My selection is on Ottawa plus the points over Montreal at 1 pm et on Monday.

It's been a trying season for the Redblacks as they check in sporting a 4-11 overall record. One thing we do know is that they tend to play competitive football on the road. Their largest margin of defeat away from home this season has been just 11 points. Off three straight losses SU and ATS, not to mention the fact that they're looking to avenge a 39-18 rout against the Alouettes at home earlier this season, I think Ottawa gets up for this matinee affair on Canadian Thanksgiving. The Als roll into this divisional showdown off three straight wins (2-1 ATS) but a five-game SU and ATS losing streak isn't all that far back in the rear-view mirror (from August 2nd to September 6th). Note that Montreal is just 3-9 ATS over its last 12 contests. Take Ottawa.

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

Both teams limp into this matchup on two-game losing streaks both straight-up and against the number, and while the side looks like a toss-up, I see clearer value in a lower-scoring outcome. Saskatchewan and Ottawa both coughed the ball up three times in their respective defeats last week, which could easily lead to a more cautious, possession-focused approach here.

Ottawa’s offense has cooled considerably since its mid-summer spark, being held to 27 points or fewer in four of its last five outings. Saskatchewan hasn’t been much sharper, with just two games above 25 points in its last five, and it only managed to win one of those two contests (that was at home). Neither offense looks particularly trustworthy right now, and with both sides likely to prioritize ball security after last week’s mistakes, I don’t expect this game to open up.

Take the under.

West Division Total of the Year. My selection is on the under between B.C. and Calgary at 9:30 pm et on Friday.

The Lions have been an ‘over’ machine of late, cashing seven straight after starting the year with four ‘unders’ in their first six contests. I expect that run to finally come to an end here in their first matchup of the season with division rival Calgary.

The Stampeders had their three-game winning streak snapped last time out, surrendering 30+ points for the first time in a month in a lopsided loss to Edmonton. Coming off their bye week, I’m confident we’ll see a more disciplined effort from Calgary’s defense.

Meanwhile, B.C. has certainly been rolling offensively, scoring 30+ points in six straight. But it’s worth noting that all of those outbursts came against East Division opponents. Against West rivals, the Lions are averaging just 23.7 points per game this season. Facing a rested Calgary stop unit, I don’t expect another offensive explosion.

With playoff positioning on the line and both sides familiar with one another, this feels like a game where defenses set the tone and points are harder to come by than the recent trends suggest.

Take the under.

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

The Alouettes have fallen on hard times this season, losers of five straight games both SU and ATS following a solid 5-2 SU and 4-3 ATS start. We'll back them on Saturday, however, as they look to avenge an earlier 34-6 home loss against the Roughriders that sent them on their spiral. Saskatchewan is in a fairly obvious letdown spot following consecutive wins over the division rival Blue Bombers, including an 'upset' victory in Winnipeg last week. Despite their recent success SU, the Riders are actually just 1-1-1 ATS over their last three contests and 1-2-1 ATS in their last four home games. Take Montreal (10*).

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

These two teams were involved in a wild, high-scoring affair last week as the Redblacks sent the Lions to their second straight loss. B.C. has allowed a ridiculous 86 points over its last two games. I certainly don't believe the Lions are as bad of a defensive team as they've shown and fully expect them to tighten things up in this quick rematch with the Redblacks. The 'over' has cashed in six straight games involving the Lions but that's a streak we want to bet against on Friday. The Redblacks' longest 'over' streak this season has lasted just two games as they've recorded an even 6-6 o/u mark. Take the under (10*).

My selection is on the 'under' between Saskatchewan and Winnipeg at 4 pm et on Saturday.

Scoring has been up across the CFL in recent weeks but I think the 'under' is the way to go in this rematch between West Division foes on Saturday. Last week, the Roughriders prevailed in a wild 34-30 affair at home against the Blue Bombers. That game saw five turnovers between the two teams. I expect a more measured approach from both squads in this important divisional clash on Saturday. Saskatchewan in particularly certainly isn't accustomed to getting rail-roaded defensively. Note that the Riders have allowed just north of 22 points per game this season. Winnipeg, meanwhile, has seen plenty of bumps in the road but is just one game removed from holding Montreal to just 13 points and I think the familiarity of facing the Riders for the second time in a week will help its cause. Take the under (8*).

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

The RedBlacks offense is moving in the wrong direction, dropping from 46 to 27 to 20 points over their last three games. I'm not convinced that the bye week will help their cause in that department and they draw a tough matchup on Friday with B.C. coming into town in a foul mood off a 52-34 beatdown in Toronto (and also off its bye week). The Lions are certainly a better defensive team than they showed in that loss to the Argonauts. They're just one game removed form holding Montreal to only 18 points in a lopsided victory. The Lions do enter this game on a five-game 'over' streak but I think that's being factored too heavily into this total, especially with this being the first meeting between these non-division foes this season. Take the under (8*).

