). While the RedBlacks will welcome Jeremiah Masoli back from a long-term injury, he won't have the team's most explosive receiver in Kalil Pimpleton (out with a hand injury). I think we'll see the RedBlacks ease Masoli back into the fold against a Calgary squad that is sure to be in a foul mood following last week's 39-25 loss in Toronto.

The Stampeders offense has been good but only in short bursts this season. Last week, Calgary went scoreless for the entire third quarter and couldn't accomplish anything after an early fourth quarter score had given it the lead. Two games back the Stamps didn't reach the end zone until the fourth quarter at home against the same Argos (they did rally to win that game on 21 unanswered fourth quarter points.). Of note, Calgary's defense has performed considerably better at home compared to on the road this season, allowing 24 points or less in all four previous contests at McMahon Stadium. Take the under (8*).

Non-Division Total of the Month. My selection is on the 'under' between Saskatchewan and Ottawa at 7:30 pm et on Thursday.

This is an extremely tough spot for the banged-up Roughriders as they look to rebound following a double-digit home loss against the then-winless Elks last week. The RedBlacks have the rest advantage as they come off their bye week. I fully expect to see the Riders do all they can to 'ugly it up' on Thursday in Ottawa.

Saskatchewan's defense was putrid against Tre Ford and the Elks offense last week. It will face a much different challenge against less of a dual-threat passer in Dru Brown of the RedBlacks. Ottawa is off to a 5-2 start and while its offense has been good, it has been fuelled by its defense more recently, allowing just 20 points over its last two contests.

While the Riders did score 31 points against Edmonton, 14 of those came off a game-opening kickoff return for a touchdown and a meaningless score on the last play of the game. Opposing defenses seem to have the book on backup Riders QB Shea Patterson at this point. He'll get at least one more start before veteran Trevor Harris returns. Take the under (10*).

West Division Game of the Month. My selection is on Edmonton plus the points over Saskatchewan at 7 pm et on Saturday.

Maybe I should have given up on the Elks long ago but I still feel they do have some redeeming qualities, even at 0-7 on the season.

This is undoubtedly a game Edmonton has had circled on its calendar since dropping its season-opener 29-21 at home against Saskatchewan. Keep in mind, the Elks led that game 18-8 entering the fourth quarter before the Roughriders rallied around QB Trevor Harris. Harris isn't in the picture now as he remains sidelined due to injury.

The Riders are 5-2 on the season - one of the league's surprise teams in the early going. With that being said, their two losses have come in their last three games. They've been held to 20 points or fewer in three straight contests, perhaps opening the door for the Elks to finally steal their first victory of the campaign on Saturday. Take Edmonton (10*).

Total of the Month. My selection is on the 'over' between B.C. and Winnipeg at 8:30 pm et on Thursday.

This game means a lot to the Blue Bombers as it kicks off a home-and-home set against the West Division-leading Lions - a two-game stretch that could bring Winnipeg back within striking distance at the top of the division, believe it or not, if it were to win both games. I do think the Blue Bombers are a much better offensive team than they've shown - we've certainly seen positive flashes from this offense. The Lions, while an elite team, have proven to be anything but invincible defensively.

Note that the Lions have given up more than 20 points in five of seven games so far this season.

We know that B.C. is a handful on offense and it enters this game rested and ready coming off its bye week. The Lions can beat you in so many ways offensively and this year's Blue Bombers squad simply isn't the same dominant defensive bunch that we've seen in years' past.

Winnipeg checks in having allowed 27, 26, 16 and 37 points in its four home games this season, including a 26-24 loss to these same Lions back on June 21st.

We've certainly seen our share of low-scoring games in CFL action in recent weeks. Teams have been marching up and down the field but have either been turning the football over or settling for field goals more often than not. I do think we see that trend begin to reverse this week. This is a contest where we can anticipate terrific quarterback play with Vernon Adams of the Lions and Zach Collaros of the Blue Bombers. Look for their supporting casts to step up in this matchup as well. Take the over (10*).

Non-Division Game of the Week. My selection is on Calgary minus the points over Ottawa at 7:30 pm et on Friday.

The RedBlacks are what I consider to be a 'paper tiger' as we wind down the month of July. Ottawa is off to a 4-2 start and sits just two points behind the first-place Alouettes in the East Division. With that being said, the RedBlacks four victories have come against the Blue Bombers, Tiger-Cats and Elks (two wins). By most metrics, those are the league's three worst teams so far this season. Also keep in mind, after scoring a touchdown less than four minutes into their game against the lowly Elks last week, they never reached the end zone again the rest of the way, narrowly hanging on for a 20-14 win (they beat the Elks by a field goal the week previous).

It's a much different story for the Stampeders. They've battle hard on their way to a 3-3 record with all three of their losses coming by single-digit margins. Last Sunday they hung on for an impressive 25-24 win over the first-place Lions.

While I've been among Calgary QB Jake Maier's critics at times, there's no denying he's playing the best football of his CFL career right now. On Sunday he took on a fierce B.C. defense and threw for over 300 yards and three touchdowns (perhaps more importantly no interceptions). Calgary is a well-coached team with a number of players that are really starting to round into form. I'm sure they see this as a tremendous opportunity to get over the hump and keep within striking distance of the Lions and Roughriders at the top of the West Division. Take Calgary (10*).

Total of the Year. My selection is on the 'under' between Saskatchewan and Montreal at 7:30 pm et on Thursday.

The Roughriders long 'over' streak came to an end last week as they secured a 19-9 win at home against the Blue Bombers. I look for another relatively low-scoring affair as Saskatchewan heads to Montreal to challenge the Alouettes on a short week on Thursday.

Montreal is coming off its bye week which came on the heels of a blowout home loss against the Argos. The Als not only lost that game but also lost QB Cody Fajardo to a hamstring injury. He isn't expected to play on Thursday. Caleb Evans is expected to start in his place. With Evans running the offense, I expect to see a scaled-back version of the Als playbook. Note that in his CFL career, Evans has thrown 15 touchdowns compared to 22 interceptions. There's little reason to anticipate Montreal having Evans drop back and let it fly too much in this game (especially given what a running threat he is).

Riders QB Shea Patterson has performed admirably in place of Trevor Harris. He won't have a couple of key weapons this week, however, with RB A.J. Ouellette and WR Kian Schaffer-Baker sidelined due to injury. Saskatchewan is likely to scale back its offense against a ball-hawking Montreal defense in this difficult road test.

Finally, we'll note that these are the two best defenses in the CFL as far as fewest points allowed this season goes. Take the under (10*).

My selection is on Calgary plus the points over B.C. at 7 pm et on Sunday.

The Stampeders have been right there over their last two games - two difficult tests on the road against Montreal and Winnipeg - but fell just short on both occasions. Unlike in their contest against the Alouettes, the Stamps didn't fold in the second half last week against Winnipeg, ultimately dropping a 41-37 decision. Those two games can serve as building blocks for 2-3 Calgary as it returns home to host B.C. in a revenge game on Sunday.

The Lions prevailed by a score of 26-17 at home against the Stamps earlier this season. That game certainly could have gone either way and the Lions only earned the cover thanks to a late field goal. B.C. enters this game on the heels of five straight wins but I suspect it will be in tough trying for a sixth in Calgary on Sunday. Take Calgary (8*).

My selection is on Hamilton plus the points over Toronto at 7 pm et on Saturday.

The Tiger-Cats are desperately searching for their first win of the season and if they want to get it on Saturday, they'll have to defeat the rival Argonauts at Tim Hortons Field. I like their chances of staging the upset.

Toronto is riding high off an upset win of its own last week as it downed the Alouettes in a blowout in Montreal. Of course, the Argos benefited from the Als losing QB Cody Fajardo to injury early in that contest. At 3-2 on the season, Toronto hasn't been the juggernaut we saw last year, when it lost just two games all season. The jury is still out on first-year QB Cameron Judge, who has gotten off to an up-and-down start to his CFL career.

Off a bye week, at home (following a blowout loss to the Lions on this same field), there's no better spot for the Ti-Cats to finally earn their first victory. We'll grab the points, but likely won't need them on Saturday. Take Hamilton (8*).

Game of the Week. My selection is on Edmonton plus the points over Ottawa at 7 pm et on Friday.

The spot doesn't get much stronger for the winless (0-5) Elks on Friday as they get a quick revenge opportunity after letting one get away against these same RedBlacks last Sunday. The big news out of Edmonton on Monday was the firing of head coach and general manager Chris Jones. Consider it addition by subtraction as Jones' days in Edmonton were numbered and the move likely came a week or two too late.

I do think the Elks get an immediate lift from interim head coach Jarious Jackson. A former quarterback in the league, Jackson will bring accountability back to the team - something that had been sorely missing under Jones.

The fact is, Edmonton has been right there in the majority of its five losses this season. Keep in mind, as bad as the Elks defense has been from a statistical standpoint, it is just one game removed from holding the mighty Lions offense to only 24 points in a three-point loss, on the road no less.

Ottawa is off to a 3-2 start but talent-wise, I consider the RedBlacks to be one of the league's weaker teams. They gave the Blue Bombers their first victory of the season two weeks ago and I believe they're in for a similar fate here against the desperate Elks. Credit Ottawa for rallying for the victory in Edmonton last weekend but I expect it to fall short on Friday. Take Edmonton (10*).

My selection is on Saskatchewan plus the points over B.C. at 7 pm et on Saturday.

The Roughriders will have a significant rest advantage entering Saturday's showdown with the Lions in Vancouver. Saskatchewan hasn't played since securing a 30-23 win over Toronto last Thursday while B.C. defeated Hamilton on the road this past Sunday.

The Riders have arguably been the story of the league so far this season, jumping out to a perfect 4-0 start under the guidance of first-year head coach Corey Mase. I don't think their success is any fluke and this will serve as an excellent measuring stick game against what many to believe the league's best team in the Lions.

B.C. has played two previous home games and both were close. It won by nine points at home against Calgary in Week 2 but that was a game that went right down to the wire as the Lions scored 12 unanswered points late to prevail. In their other home affair, the Lions eked out a three-point victory over the lowly Edmonton Elks.

While the Riders will once again be without QB Trevor Harris, backup Shea Patterson stepped up and did an admirable job last week and should be able to build on that performance here. Look for Saskatchewan to open up the playbook a little more this week even if RB A.J. Ouellette remains the focal point of the offense. Take Saskatchewan (8*).

West Division Game of the Year. My selection is on Winnipeg minus the points over Calgary at 8:30 pm et on Friday.

Calgary left it all on the field but ultimately came up just short in its upset bid in Montreal last Saturday. I say the Stampeders left it all on the field but the fact was they didn't really show up in the second half, letting the discombobulated Alouettes off the hook. While Calgary sits in third place in the five-team West Division, two spots ahead of the Blue Bombers, I expect it to have its hands full with revenge-minded Winnipeg on Friday.

The Bombers continue to deal with a rash of injuries on the offensive side of the football but they have to feel pretty good about themselves after finally earning a victory last week against Ottawa. We wanted to see a response from Winnipeg in that game and we got it as it delivered a 25-16 home victory. Now it gets the chance to stay home and start building some positive momentum with this matchup against Calgary.

Talent-wise, you could make the argument that the Stamps are in the league's bottom-tier. Yes, they're 2-2 on the campaign but there have been issues. Namely their run defense and their unsteady quarterback play out of Jake Maier. They can be exposed in both departments by a Bombers squad that is showing signs of coming together. Just two weeks ago, Winnipeg went into Calgary and dropped a 22-19 overtime decision. Revenge is an angle that works well in the nine-team CFL, particularly from a divisional perspective (just look at the Argos upset win over the Als last night). Take Winnipeg (10*).

East Division Game of the Month. My selection is on Toronto plus the points over Montreal at 7:30 pm et on Thursday.

Maybe we're getting baited with this line now that it has moved past a touchdown to +7.5 but I'm willing to risk 'taking the bait' as I simply feel the Argos are catching too many points in this double-revenge spot.

Not only did Toronto lose to Montreal just two weeks ago, it also dropped the East Final against the Alouettes at the tail-end at what had been a dream season to that point last November. The Argos enter this contest on the heels of back-to-back losses after losing only two games in the entire regular season last year.

I'm not going to knock Toronto for last week's 'upset' loss in Saskatchewan. Riders head coach Corey Mase knows the Argos in and out after serving as their defensive coordinator. He completely eliminated the Argos aerial attack with rookie QB Cameron Dukes turning in his worst performance of the season (four interceptions and barely over 200 yards passing). A bounce-back should be in order here and it's worth noting that the Als are expected to be without the heart-and-soul of their defense in Marc-Antoine Dequoy (he's listed as doubtful due to injury).

Montreal was let off the hook by Calgary last Saturday, surging to its fifth straight win to open the campaign. Toronto is not Calgary and isn't likely to fold in the same way the Stamps did last week. Expect a tightly-contested affair between these division rivals. Take Toronto (10*).

My selection is on Hamilton plus the points over B.C. at 7 pm et on Sunday.