LATE ADD for Monday: My selection is on Edmonton plus the points over Calgary at 6 pm et on Monday.

This is the first meeting between these provincial rivals this season and with that in mind, I don't think the oddsmakers have a great handle on where the number should be set. While the Stampeders own a three-game advantage on the Elks in the West Division standings, that's due to Edmonton getting off to a miserable start. It's been a different story lately as the Elks enter this contest on the heels of three straight wins SU and five in a row ATS. Calgary snapped its three-game ATS losing streak with a resounding 32-15 win over Saskatchewan at home last week. Here, the Stamps will look to conclude a perfect three-game homestand but I expect them to have their hands full. Note that Calgary is just an even 3-3 ATS at home this season including an 0-3 ATS mark when laying points. Take Edmonton.

My selection is on the 'under' between Toronto and Hamilton at 2:30 pm et on Monday.

This is one of the highest posted totals we've seen in CFL action this season and I believe it will prove too high. Toronto checks in off a wild 52-34 win over B.C. last week. That came at home, where the Argos have posted a 4-2 o/u record this season. It's been a different story on the road, where they've logged a 1-3-1 o/u mark. The Tiger-Cats have seen the 'under' go 4-2 in their last six games and enter rested off their bye week. The bye probably came at a good time as their defense had been struggling, allowing 33, 24, 41 and 29 points over their last four games. I think they can right the ship in this matchup as Toronto is in line for a big letdown offensively. Take the under.

West Division Total of the Month. My selection is on the 'over' between Saskatchewan and Calgary at 7 pm et on Saturday.

It's been an 'under' week in the CFL so far but I look for that to change on Saturday night as the Roughriders travel to face the Stampeders in what will be their second matchup of the season. The first went Calgary's way in 'upset' fashion by a 24-10 score on the road. Here, I look for the Riders to certainly respond offensively. They haven't had to keep their foot on the gas in recent games with their last two SU and ATS wins coming by 34-6 and 29-9 scores against Montreal and Hamilton. They do figure to get pushed by a Calgary team that has scored 24 points or more in six of nine games this season. Defensively, the Stamps have allowed 23, 31 and 27 points during their current three-game ATS slide. They haven't been forcing turnovers, with just two over their last three games. Without applying a great deal of pressure, the Stamps could be in tough against a Riders offense that has been near perfect during their four-game winning streak. This total is a shade lower than we saw in the first matchup and that has a lot to do with the Riders current form and the fact that the first meeting was low-scoring. I think it's the wrong move. Take the over (10*).

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

The Alouettes enter this game on the heels of three straight losses both SU and ATS including a lopsided defeat on the road against the Lions last week. I do think they can take the Blue Bombers down to the wire at the very least on Thursday. This will be the first meeting between these non-division opponents this season and I can't help but feel the line is out of whack. Winnipeg has done little to inspire confidence this season. It does come off a win at home against Ottawa last week but it failed to cover the spread in that contest, dropping to 2-4 ATS over its last six games. The last three times we've seen the Bombers on the road they've lost by three touchdowns at Calgary, lost by two touchdowns at Toronto and then lost by a point in a rematch in Calgary. Save for one ugly showing against the Roughriders earlier this month, the Als have been ultra-competitive at home this season, going 2-3 with two of the losses coming by a single point. Take Montreal (8*).

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

The Alouettes enter this game off back-to-back losses both SU and ATS and have now dropped the cash in five of their last six games overall. I still don't feel this line makes a lot of sense, noting that Montreal took B.C. down to the wire in a narrow 21-20 home loss in the first meeting in July. B.C. can breathe a sigh of relief after snapping its two-game slide with a 41-38 'upset' win in Hamilton last week. The Lions are still just 1-2 ATS over their last three games and 3-5 ATS over their last eight contests. The Als have played some of their best football on the road this season where they've gone 3-1 SU and ATS. The lone loss came in a clear letdown spot in Hamilton after Montreal had gotten off to a perfect 3-0 start to the season. Take Montreal (8*).

My selection is on the 'under' between Hamilton and Saskatchewan at 3 pm et on Saturday.

The Tiger-Cats are coming off a wild 41-38 loss at home against the Lions to snap their six-game winning streak. I think they're a far better defensive team than they've shown lately, allowing 33 points or more in two of their last three contests. Note that both of those performances came against B.C. and they turned the football over a combined five times. Turnovers aren't really something that's predictable although it is worth noting that the Roughriders have forced two or less in six of their eight games this season and one or less in five of those contests. Saskatchewan ranks as one of the league's best defensive teams having allowed 24 points or less in four of is last five games. This will be the second matchup between these two teams this season after the Riders travelled to Hamilton and delivered a 28-23 win in mid-June. Take the under (8*).