While these two teams boast very different records the fact is there's been quite a bit of parity in the CFL this season, with few blowouts and most games going right down to the wire. Hamilton is desperately seeking its first victory of the season and while B.C. certainly offers a difficult challenge, I expect the Ti-Cats to rise to the occasion.

The Lions are off to a 3-1 start but none of those wins have come easy. Their biggest margin of victory was nine points against Calgary in Week 2 and they needed to score 12 unanswered points in the later stages of the second half to secure that win. We haven't seen the B.C. offense get rolling the way it did last season.

On the flip side, Hamilton's offense has shown considerable improvement with veteran QB Bo Levi Mitchell at the helm. He's enjoying a renaissance season with his new team even if the Ti-Cats don't have the wins to show for it. A big reason for that is Hamilton's terrific offensive line, which rated out as one of the best units in the league entering the campaign.

The Ti-Cats are expected to have RB James Butler back on the field for this week's game after he was forced to miss last Sunday's last-second loss in Ottawa. WR Tim White is coming off his best game of the season, hauling in eight catches for 118 yards and a touchdown.

Note that these two teams split a pair of matchups last season with Hamilton winning in blowout fashion in Vancouver and the Lions prevailing by just three points here at Tim Hortons Field. Take Hamilton (8*).

My selection is on Calgary plus the points over Montreal at 7 pm et on Saturday.

The Alouettes are one of only two remaining undefeated CFL teams, sitting at 4-0 following last week's impressive 30-20 win in Toronto. While Saturday's home date with the Stampeders looks like another layup at first glance, I'm expecting Calgary to put up a fight, just as it has in all three previous games this season.

The Stampeders are somewhat surprisingly off to a 2-1 start this season. Their only failed pointspread cover came by a hair in a nine-point loss on the road against B.C. (the Lions scored nine unanswered points in the fourth quarter including a field goal with 30 seconds remaining). Keep in mind, in that loss in Vancouver, the Stamps still would have stayed inside the spread we're working with on Saturday.

For Montreal, you could certainly envision a letdown here after consecutive wins over the division-rival RedBlacks and Argos.

Based on what the players and coaches are saying, Calgary is clearly treating this game as a 'no one believes in us' situation and that can often work out well for an underdog (at least from an ATS perspective). Take Calgary (8*).

Non-Division Game of the Year. My selection is on Winnipeg minus the points over Ottawa at 8:30 pm et on Friday.

The West Division is quickly getting away from the Blue Bombers as they're off to an 0-4 start with the Lions and Roughriders sitting at 3-1 and 3-0, respectively. This isn't a must-win game for Winnipeg, but it's as close as it gets.

Ottawa is 2-1 but could just as easily be 1-2 as it came away victorious thanks to a last-second field goal against Hamilton last weekend. The one time we saw the RedBlacks hit the road this season they were blasted 47-21 in Montreal.

This is actually a rematch of a Week 2 matchup between these two teams that saw Ottawa prevail by a 23-19 score at home.

Bombers QB Zach Collaros is questionable to play on Thursday but this one should be all about RB Brady Oliveira - one of the CFL's best players - after he missed that first matchup with Ottawa this season. I like Winnipeg's chances of finally getting into the win column. Take Winnipeg (10*).

Total of the Month. My selection is on the 'under' between Hamilton and Saskatchewan at 7 pm et on Sunday.

These two teams just matched up last week in Hamilton and the result was a wild 33-30 Roughriders come-from-behind victory. I'm anticipating a much lower-scoring affair this time around as the scene shifts to Regina for the Riders home opener.

Saskatchewan's main focus in this game will undoubtedly be on slowing Ti-Cats quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell who has turned back the clock for two straight incredible performances out of the gate this season. Last week, Mitchell threw for 380 yards and three touchdowns against the Riders. I'm confident we'll see 2-0 Saskatchewan make the necessary adjustments here and ultimately slow Mitchell and the Hamilton offense, which was not thought to be one of the league's better units prior to the start of the season (and still won't be in my opinion).

The pointspread does dictate another tightly-contested affair between these two teams and I believe it as Hamilton is desperate to pick up its first victory of the campaign. The Ti-Cats can play some defense, as they showed in the earlier stages of last week's game (before that fourth quarter collapse). Playing from behind for much of their first two games the Riders have had to open things up offensively but I think they prefer to play a more methodical style led by veteran QB Trevor Harris. This total has quite simply been set too high based on last week's result. Take the under (10*).

East Division Total of the Month. My selection is on the 'under' between Ottawa and Montreal at 7:30 pm et on Thursday.

There will be plenty of juice in Montreal on Thursday as the Alouettes make their long-awaited home debut following a Grey Cup championship last November. Already off to a 2-0 start, Montreal will look to keep it rolling against 1-0 Ottawa. I'm anticipating a tightly-contested, relatively low-scoring affair.

Both teams won in similar fashion last week, leaning heavily on their defense to stave off late comeback attempts. Ottawa scored a touchdown with under two minutes remaining in the first quarter against Winnipeg but didn't reach the end zone again until nearly midway the fourth quarter. It will obviously be facing an uphill battle against one of the league's best defenses in Montreal on Thursday.

After allowing a touchdown with 2:21 remaining in the first quarter against Edmonton last week, the Als didn't allow another one until the game was essentially out of reach with less than a minute remaining in the fourth quarter.

The 'over' did cash in the most recent matchup between these two teams last October but we haven't seen consecutive 'over' results between these East Division rivals since 2022. Take the under (10*).

Game of the Week. My selection is on B.C. minus the points over Calgary at 7 pm et on Saturday.

The turnover bug bit the Lions in Toronto again last week as they dropped their season opener in stunning fashion against an Argos team baptizing a new quarterback. I'm confident we'll see B.C. bounce back in its home opener against Calgary on Saturday.

The Stampeders employed a 'bend but don't break' defense in their victory over the Tiger-Cats last week. Hamilton has a 'pop-gun' type of offense in my opinion so it was concerning to see it move the football the way it did. I don't have high expectations for the Stamps offense with QB Jake Maier getting another shot at the starting job. He did enough in last week's game but will face a much tougher test against a Lions defense that is sure to be in a foul mood off last week's performance. Take B.C. (10*).

My selection is on Saskatchewan plus the points over Edmonton at 4 pm et on Saturday.

I'm not buying what the Elks are selling as they look to turn things around following a disastrous stretch. Since reaching the East Final (yes, East, the CFL playoff format is strange) in 2019, Edmonton has gone 11-39 over the last three seasons.

For its part, Saskatchewan is coming off consecutive losing campaigns as well. The difference is, the Riders struggles are not prolonged. They haven't suffered three straight losing seasons since the late 90's-early 00's.

The Riders made a number of key offseason moves to bolster their roster and ultimately stem the tide. They need to make a big leap forward if they're going to contend with the mighty Lions at the top of the West Division pecking order, not to mention the perennial contending Blue Bombers and the Stampeders (who looked good in their home opener last night).

I'm confident the Elks will be one of the league's weaker teams again this year. Home field advantage isn't worth all that much to me here in early June. Look for the Riders to make a statement in Week 1. Take Saskatchewan (8*).

My selection is on Winnipeg minus the points over Montreal at 8:30 pm et on Thursday.

Much is being made of the Alouettes perceived 'snub' as they're forced to play on the road for this Grey Cup rematch (a game which they won). This isn't the NFL and there is no such precedent as far as defending Grey Cup champions hosting their season openers. I believe the Blue Bombers 'revenge' angle after letting Montreal off the hook in the Grey Cup last November plays more of a factor in this contest on Thursday.

Alouettes QB Cody Fajardo made a pretty big statement this week claiming that his team is the 'best in the CFL'. Of course, that's not much of a stretch when you consider the Als are the defending champs. With that being said, I'm not convinced Montreal is the league's best entering the 2024 campaign - top three, maybe. Montreal quite simply caught fire down the stretch last season, embracing the underdog role to reel off eight straight victories culminating with that come-from-behind victory over the Bombers in the Grey Cup.

Winnipeg enters the campaign with plenty of new faces as the salary cap caused it to make some tough decisions during the offseason. That's not to say the cupboard is bare, however. Far from it, in fact. Many of the same faces that have led this Bombers team are back in the fold, especially on offense. It's the skill positions on offense where the Bombers hold a massive advantage against the Alouettes.

Don't sleep on the fact that the Als are dealing with some key injuries out of the gate this season as well with DB Wesley Sutton and WR Reggie White Jr. - two key contributors from last season - sidelined for the opener. It will be all hands on deck for the Bombers and I'm confident we'll see them get their revenge in this spot. Take Winnipeg (8*).

My selection is on the 'under' between Toronto and Hamilton at 3:30 pm et on Monday.

The Tiger-Cats are coming off a 30-point explosion in a rout of the Lions last week but let's not get too carried away by that result. Hamilton didn't reach the end zone until just shy of a minute into the second quarter in that game. It didn't score another touchdown until less than six minutes remaining in the third quarter and then its final score came on an onside kick return for a touchdown with less than two minutes left in the game. Priot to that, the Ti-Cats had been held to 16 points or less in four straight games. Their scoring ceiling has proven low in this particular matchup as they've scored just 20, 8, 14 and 15 points in the last four meetings in the series. Also note that the 'under' is a long-term 150-116 with Hamilton in an underdog role, as is the case here. Meanwhile, the Argos have put up 44 and 39 points in their last two games, racking up over 1,000 total yards over that stretch. That's notable as the 'under' has gone a perfect 8-0 the last eight times Toronto has averaged 500 total yards per contest over its last two games, resulting in an average total of just 40.6 points in that situation. It's worth mentioning that Toronto's last two games did come at home. The last time we saw it on the road it managed only seven points in a loss in Calgary. While I don't expect Hamilton to hold the Argos down to that extent here, Toronto has averaged 5.1 points per game lower than its season scoring average when playing on the road. Take the under (8*).

Total of the Month. My selection is on the 'under' between Winnipeg and Saskatchewan at 7 pm et on Sunday.

The first meeting between these two teams this season totalled a whopping 72 points. As a result we're working with a higher posted total this time around. Note that the 'over' hasn't cashed in consecutive meetings in this series since 2018. Both teams come in rested with Winnipeg last playing on August 24th and Saskatchewan fresh off its bye week (its last game was on August 20th). I do think that favors the defenses at this stage of the season. By all accounts, Winnipeg has had the league's best defense this year. While Saskatchewan has been wildly inconsistent in that department, it faces a Blue Bombers offense that is surely in for some regression after gaining just shy of 450 yards and scoring a whopping 47 points against Montreal last week. The Riders will give Jake Dolegala just his third career CFL start at quarterback. He performed well against B.C. last time out but I expect the Riders to scale back the playbook against a difficult defensive opponent here. Take the under (10*).

Total of the Month. My selection is on the 'under' between Hamilton and B.C. at 7 pm et on Saturday.

Something has to give from a totals perspective in this game as the Tiger-Cats enter riding a four-game 'under' streak while the Lions have seen each of their last three contests go 'over' the total. The last time we saw these two teams meet last season they combined to score just 29 points and I'm anticipating another relatively low-scoring affair on Saturday. For B.C. this is a big bounce-back spot at home off an ugly defensive effort in Saskatchewan last week. Note that the 'under' is a long-term 17-6 with the Lions playing at home off an upset loss against a divisional opponent, as is the case here. The 'under' is also a long-term 159-112 with the Lions installed as a favorite. The Ti-Cats have found their running game over the last couple of weeks, racking up north of 200 yards on the ground on just 32 attempts. Their gameplan here should involved churning out long, clock-eating drives in an effort to keep the Lions potent offense off the field as much as possible. Note that the 'under' is a long-term 149-116 with Hamilton checking in as an underdog. Take the under (10*).

My selection is on the 'under' between B.C. and Saskatchewan at 7 pm et on Sunday.

The Roughriders have been installed as big underdogs in this game as they turn to third-string quarterback Jake Dolegala after losing both Trevor Harris and Mason Fine to injuries. Dolegala did enter last week's game after Fine went down and predictably struggled. While the Riders are saying all the right things after Dolegala put in a full week of practice with the ones, it remains to be seen whether he can be successful on the field on Sunday. I expect the Riders to dial back the playbook a little bit as they know just how good the Lions defense is having faced it already once this season. I do think the Riders defense is better than it showed in last week's thumping at the hands of Montreal. Note that the Saskatchewan offense simply didn't take care of the football in that game, ultimately putting its defense in a number of tough spots. A more conservative offensive gameplan should help in that regard on Sunday. The Lions hung 37 points on the Stampeders in last week's victory. Note, however, that B.C. hasn't scored more than 24 points in consecutive games all season. Take the under (8*).

My selection is on Ottawa plus the points over Montreal at 7 pm et on Saturday.

The Alouettes have won consecutive meetings in this series but haven't notched three straight victories over the RedBlacks since 2021. Here, they're in a tough spot noting they've gone a woeful 13-26 ATS in their last 39 games following consecutive ATS victories as a favorite, as is the case here. Montreal will get QB Cody Fajardo back on the field this week but this is an offense that is predicated on running the football effectively. Note that Ottawa has been stout against the run this season, especially by CFL standards, allowing just 3.6 yards per rush. The previous two times the RedBlacks played at home off a loss this season they delivered a 26-7 win over Edmonton and a 31-28 victory over Winnipeg. Take Ottawa (8*).

East Division Total of the Year. My selection is on the 'under' between Ottawa and Toronto at 7 pm et on Sunday.

While things haven't gone particularly well for the RedBlacks overall this season, their defense has held up reasonably well, allowing more than 28 points just once. Only two opponents have managed to rack up 100+ rushing yards against them while they've allowed just one opponent to complete more than 23 passes. The league-leading Argonauts figure to challenge them here but with QB Chad Kelly at less than 100% healthy after suffering an ankle injury last week and an offense that sputtered as a whole last week in Calgary, there is a window of opportunity for the RedBlacks here. Note that the 'under' is a long-term 31-7 with Toronto playing on eight or more days' rest, as is the case here. The 'under' is also 33-16 in Ottawa's last 49 game road games against divisional foes. The 'over' did cash in the most recent matchup between these two teams last September but we haven't seen consecutive meetings in this series go 'over' the total since 2019. Take the under (10*).

My selection is on the 'under' between Calgary and B.C. at 7 pm et on Saturday.

We're working with a considerably lower posted total than we saw in the first meeting between these two teams this season, which took place way back in Week 1. That game totalled only 40 points and I believe the lower total for this rematch is warranted. Calgary enters this game playing terrific defensive football. The Stampeders have held their last two opponents - formidable foes at that in Montreal and Toronto - to a combined 28-of-50 passing for just over 300 yards. The Lions offensive attack will welcome back QB Vernon Adams Jr. but once again will be without standout WR Dominique Rhymes. Without Rhymes last week against Winnipeg, B.C. managed only 189 passing yards on 39 pass attempts. On the flip side, the Lions defense laid an egg in last week's 50-14 beatdown at the hands of the Blue Bombers. This is still an elite group that I fully expect to see bounce back against Calgary. Note that the 'under' is a long-term 35-15 with Calgary coming off four or five losses in its last six games, as is the case here. Meanwhile, the 'under' is a long-term 159-110 with the Lions checking in as a favorite. Take the under (8*).

Game of the Week. My selection is on Saskatchewan plus the points over Montreal at 7:30 pm et on Friday.

No one wanted any part of Saskatchewan last week at home against Ottawa after it had lost three games in a row including a 31-13 beatdown against Toronto in its Touchdown Atlantic game. The Roughriders didn't turn in a perfect performance but they did snap their skid with a 26-24 win. Here, I like their chances of staging the upset as they head on the road to face the upstart Alouettes on Friday. Montreal has posted back-to-back win (and covers) against the Stampeders and Tiger-Cats. Note that the Als are a long-term 37-63 ATS when coming off consecutive ATS victories, outscoring opponents by an average margin of only 1.6 points in that situation. The Riders are coming off somewhat of an outlier performance as they didn't force a single turnover against the RedBlacks. They were fortunate to pull out that win despite losing the turnover battle 3-0. The last time they failed to turn their opponent over even once they proceeded to force three in their next game - a 29-26 road win over Calgary back in Week 3. The Als are dealing with injury concerns on offense with both QB Cody Fajardo and RB William Stanback limited in practice this week but expected to suit up. Take Saskatchewan (10*).

My selection is on the 'over' between Winnipeg and Edmonton at 9 pm et on Thursday.

The betting markets can be slow to react to CFL personnel changes and I think that's the case with this total as the Elks make the switch to Tre Ford at quarterback for Thursday's game against Winnipeg. Ford gave the Elks a spark in limited action last season, averaging 7.8 yards per rush while also proving to be a 'chaos QB', throwing five interceptions compared to two touchdowns on just 69 pass attempts. Winnipeg is coming off a 50-point explosion against a terrific B.C. defense last week and takes a big step down in class here, noting that Edmonton has allowed 100+ rushing yards in seven of eight games and 250+ passing yards in five of eight contests this season. While the Elks have seen their last two games stay 'under' the total that marks their longest such streak of the season. Note that the 'over' is a long-term 60-40 with the Elks coming off back-to-back 'unders' and 34-19 when following a double-digit loss against a divisional foe, as is the case here. Take the over (8*).

Total of the Week. My selection is on the 'over' between Ottawa and Saskatchewan at 7 pm et on Sunday.

The RedBlacks are coming off an incredibly low-scoring game against the punchless Tiger-Cats last week while the Roughriders are fresh off consecutive 'under' results after the 'over' had gone 4-1 in their first five games this season. I'm anticipating a relatively high-scoring affair on Sunday in Regina. Ottawa has gotten a spark from QB Dustin Crum but we saw some regression from its offense last week. That wasn't unexpected as its opponent, Hamilton, was seeing Crum for the second time this season. The Riders won't have the benefit of that first-hand knowledge as they face the RedBlacks for the first time this season on Sunday. Note that while Saskatchewan did score only 13 points in last week's defeat against Toronto, it did move the football as well as it has all season in that contest. One thing is for sure, the Riders are going to let it fly with Mason Fine at quarterback. Keep in mind, the last time we saw the Riders play at home they scored 31 points in a wild two-point defeat against Calgary. Ottawa on the other hand is just one game removed from a 43-41 overtime victory against those same Stampeders. Here, we'll note that the 'over' is a long-term 32-15 with Saskatchewan playing at home off consecutive 'under' results with that situation producing an average total of 53.9 points. Take the over (10*).

My selection is on Hamilton plus the points over Montreal at 7 pm et on Saturday.

The Tiger-Cats bounced back with a win in Ottawa last week, as did the Alouettes as they got past Calgary by a touchdown. Here, I look for Hamilton to get its revenge for an earlier 38-12 beatdown at home against the Als earlier this season. The Ti-Cats defense stepped up as expected in a tough road environment last week and I’m confident they can do so again with Montreal dealing with a cluster of injuries on the offensive side of the football. I haven’t been all that high on Als QB Cody Fajardo and certainly not away from home with a depleted supporting cast. On the flip side, the Ti-Cats will be without QB Bo Levi Mitchell after he excelled last week. The good news is they’re accustomed to playing without him. A dialed-back offensive gameplan may actually serve them well against a middling Als defense. While I can understand the logic behind Montreal being favored in this spot that doesn’t mean I agree with it. Take Hamilton (8*).

Non-Division Game of the Year. My selection is on Calgary plus the points over Toronto at 9 pm et on Friday.

The Argonauts remain undefeated at 6-0 SU and ATS on the season while the Stampeders have been a major disappointment going 2-5 SU and ATS. So it might be a bit perplexing but Calgary could very well be happy to see Toronto on Friday. The Stamps are an incredible 15-2 in the last 17 meetings in this series and haven't lost a game by more than six points against the Argos since way back in 2012. Also note that while things haven't gone well for Calgary so far this season it can take solace in the fact that it is on a long-term 56-33 ATS run in the month of August. It also checks in 13-4 ATS when coming off an ATS loss over the last three seasons, outscoring opponents by an average margin of 8.0 points in that situation. The Argos are currently dealing with a cluster of injuries on their offensive line. Despite winning 31-13 against Saskatchewan last week, Toronto completed just 13-of-21 passes for 122 yards. Meanwhile, Calgary dropped a 25-18 decision in Montreal last Sunday but limited the Alouettes to 16-of-29 passing for 158 yards. Take Calgary (10*).

West Division Total of the Year. My selection is on the 'over' between B.C. and Winnipeg at 8:30 pm et on Thursday.

After a low-scoring CFL slate last week (all four games stayed 'under' the total) that featured plenty of sloppy play, I look for two of the league's best teams to put on a show in Winnipeg on Thursday. B.C. will welcome back standout WR Dominique Rhymes. The Lions didn't need to keep their foot on the gas for four quarter last week as they cruised to a 27-0 win over lowly Edmonton - their second shutout victory over the Elks this season. There's no denying B.C.'s defense has been outstanding this season but this is a big revenge spot for the Blue Bombers, at home no less, after suffering a 30-6 beatdown here on June 22nd. The Bombers defense just hasn't been its dominant self for much of this season. They earned a reprieve of sorts last week by facing the aforementioned winless Elks but have given up 27 points or more in four of their seven games this season. Note that each of their last three opponents have rushed for 100+ yards. As we saw last week, give the Lions any sort of running room and that only serves to open up their passing game. The 'under' has now cashed in three straight meetings in this series. We haven't seen four consecutive matchups between these two teams stay 'under' the total since 2008-2010. Take the over (10*).

My selection is on the 'over' between Calgary and Montreal at 7 pm et on Sunday.

Both of these teams enter Sunday's contest riding two-game 'over' streaks and I anticipate a similar result here. Calgary has posted a perfect 7-0 'over' record when coming off a non-conference game over the last two seasons with that situation producing an average total of 61.7 points. The Als, despite having lost three games in a row, did quietly get their offense back on track before their bye week, scoring 27 points in a losing effort against Toronto. Here, they'll face a Stamps defense that is currently dealing with a number of key injuries in their secondary. In four matchups in this series going back to 2019, Montreal has produced 40, 21, 22 and 27 points. Calgary has scored 28 or more points in three of the last four meetings. Take the over (8*).

Total of the Week. My selection is on the 'over' between Saskatchewan and Toronto at 4 pm et on Saturday.

Last year's Touchdown Atlantic game featured this same matchup with Toronto prevailing by a 30-24 score on a late pick-six. We're working with a slightly higher posted total than we saw in last year's game but I don't think enough of an adjustment has been made. The Roughriders are coming off a miserable offensive showing last week, dropping a 19-9 decision on the road against arguably the league's best defense in B.C. That was Mason Fine's first start for the team this season after Trevor Harris went down to injury. The good news is, Fine threw for just shy of 300 yards and is in his third year with the Riders. It's time for him to step up and show off his arm, keeping in mind he ran a high-powered offense effectively in his days with North Texas in the college ranks. The Argonauts are missing a number of key cogs on the defensive side of the football. That didn't hurt them last week as they benefited from facing a punchless Tiger-Cats offense that was down to its third-string quarterback. On the flip side, Toronto's offense excelled once again, at one point scoring three touchdowns in an 18-minute stretch in the first half. The biggest question here is probably whether Saskatchewan can do its part offensively to help this total along. Note that the Riders have shown a solid scoring floor in this particular matchup, putting up at least 21 points in 11 consecutive meetings. Take the over (10*).

My selection is on Hamilton plus the points over Ottawa at 7:30 pm et on Friday.

The RedBlacks have reeled off consecutive wins in thrilling fashion with both of those victories coming in overtime against the Blue Bombers and Stampeders. Here, I look for Ottawa's run of success to come to an end against the division rival Tiger-Cats, however. A big part of the RedBlacks recent success has been QB Dustin Crum's performance on the ground. The good news for the Ti-Cats is that they've already seen him as he came on in relief back on July 8th - a game Hamilton held on to win by a 21-13 score. You would have to go all the way back to November of 2018 to find the last time Ottawa defeated Hamilton. Tonight, the Ti-Cats will finally welcome back prized offseason acquisition QB Bo Levi Mitchell after he suffered an injury in their season-opener. Noting that the RedBlacks are a long-term 4-13 ATS when playing at home after winning two of their last three games, outscored by an average margin of 5.6 points in that situation, we'll back the visitors here. Take Hamilton (8*).

My selection is on the 'over' between Ottawa and Calgary at 7 pm et on Sunday.

The RedBlacks offense found its spark, albeit late in last week's incredible 31-28 overtime victory against Winnipeg. QB Dustin Crum has now enjoyed back-to-back breakout performances and if you follow the CFL regularly, you know that quarterbacks can come out of seemingly nowhere to take over an offense - especially dual-threat types like Crum. The Stampeders have endured an early season slump from QB Jake Maier and check in just 2-3 on the campaign. They did produce a thrilling 33-31 win over the Riders in Saskatchewan last Saturday, however, and I look for them to build off that performance here. It is worth mentioning that both teams are dealing with a number of key injuries on the defensive side of the football. Note that the 'under' has cashed in the last four meetings in this series (including a 26-15 result in favor of Calgary earlier this season) - the longest such streak since way back in 2002-03. Here, we'll note that the Stamps have tended to get involved in barn-burners as a home favorite of a touchdown or less, with that situation producing an average total of just 50.5 points (and a point difference of just 0.5 points in their favor) over the last three seasons (13-game sample size). Take the over (8*).

Game of the Week. My selection is on Hamilton plus the points over Toronto at 7:30 pm et on Friday.