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

We've seen some wild finishes in the CFL this season with a number of those games finding their way 'over' the total, including last night's 30-27 Blue Bombers victory over the Redblacks. We came out on the wrong side of that total but won't hesitate to go back to the well with the 'under' again on Friday as the Argonauts and Elks match up in Edmonton. The Argos gave up 46 points in last week's four-point loss at home against Ottawa - marking their second straight defeat both SU and ATS. We'll call for them to rebound defensively on Friday as they take on one of the league's weakest offenses in Edmonton. The Elks have scored 24 points or less in four straight and six of eight contests this season. The good news for Edmonton is that it has reeled off three straight ATS wins thanks in large part to improved defensively play. The Elks gave up more than 30 points in each of their first five games this season but have now limited their last three foes to 21, 28 and 22 points. Toronto's offense is surely in for a letdown after producing a whopping 31+ points in three straight games. With this being the first meeting between these non-division foes this season, I think the oddsmakers have gone too high with this total. Take the under (8*).

Total of the Week. My selection is on the 'under' between Ottawa and Winnipeg at 8:30 pm et on Thursday.

This will be the first meeting between these non-division foes this season and I think the oddsmakers are missing the mark with the total. Ottawa scored a whopping 46 points in last week's wild four-point victory in Toronto. Offensive performances like that certainly haven't been commonplace for the Redblacks this season and I think we're seeing an overreaction in the total in this contest as a result. In fact, Ottawa has been held to 20 points or less in five of nine games so far this season. It will run into a Winnipeg squad that is sure to be in a foul mood after coughing up a big lead in an eventual 28-27 loss in Calgary last week - its fourth defeat in its last five games. I do think the Blue Bombers defense is trending in the right direction still. Keep in mind, last week's contest stopped a streak of four straight games in which the Bombers had given up 30+ points. Their recent string of 'over' results had a lot to do with their sloppy play on offense as strange as that sounds. Winnipeg had turned the football over 13 times over a four-game stretch before turning in a clean offensive performance last week. Look for this game to be lower-scoring than most expect. Take the under (10*).

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

I can't help but feel this is a 'wrong team favored' situation as the Blue Bombers head to Calgary to face the reeling Stampeders on Saturday. The Stamps sit half a game ahead of the Bombers in the West Division standings but check in off back-to-back losses both SU and ATS. Meanwhile, Winnipeg finally brought its three-game SU and ATS slide to an end with a convincing 40-31 win in Toronto last week. I think the Bombers are a better team than their modest 4-3 record indicates and we'll back them in this double-revenge spot after they dropped a pair of blowout decisions against the Stamps back in July. Calgary was thought to be one of the more talent-depleted teams in the league entering this season and I think its regression to the mean continues this week. Take Winnipeg (10*).

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

These two teams met early in the season with the Alouettes prevailing by a score of 38-28 in Edmonton. I expect a lower-scoring rematch on Friday. The Elks offense remains very limited. They've scored 14, 18 and 24 points during their current three-game losing streak. If they want to steal a victory in Montreal they're likely going to have to 'ugly it up' on Friday night. Montreal figures to be determined to bounce back defensively after a miserable showing at home against Saskatchewan last week. The Als uncharacteristically gave up 34 points in that lopsided defeat. Prior to that, Montreal had held three straight foes to 25 points or less. Take the under (8*).

Non-Division Game of the Month. My selection is on B.C. plus the points over Hamilton at 7:30 pm et on Thursday.

Hamilton has gone a perfect 6-0 since starting the season 0-2 and that includes a come-from-behind 37-33 'upset' win over the Lions in B.C. two weeks ago. The Tiger-Cats followed up that victory with a 28-24 win in Edmonton last week. Meanwhile, B.C. is coming off its bye week and will certainly be up for this 'revenge' spot as it looks to snap its two-game SU and ATS losing skid. That loss to the Ti-Cats was a wild affair that certainly could have gone either way. Last week, Hamilton turned in a near-perfect road effort (no turnovers and over 400 total yards of offense). I think the Ti-Cats will be hard-pressed to get right back up to that level against a rested and hungry Lions squad on Thursday. Take B.C. (10*).

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

These two teams were involved in a wild, high-scoring barn-burner in B.C. two weeks ago as the Tiger-Cats rallied late for a 37-33 victory. I expect a much different type of game to unfold on Thursday. The Ti-Cats will be playing on a short week after posting their sixth straight win on Saturday in Edmonton. Meanwhile, B.C. comes off its bye week following that bitter defeat against the Ti-Cats. The week off was necessary for the Lions to make some adjustments defensively. The Ti-Cats are rolling along, certainly on the defensive side of the football where they've held four straight and seven of eight opponents to fewer than 300 yards passing this season. Take the under (8*).