The Argos are off to a perfect 4-0 start to the season, both SU and ATS, and most project this as a layup on the road against the 2-4 Tiger-Cats on Friday. I'm not so easily convinced. Toronto has gotten off to a red hot start on the strength of forcing a whopping 13 turnovers. Of note, the Argos won the turnover battle by a whopping 6-0 margin two games back against B.C. but still won that game by 'only' 21 points (and it was an 11-point game before Toronto tacked on a pair of scores in the game's final minute-and-a-half). I actually think the fact that the Ti-Cats will be giving rookie Taylor Powell his first career start at quarterback might work in their favor here to some extent. While QB Matt Shiltz performed admirably in place of an injured Bo Levi Mitchell, he often tried to do too much, ultimately tossing just two touchdowns compared to four interceptions. Powell is more of a pocket-passer than Shiltz and I do think he can find some success with a somewhat conservative gameplan that will undoubtedly lean heavily on RB James Butler, who not only thrives as a runner but also as a receiver in the short passing game. The Ti-Cats defense has made positive strides over the last couple of weeks, first holding the RedBlacks out of the end zone until the final two minutes of the first half (and then for the rest of the game) two weeks ago before allowing only one touchdown in the game's first 48 minutes in Edmonton last week. While they'll undoubtedly be taking a step up in class on Friday, I do think the Argos offense is in line for some regression following four straight 32+ point performances to open the campaign. This is of course a revenge spot for the Ti-Cats after they dropped a 32-14 decision in Toronto earlier this season. Note that the Argos have now won three straight meetings in this series going back to last season and that's worth mentioning as they haven't won four straight matchups with the Ti-Cats since 2012-13. Take Hamilton (10*).

My selection is on Winnipeg minus the points over Edmonton at 8:30 pm et on Thursday.

The Blue Bombers defense should be in a foul mood after coughing up a late lead in last Saturday's overtime loss to the RedBlacks. It was a perplexing 31-28 final score as Winnipeg actually led that game 25-6 entering the fourth quarter. Ottawa's offense didn't reach the end zone until there were nine seconds remaining in the fourth quarter (the tide essentially turned on a Zach Collaros pick-six with less than three minutes remaining). This is an ideal 'get-right' spot for the Winnipeg defense as it faces an Edmonton squad that remains winless six games into the season. The Elks did score 29 points in last week's home loss to the Tiger-Cats. With that said, they didn't find the end zone until the third quarter and ultimately padded their numbers with a couple of meaningless scores (touchdown and a field goal) in the game's final minute when the result was already all but decided. The Elks defense has actually shown a pulse this season, particularly on the road where they've allowed just 22, 26 and 12 points with all three of those contests staying 'under' the total. This will be their first of three games against the Blue Bombers this season, however, and this hasn't been a favorable matchup by any means with Winnipeg scoring 37, 30, 26, 24 and 48 points in five meetings going back to the start of the 2021 season. To make matters worse, the Elks will be missing their leading tackler LB Nyles Morgan along with space-eating DL J-Min Pelley, both due to injuries suffered in practice this week. On the other side of the football, Edmonton has had a very low floor-low ceiling scoring combination in this matchup, producing only 22, 3, 16, 10 and 11 points in the last five meetings. Here, we'll note that the Elks are a woeful 4-12 ATS against the West Division over the last two seasons, outscored by an average margin of 18.3 points in those matchups. Take Winnipeg (8*).

My selection is on Calgary plus the points over Saskatchewan at 7 pm et on Saturday.

While it's still early in the season, the Stampeders are in desperate need of a victory on Saturday to avoid a 1-4 hole that could potentially drop them eight points (four wins) back of the Blue Bombers and Roughriders at the top of the West Division. This is also a key revenge spot for Calgary after it dropped a 29-26 overtime decision against the Riders earlier in the campaign. Keep in mind, the Stamps were favored in that contest. They've fared much better as an underdog in this series in recent years, going 3-0-1 ATS the last four times they've caught points against the Riders, as is the case here. Saskatchewan has posted mixed results so far this season but has managed to win three of four games. Last week, the Riders won ugly, pulling out a 12-11 victory over the lowly Elks. Note that Saskatchewan didn't find the end zone until their was just over a minute remaining in that game. I didn't like what I saw from the Riders defense the last time they faced the Stamps as they couldn't make a 10-point lead stand up with less than a quarter remaining. Calgary was without key WR Luther Hakunavanhu in last week's disappointing 24-11 loss in Winnipeg but he is expected back for Saturday's game. QB Jake Maier can use all the weapons he can get at his disposal as he's endured somewhat of a sophomore slump so far this season. I do think this is a spot to 'buy low' with a Stamps squad that is better than its record indicates in my opinion. Note that Calgary is 15-4 ATS in all road contests over the last three seasons, outscoring opponents by an average margin of 7.5 points, and also 32-17 ATS in the long-term picture when playing on the road off a division loss, as is the case here. Saskatchewan, meanwhile, has covered the spread only once in its last 11 home games against divisional foes, outscored by 5.9 points on average in that situation. Take Calgary (8*).

My selection is on Winnipeg minus the points over Ottawa at 4 pm et on Saturday.

The RedBlacks are just one game removed from their first victory of the season but they're going to be in tough moving forward as they're down to their fourth option at quarterback in Dustin Crum. He was the Ottawa offense, mostly with his legs, after taking over for an injured Jeremiah Masoli last week in Hamilton. I don't expect Crum to catch an elite Blue Bombers defense off guard with his running ability this week, however. There's a reason why the former Kent State standout wasn't able to overtake the likes of Nick Arbuckle or Tyrie Adams for the QB job earlier this season. Now with Arbuckle having proven ineffective and Adams and Masoli injured, it's Crum's time. I look for a 'baptism by fire' of sorts in his first start on Saturday. Winnipeg is rolling right now, fresh off back-to-back double-digit victories over Montreal and Calgary. Since suffering a humbling 30-6 home loss against B.C. on June 22nd, the Blue Bombers have allowed just one touchdown in their last eight quarters of action. On the flip side, Winnipeg has displayed a balanced offensive attack, running for 100+ yards in four of five games so far this season. While Ottawa's run defense has been stout this season, it has also benefited from facing a manageable schedule. The toughest ground game the RedBlacks have faced would be Calgary and they did so with the Stamps missing starter Ka'Deem Carey. In that contest, Stamps backup RB Dedrick Mills ran for 102 yards on 19 carries. This is Winnipeg's sweet spot as it has gone a perfect 6-0 in Weeks 5 through 9 going back to last season, outscoring opponents by an average margin of 12.9 points along the way. Meanwhile, Ottawa checks in 0-8 ATS when returning home off a road loss over the last three seasons, outscored by 10.6 points on average in that spot. Take Winnipeg (8*).

Game of the Week. My selection is on Montreal plus the points over Toronto at 7:30 pm et on Friday.

The Alouettes were in an awful spot last Sunday as they travelled across the country to take on a Lions squad that had just suffered its first loss of the campaign in embarrassing fashion (QB Vernon Adams Jr. threw six interceptions) less than a week earlier. Montreal couldn't match B.C.'s intensity in a double-digit loss. That makes two straight defeats for the Als and that's worth noting as they've gone a perfect 6-0 ATS when coming off consecutive losses over the last three seasons, outscoring foes by an average margin of 12.2 points in that situation. The Argos are off to a 3-0 start, scoring a whopping 120 points in the process. They've benefited from playing two of their three games at home with their lone road tilt coming against the 0-5 Elks. Note that Toronto did deliver a 34-27 victory in the most recent meeting between these East Division rivals last November but the Argos haven't posted back-to-back wins by more than a field goal against the Als since back in 2017. Incredibly, Toronto hasn't won a game by more than single point in Montreal since October of 2015. Take Montreal (10*).

Non-Division Total of the Month. My selection is on the 'over' between Hamilton and Edmonton at 9 pm et on Thursday.

The Edmonton Elks are off to an unsurprisingly awful start to the season, losers of five games in a row heading into Thursday's matchup with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. Edmonton could only muster 18 points in its last two games - both on the road - but I do think it made some progress offensively going back to QB Taylor Cornelius at quarterback in last week's ugly 12-11 defeat in Saskatchewan. In that contest, the Elks racked up 369 total yards, often moving the football down the field at will in what is usually a hostile environment in Regina. They ended up with little to show for it but I do think that changes back at home this week. Note that the last time we saw Edmonton play here it put up 31 points in a game that totalled 73 points against Toronto. It should be happy to see Hamilton noting that it has scored 23 and 29 points in two matchups between these two teams over the last two seasons. The Tiger-Cats scored only 21 points against a better-than-expected Ottawa defense last Saturday but did manage to make a late goal-line stand to earn their first win of the season. Note that Hamilton has displayed a rock solid scoring floor and a sky-high ceiling in this particular matchup in recent years, putting up at least 25 points in each of the last nine meetings while producing 38 points or more on three occasions over that stretch. The Elks are currently allowing a lofty 5.6 yards per rush and 8.7 yards per pass attempt this season. Hamilton hasn't been much better against the run, yielding 5.2 ypr and even worse against the pass, giving up a whopping 9.6 yppa. The 'under' is 4-1 in games involving Edmonton this season but it has yet to post three consecutive 'under' results. Meanwhile, the Ti-Cats have yet to record back-to-back 'under' results and are of course coming off an 'under' last week against Ottawa. Here, we'll note that the 'over' is a long-term 24-11 with the Elks listed as a home underdog of three points or less, leading to an average total of 55.2 points. Take the over (10*).

East Division Game of the Month. My selection is on Hamilton minus the points over Ottawa at 7 pm et on Saturday.

The Tiger-Cats will look to finally pick up their first win of the season on Saturday as they host the Redblacks. Ottawa will welcome back QB Jeremiah Masoli after he started the year on the injured list. I do wonder whether he's being rushed back with last week's starter, Tyrie Adams sidelined with a knee injury and few other viable options at the position. While the Redblacks did pick up their first win of the season last week, it came against the lowly Elks. Hamilton has faced an extremely difficult schedule to open the campaign, going up against Winnipeg, Toronto and Montreal - those three teams have lost just two games combined so far this season. Note that you would have to go back eight meetings in this series - all the way to 2018 - to find the last time Ottawa won a game in this series. Take Hamilton (10*).

My selection is on Calgary plus the points over Winnipeg at 8:30 pm et on Friday.

The Blue Bombers enter the first meeting between these West Division rivals this season having won three straight matchups in the series - matching their longest such streak in an eternity. Note that none of those victories came by more than a touchdown. To find the last time they've defeated the Calgary by more than a touchdown you would have to go back to 2019. Given they're north of a touchdown underdog in this one, the Stampeders may face long odds to break that series losing streak but I do expect them to at least give Winnipeg a serious fight on Friday. The Bombers benefited from four Alouettes turnovers but could only produce 17 points, albeit in a lopsided 14-point victory last week. They've now scored just 23 points over their last two games. Calgary turned in a rather sloppy performance the last time we saw it take the field two weeks ago as it turned the football over three times in an eventual 29-26 overtime loss to Saskatchewan. That loss came as a home favorite and that's notable as the Stamps are a perfect 7-0 ATS when coming off an upset home loss against a division opponent over the last 2+ seasons, outscoring opponents by an average margin of 11.0 points in that situation. They're also an identical 7-0 ATS when playing on the road off a loss over the same stretch, outscoring foes by 11.7 points on average in that spot. Take Calgary (8*).

Total of the Week. My selection is on the 'over' between Edmonton and Saskatchewan at 9 pm et on Thursday.

The Elks are coming off a low-scoring affair in Ottawa last week as they dropped a 26-7 decision in QB Jarrett Doege's first CFL start. They'll turn back to Taylor Cornelius at quarterback this week and it's the right move in my opinion after he had his best game of the season (before getting inexplicably benched in favor of Doege) two weeks ago against Toronto. Edmonton has indicated that it wants to simplify its offensive gameplan and play much faster this week. I think that means we'll see the Elks let Cornelius cut it loose in the passing game, noting that their ground attack has been virtually non-existent in the early going this season. This will be the second matchup between these two teams already this season after the Roughriders edged the Elks 17-13 in Edmonton back in Week 1. Note that the Elks have shown a much higher scoring floor here in Regina in recent years, scoring 24 and 26 points in two road matchups with the Riders going back to 2021 (those two games totalled 50 and 53 points). Of note, Taylor Cornelius was the Elks quarterback for both of those contests. The Elks defense has been alarmingly bad against the run this season, giving up 135, 119, 191 and 208 yards on the ground. I question how many second-and-long situations they'll be able to put the Riders in on Thursday. Saskatchewan QB Trevor Harris likely benefited most from the bye week as he was dealing with nagging hip and back injuries. Edmonton didn't give up a ton of yardage through the air in the last two games but that was largely game-script related as it dropped lopsided decisions against Toronto and Ottawa (the Argos and RedBlacks attempted only 23 and 20 passes, respectively). The Riders have aired it out 30+ times in all three games this season (their most recent contest did go go overtime). Here, we'll note that the 'over' is a long-term 36-18 with the Elks seeking revenge for a loss in which they scored 14 points or less, as is the case here, with that situation producing an average total of 55.0 points. The 'over' is also 11-2 with the Riders playing at home off a win by three points or less, which is also the situation here, leading to an average total of 53.6 points in that spot. Take the over (10*).

My selection is on Toronto plus the points over B.C. at 7 pm et on Monday.

This is the ultimate letdown spot for the 3-0 B.C. Lions as they come off a stunning 30-6 rout of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, on the road no less, and head East to face the 2-0 Toronto Argonauts on Monday. Note that B.C. hasn't taken the field since June 22nd while the Argos dusted the lowly Edmonton Elks by a 42-31 score last Sunday (June 25th). I do think the rest vs. rust factor comes into play at this early stage of the season. The Lions defense has been lights out in the early going this season but I don't think their success on that side of the football will prove sustainable. The Argos are still figuring things out with Chad Kelly at quarterback but he's shown a nice mix of passing and running ability and Toronto also boasts one of the league's best running back tandems in Andrew Harris and A.J. Ouelette. We'll grab the points with the Argos here as I do think Toronto has to feel somewhat disrespected being considered the underdog at home in this early season showdown of undefeated teams. Take Toronto (8*).

My selection is on Winnipeg minus the points over Montreal at 7 pm et on Saturday.

The Alouettes have drawn a favorable schedule to open the season, starting with a home game against the RedBlacks - projected to be one of the weaker teams in the league - followed by a bye week and then a road game against the reeling Tiger-Cats (now 0-3 on the campaign). Here, Montreal will take a step up in class against the Blue Bombers, who are coming off a miserable showing, at home no less, in a 30-6 loss to the B.C. Lions last week. That was an extremely difficult spot for Winnipeg as it returned home and played on just five days' rest after a 45-27 rout of the Roughriders in Regina. Now the Bombers have had time to regroup having not played since last Thursday and I expect a much better showing. Note that the straight-up winner has gone 8-1 ATS in the last nine meetings in this series with the only exception being a Bombers 10-point victory as an 11.5-point home favorite back in 2021. Montreal checks in a long-term 37-62 ATS when coming off consecutive ATS victories, as is the case here. Take Winnipeg (8*).

My selection is on the 'under' between Edmonton and Ottawa at 7:30 pm et on Friday.

It will be battle of backup (or worse) quarterbacks as two winless teams match up in Ottawa on Friday. Edmonton will turn to Jarrett Doege in place of an ineffective Taylor Cornelius. While Doege did throw a pair of touchdown passes in last Sunday's 43-31 home loss to the Argos, those two scores came in the game's final three minutes when the contest was already well in hand (Toronto was leading 43-17). Doege also threw a pick-six in that game and I tend to think the Elks will handle Doege's workload carefully here as they play on a short week, on the road no less. On the flip side, the Elks defense has actually held up well for stretches this season. Last week, they limited the Argos impressive offense to only one touchdown in the game's first 28 minutes before Toronto was able to open things up. Here, Edmonton will certainly be taking a step down in class after facing the Riders, Lions and Argos in its first three contests. The RedBlacks continue to run a patchwork offense with QB Jeremiah Masoli sidelined. Tyrie Adams will take over at quarterback after Nick Arbuckle was able to accomplish much in the first two games. Adams is known more for his running ability than his passing and I don't envision Ottawa really opening the playbook for him here. The RedBlacks have actually run the football only 25 times through the first two games but that's been largely game-script dependent as they've been trailing most of the way. Here, in a home favorite role, I expect them to use their ground attack more generously, especially when you consider the Elks have allowed more than 100 rushing yards in all three games this season. Defensively, the RedBlacks will be fresh having not played in over two weeks. They allowed just one offensive touchdown in the game's first 38 minutes against Calgary last time out. Credit Ottawa for allowing a grand total of just 41 points in its first two games against the Alouettes and Stempeders. The Elks and RedBlacks have met six times since 2019 and we've seen a fairly low scoring floor with three of those six contests totalling 32 points or less with a low-water mark of 28 points. Only one of those six games reached more than 43 points. Take the under (8*).

My selection is on the 'under' between Saskatchewan and Calgary at 7 pm et on Saturday.

The Roughriders enter this game on the heels of two straight 'over' results to open this season but I look for that trend to change on Saturday. This is somewhat of a statement game for Saskatchewan after last week's ugly defensive effort against the Blue Bombers. While the Riders defense was generally awful in that game, I came away more concerned about their offense with veteran WR Derel Walker sidelined for the next six weeks. The Riders found the end zone three times in the game's first 33+ minutes but then never scored another touchdown the rest of the way, despite the wide-open nature of that ultimately lopsided affair. Here, they'll go on the road to face a Stampeders defense that should be able to generate plenty of pressure on QB Trevor Harris. Calgary's offense has sputtered a little in the early going this season but did perform better in last week's win in Ottawa. I do think it will be taking a step up in class here, however, and I believe the jury is still out on the Stamps offense with the likes of WR Reggie Begleton and RB Ka'deem Carey sidelined. Calgary managed only one offensive touchdown in the first 38 minutes and change against Ottawa last week. While we've seen some high-scoring matchups between these two teams over the years, the scoring floor has been around the 37-point mark while the ceiling hasn't been hit with much consistency going back to 2019. Here, we'll note that the 'under' is 8-1 with the Riders playing on the road off an ATS loss over the last three seasons, as is the case here, resulting in an average total of just 44.2 points. Take the under (8*).

Game of the Month. My selection is on Montreal plus the points over Hamilton at 7:30 pm et on Friday.

While the Tiger-Cats are licking their wounds following their second straight loss to open the season, the Alouettes are fresh off their bye week, which came on the heels of a season-opening victory over Ottawa. Als QB Cody Fajardo didn't look great in his regular season debut with his new team, which perhaps was to be expected. I do expect a better showing from him following an extra week of practice and perhaps taking a step down in class against a Ti-Cats defense that hasn't shown a pulse through two games. Back in Week 1, Hamilton allowed three Winnipeg touchdowns in less than an eight-minute stretch in the first quarter. Last Sunday, the Ti-Cats yielded three touchdowns in just over a 17-minute stretch in the first half against Toronto. You have to wonder whether the Hamilton offense is capable of keeping up here as it deals with a number of key injuries. QB Bo Levi Mitchell isn't expected to play on Friday. It will also be missing three offensive linemen, with a fourth - Dayton Black - suiting up but not 100% healthy. As you would expect, the Als are at virtually full strength following an early season bye week. Only DB Nafees Lyon checks in as questionable for Friday's game. Here, we'll note that the Ti-Cats are now 0-6 ATS in the month of June going back to last season, outscored by an average margin of 11.2 points in those games. Meanwhile, the Als are 9-2 ATS when involved in games where the line settled between +3 and -3 since the start of last season, which is likely to be the case here, outscoring foes by 7.0 points on average in that situation. Take Montreal (10*).

My selection is on the 'over' between B.C. and Winnipeg at 8:30 pm et on Thursday.

Something has to give on Thursday in Winnipeg as the Lions enter sporting an 0-2 o/u mark while the Blue Bombers have seen both of their contests go 'over' the total. Despite key injuries on both offenses, I'm anticipating a relatively high-scoring affair. The Lions will be without perhaps their top offensive threat in WR Dominique Rhymes as he deals with a foot injury. Vernon Adams Jr. has proven to be an effective 'point guard' type distributor in this offense and I'm confident we'll see others step up including RB Taquan Mizzell who has not only run for 174 yards in two games but has also hauled in seven catches. The Bombers have yet to hit their stride defensively, most recently allowing a banged-up Saskatchewan offense to find the end zone three times in the game's first 34 minutes last week. On the flip side, the Winnipeg offense has been electric early on. Last week it scored three offensive touchdowns over a 21-minute stretch last week against the Riders. The Bombers will likely be without RB Brady Oliveira on Thursday. I do think that forces their hand a little here and limits their ability to churn out long, clock-eating drives. The Lions have to realize they'll need to produce a lot more offense than they did against the punchless Elks last Saturday if they want to keep their flawless record intact. Note that the 'under' has cashed in the last two meetings in this series but we haven't seen three consecutive matchups between these two teams stay 'under' the total since 2012-13. Take the over (8*).

Total of the Month. My selection is on the 'over' between Edmonton and B.C. at 7 pm et on Saturday.

Both of these teams were involved in relatively low-scoring affairs last week with Edmonton falling by a 17-13 score at home against Saskatchewan and B.C. delivering a 25-15 win in Calgary. I'm anticipating a much higher-scoring affair as they match up in Vancouver on Saturday. While Edmonton is expected to be one of the league's worst teams this season, I do think their offense will be better than it showed last week against Saskatchewan. The Elks have plenty of talent at the wide receiver position with veterans Eugene Lewis and Emmanuel Arceneaux leading the way. Lewis showed an excellent rapport with QB Taylor Cornelius last week, hauling in five catches for 148 yards and a touchdown. While the Elks defense seemed to hold up well against the Riders, an injury to Saskatchewan's offensive focal point WR Derel Walker likely played a role in that. Here, the Elks will be up against a Lions offense that was humming in last week's win in Calgary. B.C. found the end zone twice in the game's first 16 minutes and QB Vernon Adams Jr. contributed two passing touchdowns and one on the ground. On the flip side, the Lions defense played exceptionally well but did benefit from Stampeders RB Ka'Deem Carey going down to injury, not to mention QB Jake Maier working with a depleted wide receiving corps. The 'over' has cashed in three of the last four meetings in this series with a 'floor' of 45 points. Take the over (10*).

My selection is on Winnipeg minus the points over Saskatchewan at 9 pm et on Friday.

Mosaic Stadium in Regina has traditionally been tough on opposing teams but perhaps not so much in recent years as the Roughriders have struggled to find consistency with plenty of turnover in terms of their roster. QB Trevor Harris seemed to be developing a good chemistry with WR Derek Walker but now Walker is sidelined with a knee injury while Harris battles through a hip injury of his own. Note that after Walker hauled in a touchdown in the game's first six minutes against Edmonton last week, the Riders never reached the end zone the rest of the way in an eventual 17-13 victory. That was against what projects to be one of the league's weakest teams in the Elks. The Riders will face a much tougher test against the Blue Bombers here. Winnipeg did pull out a 42-31 victory over Hamilton last week but it will likely still be in a foul mood after allowing the Tiger-Cats to claw their way back from a 29-4 halftime deficit. Note that Winnipeg found the end zone three times in the first quarter alone and didn't allow an offensive touchdown until the game was well in hand ahead 32-10 with less than four minutes remaining in the third quarter. Hamilton ultimately made the final score a little more flattering than it probably should have been thanks to a blocked punt returned for a touchdown in the third quarter and an interception return for another score in the fourth quarter. I'm confident we'll see the Bombers clean things up this week. Winnipeg has reeled off seven straight wins in this series going back to 2019 with those victories coming by an average margin of 14.9 points. Take Winnipeg (8*).

My selection is on the 'under' between Calgary and Ottawa at 7:30 pm et on Thursday.

Both of these teams were involved in relatively low-scoring season-openers last week and I expect a similar story to unfold as they match up in Ottawa on Thursday. Calgary couldn't find the end zone until B.C. had the game well in hand past the midway point of the fourth quarter last week, up 22-6. It wasn't the best defensive performance from the Stampeders either as they allowed two touchdowns in the game's first 16 minutes but they did hold the Lions out of the end zone for a 32-minute stretch from there. Here, they'll take a step down in class against what appears to be a punchless Ottawa offense still trying to figure things out with QB Jeremiah Masoli sidelined (Nick Arbuckle is likely to start again this week after an ineffective no touchdown and three interception performance against Montreal last Saturday). The RedBlacks failed to score a touchdown in their loss to the Alouettes last week. On a positive note, their defense held up well, allowing a touchdown in the first three minutes of the game but holding the Als out of the end zone for the remainder of the contest. They'll catch a break here as the Stamps are expected to be without RB Ka'Deem Carey - one of the league's best rushers. Take the under (8*).

My selection is on the 'under' between Ottawa and Montreal at 7 pm et on Saturday.

We saw a wild, high-scoring affair between the Tiger-Cats and Blue Bombers last night but I expect nothing of the sort as the RedBlacks and Alouettes kick off their CFL season on Saturday in Montreal. Ottawa will be forced to start Nick Arbuckle at quarterback as Jeremiah Masoli remains sidelined due to injury. Arbuckle was a big disappointment in his first year with the RedBlacks in 2022, throwing for a high completion percentage but finding the end zone only six times through the air to go along with 14 interceptions. I suspect Ottawa will take a rather cautious approach offensively here, likely feeling it can win even by hanging a low number on the scoreboard against an undermanned Alouettes offense. Montreal enters the season with newly-signed QB Cody Fajardo under center. He didn't show much chemistry with the Als unproven receiving corps (they lost Eugene Lewis to free agency and will start the campaign without Greg Ellingson and Tyson Philpot due to injuries). Montreal is likely to lean heavily on its ground attack led by veteran William Stanback, who is healthy entering the 2023 season. That should be music to the ears of the RedBlacks defense though, noting that they're dealing with some key injuries in the secondary. With Fajardo still learning the Als playbook, I'm not expecting them to let him cut it loose too often on Saturday. Take the under (8*).

Playoff Total of the Year. My selection is on the 'under' between Toronto and Winnipeg at 6 pm et on Sunday.