Non-Division Total of the Month. My selection is on the 'under' between Hamilton and Edmonton at 3 pm et on Saturday.

Hamilton enters this game off a wild, come-from-behind 37-33 win in B.C. last week. The Tiger-Cats have reeled off five straight wins, scoring 30+ points in four of those games. I'm not convinced their offense will avoid a letdown here, however, as they stay on the road to face the 1-5 Elks. Edmonton's offense is arguably the weakest in the league and checks in off consecutive games scoring 18 points or less. While Hamilton did allow 33 points in last week's win, that had a lot to do with the Ti-Cats turning the football over three times. The Elks aren't as likely to force the Ti-Cats hand here, noting that Edmonton has forced just three turnovers through six games. Hamilton has held three of its last five opponents to 20 points or less. The 'under' is 2-0 in games after the Ti-Cats give up 30+ points this season, as is the case here. Take the under (10*).

My selection is on Edmonton plus the points over Hamilton at 3 pm et on Saturday.

We'll fade the red hot Tiger-Cats on Saturday afternoon as they go for their sixth straight victory. Long winning streaks aren't all that commonplace in the CFL. Here we find Hamilton not only going for its sixth straight SU victory but also its third ATS win in a row. Note that the only other time the Ti-Cats attempted that feat they failed to cover at home against Ottawa on July 12th. Edmonton has lost back-to-back games and sits at 1-5 on the season. However, the Elks have been playing better lately having gone 2-1 ATS over their last three contests. They got just 25 rushing yards in last week's contest yet still lost by only three points on the road against a good Roughriders team. Take Edmonton (8*).

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

We'll lay the points with the Blue Bombers on Friday as they look to avenge last week's 31-17 loss to the Argonauts. Winnipeg turned the football over four times in that contest - matching its season-high which was set the week previous. There's obviously a lot for the Blue Bombers to clean up ahead of this contest but we know they're capable of bouncing back as they started the season 3-0 SU and ATS before their current three-game SU and ATS slide. Toronto has reeled off consecutive wins ATS. I simply feel this is a difficult spot travelling on a short week against a revenge-fuelled opponent. Take Winnipeg (8*).

Non-Division Game of the Year. My selection is on B.C. minus the points over Hamilton at 7 pm et on Sunday.

The Lions entered the season with a lot of optimism but have fizzled since a 31-14 win over Edmonton in Week 1, ultimately settling at 3-4 through seven games. It's easy to forget that B.C. had won back-to-back games both SU and ATS prior to last Saturday's 'upset' loss at home against Saskatchewan. I think this matchup sets up a lot better for the Lions as they look to improve to 2-0 SU and ATS against the East Division this season. Hamilton got off to an 0-2 start to the campaign but has gone 4-0 SU and 3-1 ATS since. Keep in mind, all four of those games came against East Division opponents. This contest opens a stretch of four straight games against West Division foes with the Tiger-Cats 0-2 SU and ATS against non-division opponents this season. Hamilton has been living off of turnovers lately, collecting a whopping six over its last two games. That's helped mask some defensive issues against the pass and also the fact that the Ti-Cats, despite nursing leads most weeks, having been able to consistently run the football. On the flip side, the Lions have been vulnerable at times against the run but have stamped out opposing passing games, allowing more than 18 completions only once and 250+ yards through the air on just one occasion as well. I think this is a manageable bounce-back spot for B.C. at home ahead of its bye week and then a rematch with the Ti-Cats in Hamilton on August 7th. Take B.C. (10*).

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

As I noted in my analysis of last night's play on the 'under', scoring is down across the CFL lately with the 'under' now a healthy 7-2-1 in the last 10 games overall. While that may have little bearing on the outcome of tonight's game between the Tiger-Cats and Lions, I do think we're once again looking at an inflated total. The Lions gave up 33 points in last week's home loss against the Roughriders. They've allowed 30+ points on two previous occasions this season and in both cases they followed it up with an 'under' result. In fact, B.C. has yet to post consecutive 'over' results this season. The Tiger-Cats have given up just 35 points in two games since allowing 38 points against Toronto on July 4th. The Lions offense entered the season with high expectations and go off to a nice start scoring 31 points in a Week 1 victory but they've topped 27 points only once in six games since. Take the under (8*).