To me, this has been a rather uneventful CFL season with things going mostly as planned with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers entering the Grey Cup favored to win once again. While I do think Winnipeg ultimately wins this game, I'm not interested in laying the points here. Instead, I'll call for the Blue Bombers defense to come up big again while both offenses play it conservatively enough to help keep this one 'under' what I consider to be an inflated total. In an odd quirk, this will be the first time either side faces a different opponent in the last four games. By that I mean, the Argos have faced Montreal in each of their last three contests while the Bombers are coming off three consecutive games against the Lions. These two teams faced each other just once during the regular season and the result was a 23-22 Winnipeg victory in Toronto. That game actually eclipsed the closing total by a half-point, so we're dealing with a considerably higher posted total here. I don't believe it's warranted. While Argos QB McLeod Bethel-Thompson avoided costly turnovers against Montreal last week, he has been turnover-prone over the course of the season and I don't believe Toronto wants to put too much on his plate here, especially with veteran RB and former Bomber Andrew Harris in the backfield. The same goes for the Bombers, at least to a certain extent, as they're always comfortable doing just enough offensively while putting most of the load on their elite defense, which has been the class of the CFL this season. Here, we'll note that the 'under' is 6-3 the last nine times the Argos have sought revenge for a same-season loss against an opponent while the 'under' is 18-11 in Winnipeg's last 29 games when installed as a favorite. Take the under (10*).

CFL Game of the Week. My selection is on Hamilton minus the points over Ottawa at 7 pm et on Friday.

We successfully faded the RedBlacks last week but needed a late Alouettes go-ahead score to get there. I expect this week's contest to be a little more straight-forward as Ottawa makes the trip to Hamilton to take on the Tiger-Cats. Note that this will be the second meeting between these two teams this season after Hamilton escaped with a 25-23 victory back in mid-July. It's worth noting that the RedBlacks didn't commit a single penalty in that game and won the turnover battle 4-2 yet still lost. Banged-up and simply playing out the string at this point, I don't expect Ottawa to pick itself up off the mat following last week's loss. The Ti-Cats check in playing some of their best football in an otherwise disappointing season, reeling off consecutive wins over Saskatchewan and Calgary. With Ottawa going completely one-dimensional on offense (it has run the football 21 or fewer times in five straight games), I expect the Ti-Cats defense to feast in this one. Note that the RedBlacks are a woeful 16-30 ATS the last 46 times they've come off a high-scoring game that totalled 60+ points, as is the case here, while the Ti-Cats are 7-4 ATS in their last 11 games as a home favorite of a touchdown or less. Take Hamilton (10*).

East Division Game of the Month. My selection is on Montreal minus the points over Ottawa at 7 pm et on Friday.

The RedBlacks sold out to stop the run and ultimately pulled off a 24-18 upset victory in Montreal on Monday afternoon (we won with the 'under' in that game). Now it's the Als turn to make the necessary adjustments and get back in the win column with a quick rematch on Friday night in Ottawa. I like their chances of doing just that against a banged-up RedBlacks squad. Ottawa will be without WRs Jaylon Acklin and DeVonte Dedmon after both contributed to Monday's victory in Montreal. That's not the worst news as it will also be missing a pair of key defenders in Patrick Levels and Praise Martin-Oguike. Montreal will obviously have a chip on its shoulder entering this game having dropped two straight meetings against Ottawa. Remember, the Als lost a 38-24 decision at home against the RedBlacks in early September as well. They had no answer for the aforementioned Acklin in that contest as he went off for seven catches and 159 yards. While Ottawa QB Nick Arbuckle has been efficient in those last two matchups against Montreal, he's been more of a 'game manager' than anything else, throwing for 542 yards but just one touchdown. I don't think there's any intimidation factor at play here as Montreal won the lone previous matchup between these two teams in Ottawa by a 40-33 score back in July. Look for the Als to bounce back on Friday. Take Montreal (10*).

East Division Total of the Month. My selection is on the 'under' between Ottawa and Montreal at 1 pm et on Monday.

We won with the 'over' in the RedBlacks blowout loss against the Lions last week but I won't hesitate to go the other way and back the 'under' as they stay on the road to face the Alouettes on Canadian Thanksgiving Monday. Ottawa was in an extremely tough spot last week, playing on a short week after a physically-draining affair against the Argos in which they coughed the football up six times and dropped a 45-14 decision. Not surprisingly, we saw Ottawa's defense look tired against the Lions, ultimately giving up 34 points on over 450 total yards of offense. Here, I do look for that Ottawa defense to regain its footing against a limited Alouettes offense that has gone run-heavy in recent weeks. Even two games back, when Montreal made good on 26-of-35 passes for 244 yards, without turning the ball over once, it still only managed to score 23 points in a win over the Tiger-Cats. It's a similar story for the RedBlacks offense. Two games back they completed 33-of-54 passes for a whopping 368 yards but could only muster 15 points in that aforementioned blowout loss against the Argos. In fact, you would have to go back four games to find the last time Ottawa scored more than 19 points in a game and that came in a wild 38-24 win over these same Alouettes right here in Montreal. Needless to say, the Als have had this rematch circled and I certainly don't expect them to turn in another flat defensive performance as they look to keep their three-game winning streak rolling. Here, we'll note that the 'under' is 9-2 with the RedBlacks coming off five or six losses in their last seven games over the last two seasons, resulting in an average total of just 41.0 points. Take the under (10*).

My selection is on the 'under' between Edmonton and Winnipeg at 7 pm et on Saturday.

We'll back the Elks and the 'under' in this contest as I expect points to come at a premium, similar to the most recent meeting between these two teams when the Blue Bombers prevailed by a 24-10 score back on July 22nd. You would have to go back eight games to find the last time Edmonton allowed 300+ passing yards in a game. Meanwhile, the Blue Bombers have yielded 330+ passing yards in each of their last two games but draw a 'get right' spot defensively against the offensively-challenged Elks here. Note that Winnipeg has held all but one of its seven opponents to 20 points or less at home this season. That being said, the Elks have limited five of their last six opponents to 26 points or less during a strong stretch since late August. They've also gained 100+ rushing yards in each of their last three games and will look to effectively shorten proceedings for their best shot at an upset win here. Note that the 'under' is 22-10 the last 32 times the Blue Bombers have played at home after winning three out of their last four contests, as is the case here, resulting in an average total of 49.7 points. Take the under (8*).

My selection is on Edmonton plus the points over Winnipeg at 7 pm et on Saturday.

We'll back the Elks and the 'under' in this contest as I expect points to come at a premium, similar to the most recent meeting between these two teams when the Blue Bombers prevailed by a 24-10 score back on July 22nd. You would have to go back eight games to find the last time Edmonton allowed 300+ passing yards in a game. Meanwhile, the Blue Bombers have yielded 330+ passing yards in each of their last two games but draw a 'get right' spot defensively against the offensively-challenged Elks here. Note that Winnipeg has held all but one of its seven opponents to 20 points or less at home this season. That being said, the Elks have limited five of their last six opponents to 26 points or less during a strong stretch since late August. They've also gained 100+ rushing yards in each of their last three games and will look to effectively shorten proceedings for their best shot at an upset win here. Note that the 'under' is 22-10 the last 32 times the Blue Bombers have played at home after winning three out of their last four contests, as is the case here, resulting in an average total of 49.7 points. Take Edmonton (8*).

My selection is on the 'over' between B.C. and Toronto at 4 pm et on Saturday.

We won with the 'over' in the Lions blowout win over the RedBlacks and I won't hesitate to go back to the well with the same play this week as B.C. heads to Toronto to challenge the Argos. Everything has been clicking offensively for the Lions this season and I don't see the Argos defense standing in their way here. Note that even two games back when Toronto forced a whopping six turnovers against a bad RedBlacks offense, it still gave up 15 points. Last week against Calgary the Argos were ripped for 161 yards on just 24 rushing attempts. The good news is, the Argos offense can score, particularly here at home. Prior to last week's ugly 29-2 defeat they had put up 24+ points in four consecutive games. Seeking revenge for a 44-3 loss in B.C. earlier this season I'm confident we'll see Toronto show up and show out offensively in this one, noting that the 'over' is 8-1 the last nine times it has come off two ATS wins in its last three contests, as is the case here, leading to an average total of 51.7 points in that spot. Take the over (8*).

Non-Division Total of the Year. My selection is on the 'under' between Saskatchewan and Hamilton at 7:30 pm et on Friday.

We won with the 'under' in the Riders blowout loss to the Blue Bombers last Friday and I won't hesitate to go back to the well with the same play this week as Saskatchewan travels to Hamilton to face the Tiger-Cats. The Riders have allowed their last three opponents to rack up 130+ rushing yards but that's had more to do with negative game script than anything else as they dropped all three contests, with two of them coming in blowout fashion against the Bombers. Hamilton doesn't figure to have the type of offense to take full advantage of the Riders defensive deficiencies, noting that it hasn't had a 100+ rushing yard game since August 12th against Toronto. The Riders pass defense has held up well, allowing just 27-of-49 completions over their last two games. You would have to go back six games to find the last time the Riders allowed an opponent to pass for over 300 yards. This is actually a higher posted total than we saw the last time these two teams met back in June - a game that totalled only 43 points. Note that the 'under' is 30-16 the last 46 times the Riders have played on the road after losing three of their last four games ATS, as is the case here, resulting in an average total of 46.9 points. Meanwhile, the Ti-Cats have seen the 'under' go 34-18 the last 52 times they've sought revenge for a road loss by 17+ points against an opponent, which is also the situation here, leading to an average total of 48.2 points in that spot. Take the under (10*).

My selection is on the 'over' between Ottawa and B.C. at 10:30 pm et on Friday.

I like the way this one sets up as a high-scoring affair, much like we saw in the first meeting between these two teams this season - a contest that resulted in 65 points back in late June. Ottawa has seemingly thrown caution to the wind offensively down the stretch, attempting 33, 31, 40 and 54 passes over its last four games. After scoring just 19 and 15 points in its last two contests, I look for the RedBlacks to bounce back with a big offensive performance here. That's because B.C.'s defense has sagged. It has allowed its three highest rushing yard totals of the season over its last four games. The Lions have also yielded their opponents 24+ pass completions in three of their last five games. Each of their last two games came against the Calgary Stampeders and in those two contests they allowed 53-of-72 passes for 595 yards. Even three games back, when the Lions limited the Alouettes to 16-of-24 passing and only 163 yards through the air, they still gave up 31 points. I understand why we're actually working with a lower total than we saw in the first matchup between these two teams this season and it has a lot to do with the Lions quarterback situation. Regardless, I'm anticipating a shootout. Take the over (8*).

CFL Total of the Week. My selection is on the 'under' between Saskatchewan and Winnipeg at 8 pm et on Friday.

This will be the third meeting between these two teams in the last four games. The first was a low-scoring affair (we won with the 'under' in that contest) as the Blue Bombers eked out a 20-18 win. Playing on a short week, the rematch was a track meet with Winnipeg prevailing by a 54-20 score. Here, I'm anticipating something closer resembling the first matchup as the two teams come off their respective bye weeks. It's worth noting that this total is higher than both of the previous meetings. When we last saw Winnipeg take the field, it was routed by a 48-31 score in Hamilton. Needless to say it will be focused on getting things back under control defensively on Friday. We're still talking about one of the league's best defensive teams. The Riders lost 26-24 against the lowly Elks last time out. Edmonton ran wild in that game, racking up 202 rushing yards on just 22 carries. I'm willing to chalk that up as an anomaly as Saskatchewan has allowed just 95 rush yards per game this season. It is worth noting that the Riders did hold Edmonton to 13-of-24 passing for 237 yards and haven't allowed an opponent to pass for 300+ yards since August 19th against B.C. Here, we'll note that the 'under' is 16-6 the last 22 times the Riders have played on the road off an upset loss against a division opponent, with that spot producing an average total of just 44.0 points. Meanwhile, the 'under' has gone 14-4 the last 18 times the Bombers have come off an upset loss by 17+ points, as is the case here, leading to an average total of 47.5 points. Take the under (10*).

CFL Total of the Week. My selection is on the 'under' between Hamilton and Montreal at 7:30 pm et on Friday.

We won with the 'over' the last time these two teams met back on August 20th. We're dealing with a considerably higher posted total this time around. I believe it will prove too high. The Tiger-Cats are fresh off a wild 48-31 upset win over the Blue Bombers last week. Chalk up that offensive explosion as an anomaly as they had been held to 25 points or less in eight of their last 10 games previously and just 56 points combined over their last three contests. The Alouettes delivered their best defensive performance of the season last time out, posting a 31-10 victory over the B.C. Lions before their bye week. It's important to note that the Ti-Cats win last week was boosted by three Winnipeg turnovers, noting that Hamilton actually gained 'only' 97 yards rushing and 327 yards passing despite an ultra-efficient 25-of-32 game through the air. Hamilton has now gone four straight games without rushing for 100+ yards as a team. One-dimensional offenses don't tend to enjoy sustained success in the CFL. Speaking of one-dimensional, the Als aerial attack has been sputtering as they've completed 22 or fewer passes while throwing for 256 yards or less in four of their last five contests. Noting that the Ti-Cats have allowed completions on just 64-of-100 passes while forcing six turnovers over the last three games, Montreal will probably be looking to stay run-centric here. Note that the 'under' is a long-term 147-112 with the Ti-Cats seeking revenge for a loss against an opponent, as is the case here, with that spot producing an average total of 51.1 points. Better still, the 'under' is a perfect 7-0 the last seven times Hamilton has played on the road following a non-division game, which is also the situation here, leading to an average total of only 36.5 points. Take the under (10*).