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

Scoring is down considerably in the CFL over the last couple of weeks with the 'under' cashing at a 6-2-1 clip in the last nine games. We'll call for that trend to continue on Saturday as the Blue Bombers head to Toronto to take on the Argonauts. This will be Winnipeg's first time venturing outside of the West Division this season. The Bombers enter this contest off consecutive losses both SU and ATS against Calgary with both of those games going 'over' the total. In fact, each of Winnipeg's last three contests have gone 'over'. It might be time for the Bombers to scale back the offensive playbook a little bit as turnovers have become a major issue over the last couple of games. They've coughed the football up six times during their two-game slide. Here, they'll face a struggling Argos team that still won't have QB Chad Kelly back in the fold. Toronto's main focus right now is on steadying an offense that hasn't been able to get anything going on the ground, topping out at 67 rushing yards in a game this season. The Argos defense did turn in one of its best performances of the season last week in Montreal, ultimately falling short by a single point, 26-25. Winnipeg is certainly a better defensive team that it showed in its last two games as it was torched for 78 points in consecutive defeats against Calgary. Prior to that, the Bombers had held their first three opponents to a grand total of 57 points. Note that Winnipeg has done a terrific job of keeping the lid on opposing passing games this season, holding four of five opponents to fewer than 20 completions. Take the under (8*).

My selection is on Montreal plus the points over Calgary at 9 pm et on Thursday.

The Stampeders early season success has certainly been priced into this pointspread with the Alouettes entering as considerable underdogs ahead of Thursday's clash at McMahon Stadium. Montreal checks in off a narrow win but non-cover against Toronto last week. That marked the Als third straight ATS defeat following a perfect 3-0 SU and ATS start to the season. I'm confident we'll see the Als at the very least take this game down to the wire but I think they'll have a good shot at the outright 'upset' as well. Calgary is off to a stellar 5-1 SU and ATS start to the season including three straight 'upset' victories - two against the Blue Bombers and one against the Roughriders. Keep in mind, the Stamps lone defeat this season did come at home against another East Division team in the Redblacks. Despite its winning ways, Calgary has been sloppy at times, turning the football over seven times over its last four contests. Montreal has forced at least a turnover in all six games this season with 12 overall. As I've alluded to many times before, turnovers are unpredictable but I still think those numbers are worth noting with the Als listed as sizeable underdogs on Thursday. Take Montreal (8*).

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

The Tiger-Cats have reeled off three straight wins including a narrow 23-20 victory over the Redblacks last week. I'm not convinced they'll make it four in a row as they head to Ottawa for a quick rematch on Sunday. Hamilton has enjoyed success thanks to playing it smart, taking care of the football with just two turnovers in five games this season. Of note, the Ti-Cats have yet to rush for more than 100 yards as a team. That's not a recipe for prolonged success in the CFL as far as I'm concerned. The Redblacks have been right there in the majority of their five losses this season but here they are with just one victory through six games. That makes this a critical divisional affair before they play seven of their next eight games against non-division opponents. The Redblacks forced eight turnovers through their first four games this season but haven't produced any in their last two games. As we know, turnovers can be based on luck as much as anything else. We'll take a flyer on Ottawa as it looks to clean things up and get back in the win column at home on Sunday. Take Ottawa (8*).

West Division Game of the Year. My selection is on B.C. minus the points over Saskatchewan at 7 pm et on Saturday.

The Lions have looked like a different team since suffering a lopsided 37-18 loss in Saskatchewan back on June 28th. Since then, they've reeled off consecutive wins including a 32-14 rout of the Elks in Edmonton last week. QB Nathan Rourke has only gotten stronger since returning from injury and comes off a near perfect 26-for-30 passing performance last week. He wasn't available the last time these two teams met and can certainly be a difference-maker in this rematch. The Roughriders will have Trevor Harris back under center after he missed the last matchup between these two teams. Harris has been playing well but isn't all that difficult to prepare for as he is as one-dimensional of a quarterback as you'll find in today's CFL. At 3-3 on the season, the Lions still have their work cut out for them but are certainly trending in the right direction. Look for them to get their revenge against a Riders team that will be facing a West Division opponent on the road for the first time this season. Take B.C. (10*).

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

This will be the second matchup between these two teams this season after the Alouettes opened the season with a 28-10 rout of the Argonauts on June 6th. Note that Toronto has more than held its own against Montreal in recent years. The two teams have met in the playoffs in each of the last three years with the Argos winning two of those three contests. Meanwhile, the Als haven't delivered consecutive victories over the Argos in the regular season since 2019 and prior to that it last accomplished that feat in 2014. Here, we're not asking for an outright Toronto win but only for the Argos to keep things competitive. Note that Toronto turned the football over five times in its first two games this season including three turnovers against Montreal. Since then, it has turned it over just three times in its last three games. Montreal forced a whopping eight turnovers in its first three games, getting off to a 3-0 start. It has forced just two turnovers in its last two contests, however, both resulting in losses. Also of note, Montreal WR Tyson Philpot missed the team's most recent practice after being limited with a knee injury earlier in the week. Getting QB Davis Alexander back is obviously key but Philpot's absence would leave a void in the offense. He has already hauled in three touchdown catches this season. We'll grab all the points we can get with the underdog Argos in this divisional matchup. Take Toronto (8*).

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

The Lions have a far better defense than they showed during their three-game losing streak that ended last week in Montreal. In that win over the Alouettes, B.C. gave up just 20 points and I expect it to build off of that performance here. Edmonton scored 39 points in a wild victory over the Redblacks last week. Keep in mind, that was just its first victory of the season. Earlier, in the Elks season-opener, they managed only 14 points in a lopsided defeat in B.C. (that game stayed 'under' the total). This is an important spot for the Elks defense as they desperately need a better showing after allowing more than 30 points in all four of their games so far this season. The good news is, the Lions offense has been sputtering, producing 21 points or fewer in four straight games. As has been the theme in the CFL so far this week, I'm not anticipating a ton of offensive fireworks in this divisional matchup. Take the under (8*).

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

The Tigers-Cats return home riding high off a win and cover in Toronto last week - their second straight victory after starting the season 0-2. After scoring a whopping 51 points in that win in Toronto, I can't help but feel they're in for a letdown here as they return home to face a Redblacks team that will be eager to turn things around off consecutive losses. Ottawa also thrived offensively last week, scoring 33 points in a failed comeback attempt in Edmonton. Keep in mind, prior to that, the Redblacks had scored 26, 18, 20 and 16 points in their first four contests. I don't think they'll have much interest in getting involved in another track meet on Saturday. In this tough divisional matchup, look for points to come at a premium. Take the under (8*).

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

The Redblacks enter this game off consecutive 'upset' losses including a 39-33 setback in Edmonton last week. While they do play this game on a short week, I like their chances of hanging tough with the division rival Tiger-Cats, who check in off a win and cover in Toronto, marking their second straight victory following an 0-2 start. Familiarity between opponents tends to lend itself to tightly-contested affairs in the CFL and this should be no exception. The Redblacks entered the campaign with fairly high expectations but have faced a difficult early schedule, leading to a 1-4 start. They have certainly been competitive on the road, where they've lost only one game by more than five points, that coming in last week's defeat against the Elks. Hamilton has produced a whopping 86 points over its last two games but I certainly don't think that type of offensive production is sustainable. Look for the Redblacks to at least take this one down to the wire. Take Ottawa (10*).

West Division Total of the Month. My selection is on the 'under' between Calgary and Saskatchewan at 9 pm et on Friday.

We've seen a scoring explosion in the CFL over the last couple of weeks but I look for a lower-scoring affair as the Stampeders and Roughriders meet for the first time this season on Friday. Calgary scored 37 points in a stunning 'upset' win over the previously undefeated Blue Bombers at home last week. Keep in mind, the Stamps are just one game removed from being held to 12 points against the Redblacks. Also of note, the Stamps have been getting the job done on the ground rather than through the air. They've completed fewer than 20 passes in all four games this season and that should make them a little easier for the Roughriders defense to gameplan for. Saskatchewan checks in off its bye week after a dominant 37-18 home win over B.C. on June 28th. The Riders offense, like the Stamps, has been better than expected this season but I do wonder whether they can keep it up. At a perfect 4-0 SU and ATS this season you have to figure a letdown is coming from Saskatchewan at some point and it will face some resistance from a Calgary defense that has allowed 20 points or less in three straight games. Take the under (10*).

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

This game features two of the league's worst teams so far this season and while the total indicates a potential shootout, I don't see that developing on Sunday in Edmonton. The Redblacks offense hasn't been able to find any sort of rhythm this season, producing just 18, 20 and 16 points in their first three games. This matchup may look favorable on paper as the Elks have given up 38 and 36 points in their last two games but Edmonton figures to be locked in for this one as it returns home still looking for its first victory of the season. Offensively, the Elks did score 28 points against a terrific Montreal defense two games back but most of those (22) came in the fourth quarter when the game was all but decided. The Elks best path toward a victory here is by keeping the Redblacks lukewarm offense in check rather than opening things up in a back-and-forth affair. Going back to the start of the 2022 season, only one of six matchups in this series has gone over 50 total points. Take the under (8*).

Non-Division Total of the Year. My selection is on the 'under' between B.C. and Montreal at 7 pm et on Saturday.

It's an interesting contrast as the Alouettes are considered to be one of the league's elite defensive teams yet they enter this game riding a three-game 'over' streak. I look for that to change on Saturday as they host the reeling Lions. B.C. allowed 37 points in last week's rout in Regina. They're a far better defensive team than they've shown in their two road games this season (they previously gave up 34 points in a loss in Winnipeg). The good news is, Montreal comes off its worst offensive showing of the season and could be a little tentative after turning the football over three times in last week's defeat. Keep in mind, Montreal's only previous home game this season saw it allow just 10 points in a game that reached only 38 total points. With the Lions offense sputtering having scored just 20, 14 and 18 points over their last three games, I expect Saturday's contest to take on a defensive tone. Take the under (10*).