CFL Game of the Week. My selection is on Edmonton plus the points over Calgary at 8 pm et on Saturday.

The Elks have very little left to play for as they sit in last place in the West Division. A home game against the rival Stampeders, playing with triple in-season revenge, should get their juices flowing, however. Edmonton kept things close in Monday's matchup between these two teams in Calgary, ultimately losing by just eight points. Note that the Stampeders defense has sagged as the season has gone on. They've now allowed 20+ pass completions in 10 consecutive games. On the flip side, the Stamps have scored 20+ points in four straight contests. They accomplished that feat only once previously this season and went on to score just 19 points in their next game. I saw some positives from the Elks offense on Monday as they gained 74 yards on 18 rush attempts and QB Taylor Cornelius completed 22-of-33 passes for 257 yards - the second straight games in which the Elks threw for 250+ yards. Take Edmonton (10*).

My selection is on the 'under' between Toronto and Hamilton at 1 pm et on Monday.

This is a rematch of a meeting between these two teams just last week as the Argos rolled to a 37-20 home victory. The Ti-Cats were marred by four critical turnovers in that game, directly leading to Toronto hanging a crooked number on the scoreboard. I expect a more cautious approach from the Hamilton offense here. The Ti-Cats know they can manage the Argos offense - provided they don't hand them excellent field position time and time again. Note that Toronto amassed only 337 total yards in last week's victory. Hamilton has held 10 of its 11 opponents to 90 or fewer rushing yards this season while allowing more than 25 pass completions only once in those 11 contests. While the Argos defense has been vulnerable at times, I'm not convinced the Ti-Cats can take full advantage. Hamilton's ground game has fizzled since ripping off 149 yards against Toronto on August 12th. In two games since, the Ti-Cats have managed just 68 yards on 15 carries against Montreal and 64 yards on 20 attempts last week against the Argos. Take the under (8*).

CFL Total of the Year. My selection is on the 'under' between Winnipeg and Saskatchewan at 6 pm et on Sunday.

I really like the way this total sets up on Sunday as the Blue Bombers and Roughriders meet for the first time in the 2022 season.

Last year's three matchups between these two teams totalled 31, 42 and 38 points, with the latter result coming in the West Division Final.

The Blue Bombers enter this game off one of their worst defensive efforts of the season, yet they still won that game by a 31-29 score over Calgary. In that contest, the Stampeders turned in a near perfect offensive performance, running for 115 yards on 18 attempts while completing 23-of-28 passes for 294 yards. They still 'only' scored 29 points. I don't envision the Riders improving or even coming close to reaching those numbers here.

Saskatchewan performed about as well as anyone could have expected as it staged a 23-16 upset at B.C. last week. The Riders ran for 164 yards on 23 rush attempts and completed 19-of-24 passes for 321 yards in that victory. Again, Saskatchewan was that efficient offensively but still scored 'only' 23 points.

Winnipeg has leaned heavily on its ground attack this season as its passing game hasn't been quite as effective or explosive as we've seen in years' past. The Bombers have ripped off 118+ rushing yards in four straight games entering this contest. The Riders present a difficult challenge in that regard, however, as they've given up 100+ rushing yards only twice in seven games this season - that's despite the fact that they've lost four of seven contests.

This is actually a more critical matchup in the West Division than it might appear at first glance. While the Blue bombers sit atop the West Division at 6-1, with a loss here, the Riders would pull within two games of them noting that these two teams will meet two more times in September. With that in mind, I'm anticipating a tightly-contested affair, which lends itself to a relatively low-scoring game on Sunday afternoon in Regina. Take the under (10*).

My selection is on the 'under' between Ottawa and Montreal at 7:30 pm et on Friday.

I don't believe we're in store for a shootout like we saw between these two teams in their first meeting this season - a game that totalled 73 points back in July.

Note that Ottawa has scored more than 25 points in a game only once this season, that coming in that 40-33 loss to Montreal. Meanwhile, the Alouettes had put up 20 points or fewer in three consecutive games before scoring 29 in a one-point win over a sagging Hamilton defense last time out.

Montreal hasn't had any semblance of a ground attack this season and now faces an Ottawa squad that has put together a terrific stretch in terms of pass defense, allowing just 14, 16 and 14 pass completions over its last three games.

On the flip side, Ottawa attempted 33 passes against a bad Elks defense last week but could only muster 252 passing yards. The RedBlacks have passed for 300+ yards only once this season. That was against the Als but I'm confident Montreal will make the necessary adjustments here. Take the under (8*).

My selection is on the 'under' between Saskatchewan and B.C. at 10:30 pm et on Friday.

We've seen a considerable adjustment to the total in this rematch of last week's 28-10 Lions victory in Saskatchewan. Part of that has to do with the low-scoring nature of last week's game but more of it has to do with the injury to Lions MVP candidate QB Nathan Rourke.

Rourke has done it all for the Lions this season, pacing an offense that has scored 28+ points in five of seven games. Michael O'Connor will take over at quarterback. While he's been in the CFL since 2019, he's only seen limited game action and is by no means the dual threat that Rourke has proven to be (O'Connor has a career seven rush yards on six attempts). He's completed 9-of-12 passes this season but has tossed an interception. The offense will without question be scaled back somewhat this week at least.

The Riders meanwhile are dealing with a cluster of ankle injuries at the wide receiver position. That leaves a struggling Cody Fajardo with few reliable options - a recipe for disaster against a fierce Lions defense. Perhaps we'll see the Riders get back to running the football after all but abandoning that part of their offense in last week's blowout loss. That would of course play into our hands by helping to keep the clock moving.

Note that the 'under' is 49-25 in the Riders last 74 games when listed as a road underdog of between 3.5 and 7.0 points, as is the case here. Take the under (8*).

East Division Game of the Year. My selection is on Hamilton plus the points over Toronto at 7:30 pm et on Friday.

These two teams have split a pair of meetings this season with both successfully defending their home field. Here, I look for a reversal of sorts as the Ti-Cats look to take a step toward taking control of the lowly East Division with a key road victory.

Hamilton's offense has shown flashes of brilliance to be sure. The Tiger-Cats ground attack has led the way at times but last week they threw for over 300 yards for the second time in three games. All indications are that QB Dane Evans will be good to go for this one and I expect him to step in and perform well against an Argos defense that has been inconsistent at best. Note that teams that have chosen to run on the Argos have been successful, including the Ti-Cats, who gained 149 yards on just 21 attempts against them just two games back.

Offensively, it seems as if Toronto has gone off a cliff. Yes, the Argos scored 34 points in a win over these same Ti-Cats earlier this month but that had more to do with Hamilton's inability to keep its offense on the field than anything else. Note that the Argos have gained fewer than 70 yards rushing in four straight games and now face a Ti-Cats squad that hasn't yielded more than 90 yards rushing since way back in Week 1. I get the feeling that Hamilton's defense will make life miserable on Argos QB McLeod Bethel-Thompson after getting torched for 382 yards through the air against Montreal last week. Hamilton has still held all seven opponents to 25 or fewer pass completions this season. Toronto needed a whopping 43 pass attempts to get to just 276 passing yards against Calgary last week.

Here, we'll note that the Ti-Cats are a perfect 6-0 ATS when coming off two losses in their last three games over the last two seasons, as is the case here, outscoring opponents by 11.1 points on average in that situation. Take Hamilton (10*).

East Division Total of the Month. My selection is on the 'over' between Hamilton and Montreal at 4 pm et on Saturday.

I see this as another breakout spot for the Ti-Cats offense after scoring 34 points in a win over Toronto last week.

The Alouettes are getting absolutely shredded by opposing ground attacks, allowing 138, 102, 152 and 118 rushing yards over their last four games. The Ti-Cats are more than capable of taking advantage as they've gained 100+ yards on the ground in three of their last four contests.

While the Als are coming off a low-scoring overtime victory in Winnipeg last week, they generally don't shy away from high-scoring shootouts. Note that they've aired it out 31 or more times in three of their last four games while the Ti-Cats have yielded opponents' 37+ pass attempts in two of their last three games.

Despite the low-scoring result last week, Montreal has seen four of its last six games total 55+ points. Take the over (10*).

CFL West Division Game of the Month. My selection is on Edmonton plus the points over Saskatchewan at 10 pm et on Saturday.

This will be a rematch of a Week 1 clash between these two teams that saw Saskatchewan prevail by a 26-16 score. The Elks certainly weren't without their opportunities in that game as they were afforded 36 pass attempts in the loss. That's been a common theme for the Riders as they've struggled mightily to contain opposing passing games, yielding 33, 37, 38 and 33 pass attempts over their last four games with those four opponents completing 21, 26, 30 and 20 passes.

Meanwhile, the Riders offense has seemingly gotten worse with each passing week, going from 24 to 21 to 17 points over their last three games. While on paper, the Elks defense should offer a reprieve, I'm not convinced it will play out that way on the field.

It's worth noting that Edmonton is as healthy as any team in the league right now. The Elks are just one game removed from holding Winnipeg to just 274 total yards (including 7-of-16 passing). They'll be out for revenge here and it's worth noting that prior to that first meeting between the teams this season, last year's two matchups were settled by just two and five points. Take Edmonton (10*).

CFL Non-Division Total of the Month. My selection is on the 'under' between Montreal and Winnipeg at 8:30 pm et on Thursday.

When these two teams met last week in Montreal, they combined to score 55 points in a 15-point Blue Bombers victory.

Winnipeg has now scored 35 points in consecutive games but doesn't necessarily have the look of such an explosive offensive squad under the guidance of QB Zach Collaros. It has been the Bombers ground game that has exploded over the last two weeks but after running for their two highest yardage totals of the season, I look for a step back in that department here. We can't continue to project 150+ rushing yards when the Bombers are actually only running the ball around 20 times per game.

Meanwhile, Winnipeg completed just 15-of-26 passes against the Alouettes last week and turned the football over four times. They'll be looking to clean things up here and I see this as more of a 'win and move on' type of contest for the Bombers.

Montreal has tried to sling it all over the field over the last two games but it hasn't worked as it completed just 45-of-74 passes for 491 yards in those two contests, scoring a grand total of 37 points. Things obviously won't get any easier as the scene shifts to Winnipeg against the Bombers elite defense.

Note that the 'under' is 19-4 with the Bombers playing at home off three consecutive ATS victories, as is the case here, with that situation producing an average total of just 44.3 points. Take the under (10*).

My selection is on Montreal plus the points over Winnipeg at 7:30 pm et on Thursday.

We might have been a week early fading the Blue Bombers last Saturday as they were entrenched in a battle with the Stampeders but ultimately came away with a seven-point victory. Here, I expect them to have their hands full with the Alouettes in Montreal.

The Als check in 2-5 on the season although all but one of their losses could have gone either way. Last week they couldn't muster enough offense in a 24-17 loss to the Ti-Cats (we won with the 'under' in that game). Keep in mind, they're just one game removed from putting up 40 points in a road victory in Ottawa.

While Montreal checks in as healthy as it has been all season, Winnipeg continues to deal with some nagging injuries to key players. While all indications are that the Blue Bombers key cogs will be 'full go' for this one, there's no denying it's a tough scheduling spot playing on a short week after that hard-fought battle against Calgary last Saturday. Montreal, on the other hand, has been idle since last Thursday.

The Als are 3-2 ATS in an underdog role this season and defeated the Bombers by 14 points as a 3.5-point underdog in their home matchup last year. Take Montreal (8*).

My selection is on the 'under' between Ottawa and Toronto at 5 pm et on Sunday.

The RedBlacks remain winless on the season and they'll be hard-pressed to pick up their first victory in Toronto on Sunday. With that being said, rather than lay the points with the Argos here, we'll play the 'under' as I don't expect Ottawa to come close to approaching the 33 points it scored at home against Montreal last week.

Ottawa has had an extended week to prepare for this game having not played since a week ago Thursday. That extra time off has allowed some of their defensive injuries to heal up and I certainly anticipate a better showing from that unit than we saw last week against the Alouettes. Note that prior to that contest, the RedBlacks had held four of their first five opponents to 28 points or less this season.

Toronto probably doesn't want QB McLeod Bethel-Thompson slinging it all over the field the way he has the last two games against the Roughriders. In fact, the Argos have attempted 37+ passes in three consecutive games. Here, I look for them to make a concerted effort to 'manage' the game, controlling the clock and ultimately grinding down a very beatable RedBlacks squad.