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

While the CFL season is off to a high-scoring start through 4+ weeks, the Argonauts actually check in sporting a 1-3 o/u record. I think we're in for another relatively low-scoring contest featuring Toronto on Friday as it hosts provincial rival Hamilton. Neither team has gotten anything going on the ground this season. Any offensive success the Argos and Tiger-Cats have had has come through the air, and thanks to their respective defenses forcing turnovers. On a positive note, both offenses have taken care of the football lately. The Ti-Cats have turned the ball over just twice in three games while the Argos, after committing five turnovers in their first two contests, have turned it over only twice in their last two games. The pointspread indicates a tightly-contested affair and with that in mind, I don't see a shootout developing between these two teams. Take the under (8*).

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

The Blue Bombers have exploded out of the gates this season, reeling off three straight wins while scoring a whopping 97 points. I do think expectations should be tempered moving forward and believe Calgary is well-positioned to keep the Bombers red hot offense in check, at least to a certain extent, on Thursday night. The Stampeders come off their bye week and enter having seen their last two games stay 'under' the total. Calgary put up 38 points in an 'upset' win over Hamilton back in Week 1 but has cooled off since, scoring only 12 points in its most recent contest - a 20-12 home defeat against Ottawa two weeks ago. With an extra week to prepare for a familiar divisional opponent, I think the Stamps defense does slow Winnipeg here. However, I question whether the Stamps offense can get going again from a standing start against a Bombers defense that has been rock solid in the early going this season, giving up just 57 points through three games. The most recent meeting between these teams totalled 78 points but that was in Winnipeg. Their last three matchups here in Calgary have all totalled fewer than 50 points. Take the under (8*).

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

The Alouettes have jumped out to a 3-0 start and will play their third straight road game on Friday in Hamilton. I think we can count on some regression from the Als offense in this one after they scored 39 and 38 points in their last two games. Note that the Tiger-Cats have had an extra week to prepare for this contest thanks to an early season bye week. Hamilton is off to an 0-2 start so it will be desperately trying to turn things around here. I don't have a great deal of confidence in the Ti-Cats offense against what has been a terrific Als defense. Montreal did allow 22 points in the fourth quarter against Edmonton last week, although two touchdowns came after the game was all but out of reach. Take the under (10*).

West Division Game of the Month. My selection is on Edmonton plus the points over Winnipeg at 8:30 pm et on Thursday.

We'll grab the generous helping of points with the Elks as they look to turn things around against the undefeated Blue Bombers on Thursday. Edmonton is off to an 0-2 start but has faced a tough schedule, travelling to face B.C. in its season-opener before hosting undefeated Montreal last week. Winnipeg was expected to take a bit of a step back this season following an incredible run of dominance in the West. Instead, the Bombers are off to a perfect 2-0 start. While they're well-positioned to improve to 3-0 here, I'm not convinced we'll see them win by margin. The Elks showed plenty of fight in the second half last week against the Alouettes, scoring 22 points in the fourth quarter alone. This is a team that I still believe has a lot of upside after a strong finish last season. For the Bombers, this sets up as a letdown spot off last Saturday's lopsided victory in B.C. We'll grab the points. Take Edmonton (10*).

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

We saw 54 total points in this same matchup last week as the Blue Bombers offense thrived in a blowout win over the Lions. B.C. will be forced to hand the keys to the offense over to QB Jeremiah Masoli after Nathan Rourke suffered an injury. I fully expect the Lions to scale back their offensive playbook as a result and perhaps lean on their defense to keep this game competitive on Saturday. Having seen the Bombers offense led by Chris Streveler just last week, the Lions will need to make defensive adjustments here. Whether it is enough to secure a bounce-back win remains to be seen, but I do think we'll see a lower-scoring affair than we witnessed last week. Take the under (8*).

My selection is on the 'under' between Ottawa and Calgary at 4 pm et on Saturday.

These two teams are headed in opposite directions right now with the Redblacks sitting at 0-2 and the Stampeders at 2-0. Optimism was running high in Ottawa ahead of the 2025 campaign with QB Dru Brown set to lead the offense to new heights. So far, not so good as Brown is hurt (Dustin Crum will start on Saturday) and the offense could muster only 18 points in last week's blowout loss to Montreal in its home opener. Calgary was projected by most to pull up the rear in the CFL and while that could still turn out to be the case, there's no denying the Stampeders have looked good on both sides of the football through two weeks of the season. Calgary went on the road and held the defending champion Argonauts to just 19 points in last week's victory. That performance looks even better after Toronto put up 32 points in last night's narrow defeat against Saskatchewan. The last meeting between these teams produced 60 points last August but I expect nothing of the sort on Saturday at McMahon Stadium. Take the under (8*).