Speaking of QB play, Ottawa has never really been able to settle on a quarterback this season and that's lead to a very disjointed offensive attack. The RedBlacks aren't likely to make a lot of headway against an Argos defense that has steadily rounded into form and arguably sits just behind the Blue Bombers as the best defensive squad in the CFL. Since giving up 44 points in a rout against B.C. back in its second game of the season, Toronto has held its last three opponents to 23, 24 and 21 points. The Argos have allowed 100 yards rushing only once in five games and have limited four of five opponents to fewer than 300 passing yards. Take the under (8*).

My selection is on Calgary plus the points over Winnipeg at 7 pm et on Saturday.

I expect the Blue Bombers undefeated start to the season to finally come to an end on Saturday in Calgary.

This is a quick revenge spot for the Stampeders after they dropped a 26-19 decision in Winnipeg two weeks ago. Calgary couldn't have played much worse in that game - on either side of the football - but still lost by just a touchdown, on the road no less. I certainly anticipate a sharper performance here at home, especially given they've had an extra week to prepare.

Since that last meeting, the Blue Bombers rolled to a two-touchdown victory in Edmonton (we won with the 'under' in that game) while the Stamps enjoyed their bye week. Note that Winnipeg WR Greg Ellingson is banged-up and remains questionable to play on Saturday.

Here, we'll note that the Stamps are a long-term 111-89 ATS when coming off an ATS loss and I look for them to improve on that mark on Saturday. Take Calgary (10*).

My selection is on the 'under' between Montreal and Hamilton at 7:30 pm et on Thursday.

The Alouettes are coming off four straight 'over' results and have been downright awful defensively in each of their last three games. They do earn a bit of a reprieve here against a struggling Tiger-Cats offense that has been held to 13 points or less in three of six games this season. Last week, Hamilton actually turned in one of its best offensive performances of the season, at least statistically speaking, but could still muster only 12 points in a loss to the Lions. The good news for Hamilton is, its defense has been getting stronger with each passing game. The Ti-Cats two lowest point totals allowed this season have come in their last two contests (they gave up 23 points in a win over Ottawa and 17 in a loss against B.C.). I don't have a lot of faith in either of these offenses finishing many drives with 7's on the board, noting that last year's three meetings totalled just 37, 43 and 35 points. Take the under (8*).

My selection is on the 'under' between Winnipeg and Edmonton at 9 pm et on Friday.

The Elks are coming off a wild, high-scoring, come-from-behind 32-31 victory over the Alouettes last week. After watching the Als defense get shredded by the lowly RedBlacks last night, it's clear that they have a bottom-tier defensive unit so perhaps we can take Edmonton's offensive outburst last week with a grain of salt.

Here, the Elks will be up against arguably the league's best defense as they welcome the Blue Bombers to Commonwealth Stadium. Winnipeg has been locked-in defensively all season, allowing 22 points or less in all six games to date. Last week, they did allow 315 passing yards against the Stampeders but that was on 38 pass attempts, and they still held Calgary to only 19 points (we won with Winnipeg in that game).

Edmonton will give QB Taylor Cornelius his second start of the season with Tre Ford still sidelined. Considering his tendency to turn the football over, they probably don't want Cornelius throwing the football 30+ times the way he did against Montreal last week. That would likely be a recipe for disaster against an elite Bombers defense.

It's worth noting that Edmonton, despite yielding 31 points in last week's win, is coming off its best defensive effort of the season so far and has had an extra day to prepare for this one. Against Montreal, the Elks allowed 80 rushing yards (the first time they held an opponent under the 100-yard mark this season) and 241 passing yards, limiting the Als to 19 completions on 26 attempts.

The Bombers enter this game a little banged-up with their RB depth being tested and standout WR Greg Ellingson listed as questionable and certainly not 100% healthy. As good as the Bombers have been, they've scored more than 26 points just once in six contests this season (we won with Winnipeg in that 43-22 dismantling of the Lions two games back). This looks like a 'win and move on' type of affair for the favored Bombers and I think that lends itself to a relatively low-scoring contest. Take the under (9*).

East Division Total of the Year. My selection is on the 'under' between Montreal and Ottawa at 7 pm et on Thursday.

We missed with the 'under' in the Alouettes stunning loss to the Elks last week but won with the 'over' in the RedBlacks narrow defeat at the hands of the Tiger-Cats. Here, I won't hesitate to back the 'under' as these two struggling East Division squads do battle in Ottawa on Thursday.

Montreal allowed an early touchdown five minutes into the game against Edmonton last week but didn't give up another until the final four minutes of the second quarter. From there, the Als built a 31-12 lead before letting their guard down and allowing three unanswered touchdowns from the final four minutes of the third quarter on. Needless to say, Montreal's focus this week will be on turning in a complete 60 minute effort on the defensive side of the football. Note that the Als have actually held their last two opponents to a combined 37-of-61 passing and only gave up 82 rush yards on 23 attempts against Edmonton last week.

They've been fortunate to score as many points as they have this season, noting they've gone four games without rushing for more than 87 yards while completing 19 or less passes in four of five contests.

Ottawa has scored 17 points or less in three of its first five games this season. Since throwing for 380 and 331 yards in their first two games, the RedBlacks have been held to 162, 268 and 203 passing yards over their last three contests. They've yet to rush for more than 94 yards in a game this season.

With the 'over' cashing in each of the Als last three games and Ottawa coming off an 'over' result against Hamilton, we're being offered a generous total here, especially considering you would have to go back four meetings in this series to find the last time a game totalled more than 43 points. Take the under (10*).

CFL Total of the Week. My selection is on the 'over' between Ottawa and Hamilton at 5 pm et on Saturday.

We missed with the 'over' in the RedBlacks loss to the Riders last week but I won't hesitate to go back to the well with the same play on Saturday as Ottawa heads to Hamilton to take on the Tiger-Cats. Both of these teams like to sling the ball all over the field. Ottawa checks in having attempted 34, 38, 27 and 33 passes over its last four contests. Hamilton has attempted 35, 51, 42 and 31 passes in its four games. With the RedBlacks once again missing two key defensive cogs in Patrick Levels and Abdul Kanneh and the Ti-Cats also likely to be without Simoni Lawrence, I believe we're in for an entertaining, relatively high-scoring affair on Saturday. Take the over (10*).

My selection is on Winnipeg minus the points over Calgary at 8:30 pm et on Friday.

This is the game of the season so far as the undefeated Stampeders travel to Winnipeg to face the 5-0 Blue Bombers. Calgary is coming off a 49-point explosion against the rival Edmonton Elks. It's worth noting that the Stamps didn't reach the end zone until just over four minutes remaining in the first half in that contest and that came on a complete defensive breakdown from the Elks defense as Malik Henry hauled in an 89-yard touchdown pass. From there, the Stamps returned a missed field goal for a touchdown less than two minutes into the second half and the rest was history as they routed the Elks by 43 points. The Blue Bombers aren't likely to be nearly as forgiving on Friday. Winnipeg is coming off a blowout win of its own but it was arguably more impressive as it came against the then-undefeated B.C. Lions, on the road no less. The Bombers are healthy and putting it all together right now as they've looked terrific on both sides of the football. They should have no trouble getting up for this game as they look to remain atop the West Division standings. While Calgary is on an impressive run, keep in mind, its four wins have come against the Alouettes (who just lost to the lowly Elks last night), the Ti-Cats (who are still winless at 0-4) and the aforementioned Elks (they check in 2-4 off last night's win). Take Winnipeg (10*).

My selection is on the 'under' between Edmonton and Montreal at 7:30 pm et on Thursday.

We're seeing CFL totals creep up given the higher-scoring nature of the league compared to 2021. I believe this total will prove too high. The Elks are off to a 1-3 start and fresh off an embarrassing 49-6 beatdown at the hands of the rival Stampeders last week, at home no less. They'll turn to backup QB Taylor Cornelius for this game and that doesn't bode particularly well as he didn't play well in limited action last season. I don't expect Edmonton to throw him to the wolves in this one, not with a subpar supporting cast. Instead look for a rather conservative offensive gameplan as the Elks try to possess the football and keep their struggling defense fresh. The Alouettes had last week off to stew over a 41-20 loss to the Roughriders last time out. While they're by no means an elite defensive team, they're better than they showed in that game. Note that in their lone previous home game this season, they limited the same Riders squad to just 13 points. At 1-3 on the season, neither team is looking for style points here, they're simply aiming to get back in the win column and get back in the conversation in their respective division. Take the under (8*).

CFL West Division Game of the Month. My selection is on Winnipeg plus the points over B.C. at 7 pm et on Saturday.

The Lions have arguably been the most impressive team in the CFL through the first month of the season, reeling off three straight wins while scoring a whopping 137 points. It's worth noting, however, that they've yet to play a team outside the East Division. There's no question, the West is best when it comes to the CFL - at least so far this season. The Lions should find that out on Saturday as they host 4-0 Winnipeg. The Blue Bombers are the two-time defending Grey Cup champions and look every bit the part of a championship contender again this year. Winnipeg is playing on a very short week here after dispatching the Argos by a score of 23-22 on Monday. I don't mind that though as I think it helps the Bombers stay focused on this business-like two-game road trip. The Lions were barely able to escape with a 34-31 win over the still-winless RedBlacks in Ottawa last week. We saw some regression from the B.C. defense in that game and now I think we see it from its offense as it takes on arguably the best defense in the CFL. This matchup was no contest last season as the Bombers swept the two-game series, including a 30-9 victory here in B.C. While the Lions are certainly a better team in 2022 I'm not convinced they've completely closed the gap. Take Winnipeg (10*).

CFL Total of the Week. My selection is on the 'over' between Ottawa and Saskatchewan at 9:30 pm et on Friday.

We won with the 'over' in the RedBlacks wild 34-31 loss to the Lions last week and I won't hesitate to go back to the well with the same play here. Last year, the RedBlacks and Riders combined to score just 33 points in their lone meeting here in Regina. On paper, Ottawa is immensely improved offensively, even if it hasn't played out that way on the field through three games. The RedBlacks check in 0-3 on the campaign but certainly showed some signs of life in last week's narrow loss. The fact that they put up 31 points despite an off game from QB Jeremiah Masoli (14-of-27 passing) was encouraging. The concern here is that Ottawa is missing a number of key cogs in the defensive backfield, most notably Patrick Levels and Abdul Kanneh. After allowing B.C. QB Nathan Rourke to go off in last week's game (359 yards passing), it will be hard-pressed to bounce back playing on the road with an undermanned secondary. The RedBlacks aren't generating nearly enough pressure on opposing quarterbacks (they had just one sack last week) which opens the door for Riders QB Cody Fajardo to pick them apart on Friday. Saskatchewan just hung 41 points on Montreal in what was a quick revenge spot after getting blown out by the Alouettes the week previous. I don't think we've seen the Riders best offensively but it's been encouraging to see RB Jamal Morrow go off for a pair of 100+ yard rushing games already this season, including 103 yards and a touchdown on 16 carries last week. Note that Ottawa has been among the worst in the CFL at stopping the run, giving up just shy of 4.6 yards per rush this season. Take the over (10*).

My selection is on Toronto plus the points over Winnipeg at 7:30 pm et on Monday.

While the two-time defending champion Blue Bombers are off to a perfect 3-0 start it's important to keep things in perspective as those three victories came against the RedBlacks and Tiger-Cats - two teams that have combined to go 0-7 to start the season. The Argos are coming off an embarrassing 44-3 road defeat at the hands of the red hot Lions. I'm confident they can make amends for that poor performance back home, where they opened the campaign with a narrow one-point win over the Alouettes. I had the Argos rated as one of the league's best defensive teams entering the season and saw nothing to change my mind in their season-opener. After getting blasted by the Lions there's certainly reason for pause, but I'm willing to give them a 'mulligan' for that poor effort and look for a positive response here. The Blue Bombers offense hasn't looked the same without RB Andrew Harris (who now plays for Toronto but is listed as questionable for this game due to injury). They've scored just 64 points through three games with QB Zach Collaros topping out at 21 pass completions (he's completed just 54-of-80 pass attempts so far this season). WR Nic Demski hauled in six catches for 96 yards last time out against Hamilton but he's now sidelined with an injury. As the two-time defending champs, Winnipeg is going to get every opponents' best punch and I expect nothing different on Monday. Take Toronto (8*).

My selection is on the 'under' between Montreal and Saskatchewan at 7 pm et on Saturday.

Last week we saw these two teams combine to score 50 points in an Als blowout victory in Montreal. I expect a different story to unfold in Saturday's rematch in Regina. Note that the Als set the tone for that relatively high-scoring affair by returning the opening kickoff for a touchdown. The only offensive touchdown scored prior to garbage time inside the final two minutes of the fourth quarter came early in the second quarter on a Riders defensive breakdown (70-yard touchdown pass by Montreal). I expect a sharper performance from the Saskatchewan defense here at home. On the flip side, the Riders will be without WR Shaq Evans. Montreal has held up reasonably well defensively so far this season, yielding just 63 points through three games, despite playing two of its three contests on the road. While the Als will have QB Vernon Adams Jr. back in the fold for this one, I'm actually not certain that helps their offense as Trevor Harris filled in admirably over the last two games. Take the under (8*).