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

The Roughriders will try to improve to 3-0 on the season as they head to Toronto to take on the winless Argonauts on Friday. I like Toronto's chances of avoiding an 0-3 hole as it stays home for a second straight week. Winning consecutive games on the road in the CFL isn't easy, especially for what I consider to be a middle-of-the-pack Roughriders squad playing on a short week (off a win in Hamilton on Saturday). Toronto did show some positive signs offensively in last week's loss to Calgary. The defense is sure to enter this game with a chip on its shoulder against revenge-minded Saskatchewan RB and former Argos teammate Ka'Deem Carey. He felt he was wrongly cut by the team in the offseason and has been vocal about it leading up to this game. I look for the Argos defense to come up with a statement performance here as they bounce back before a long week ahead of next Sunday's stop in Ottawa. Take Toronto (8*).

My selection is on Edmonton plus the points over Montreal at 9 pm et on Thursday.

We'll grab the points with the Elks as they look to bounce back from a season-opening loss in B.C. Edmonton is coming off its bye week, obviously not an ideal point of the season to get a week off but perhaps it helped work out some kinks from that setback in Week 1. Keep in mind, the Elks were in control of that season-opener in B.C. until the Lions took over in the second half. Montreal delivered its second straight SU and ATS victory to open the campaign, rolling to a 39-18 win in Ottawa last week. I expect the Alouettes to have a tough time matching the Elks intensity level here as Edmonton knows that it needs a victory to avoid a possible 0-3 start with a difficult trip to Winnipeg on deck next week. These two teams met twice last season with both of those games being decided by four points or less and neither team scoring more than 23 points in either contest. Expect a similar 'down-to-the-wire' affair on Thursday. Take Edmonton (8*).

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

These two teams are headed in opposite directions out of the gate this season as the Alouettes rolled to a 28-10 home win over the Argonauts last week while the Redblacks dropped a hard-fought 31-26 decision against the Roughriders in Saskatchewan. Ottawa entered the campaign with high hopes after sneaking into the postseason last year. There's reason to believe the Redblacks can be a thorn in the side of upper-echelon teams like the Als and this is an early opportunity to make a statement at home. Note that Montreal benefited from three Toronto turnovers in last week's rout. The Redblacks didn't turn the football over once in their narrow defeat in Regina. In what projects as a relatively low-scoring divisional affair (the total sits in the mid-40's), we'll grab all the points we can get with Ottawa at home on Friday. Take Ottawa (8*).

My selection is on Winnipeg plus the points over B.C. at 8:30 pm et on Thursday.

Following five straight Grey Cup appearances, most are anticipating a fall-off from the Blue Bombers this season. Meanwhile, the Lions are expected to win the West Division and supported that notion with a win-and-cover thanks to a second half explosion against the Elks last week (we won with the Lions in that game). I think the case can be made that the wrong team is being favored as the Bombers open their 2025 campaign at home on Thursday, however. The Elks had the Lions back on their heels in B.C.'s home opener last week but simply couldn't capitalize and create enough distance on the scoreboard. In the second half, the Lions talent gap simply won out. I don't believe there's as much of a talent gap in play in this particular matchup and look for Winnipeg to get off to a strong start in front of its home fans. Take Winnipeg (8*).

My selection is on B.C. minus the points over Edmonton at 10 pm et on Saturday.

The Lions welcomed back QB Nathan Rourke with open arms following his stint in the NFL last year. He wasn't able to successfully re-acclimate himself to the Canadian game but I expect that to change following a full training camp this year. In limited preseason looks, Rourke completed all nine of his pass attempts for just shy of 100 yards. I get the feeling facing CFL defenses could be like 'child's play' for Rourke in the early going this year. The Elks bring some hope into the new campaign after finishing with a 7-4 record over their last 11 games last year. They won't have the same element of surprise this season, however, and I look for the Lions to come storming out of the gates at home here in Week 1. Take B.C. (8*).

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

We saw a high-scoring affair between the RedBlacks and Roughriders to open the 2025 CFL season last night and while that result has no bearing on the outcome of Friday's matchup, I do expect a different story to unfold in Montreal. The Alouettes remain loaded defensively and job number one will be taking down the defending Grey Cup champion Argonauts at home on Friday night. Toronto lost a number of key pieces from the defense that led it to last year's championship. With that being said, the cupboard is by no means bare and I'm not quite as sold on the Als offense as some. Montreal moved on from veteran QB Cody Fajardo in the offseason, handing over the reins to Davis Alexander. I do expect some growing pains from the Montreal offense in the early going this season. Meanwhile, the Argos will need to tread water until QB Chad Kelly can return. Count on them to do all they can to grind it out on offense and stage an 'upset' victory here in Week 1. Take the under (8*).

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*).