CFL Betting Notes – Week 3
VegasInsider Staff Sports Betting Expert
This past weekend’s betting action in the CFL featured a trio of games starting with Ottawa’s thrilling 44-41 victory over Saskatchewan on Thursday night as a 4 ½-point home favorite. On Friday night, Edmonton stayed perfect on the year with a 39-23 win at home against British Columbia to easily cover the closing three-point spread.
Hamilton also moved to 2-0 straight-up with Saturday’s 64-14 romp over Toronto as a 4 ½-point road favorite. The Tiger-Cats are the only CFL team to also go 2-0 against the spread.
Thursday, June 27
Edmonton Eskimos (2-0 SU, 1-1 ATS) at Winnipeg Blue Bombers (1-0 SU, 1-0 ATS)
Point-spread: Winnipeg -3 ½
Total: 58
Game Overview
Edmonton is off to a fast start behind Trevor Harris at quarterback. He completed 25 of his 33 passing attempts against BC for 294 yards and three touchdown throws. Greg Ellington was his top target with nine receptions for 174 yards and two of the three scores through the air. CJ Gable anchored the running game with 111 yards rushing on 23 carries in what is shaping up to be one of the most potent offensive attacks in the CFL. The Eskimos’ defense only allowed 202 yards of total offense in that latest win.
The Blue Bombers had the week off after beating BC 33-23 in Week 1 as slight one-point road favorites. Matt Nichols got the start at quarterback in that game and he went 21-for-33 for 184 yards passing and three touchdown throws. He completed at least one pass to six different players. Andrew Harris turned in an impressive performance running the ball with 148 yards rushing on 16 carries. Winnipeg’s defense allowed 324 yards passing, but it completely shut down the running game by allowing just four yards on four carries.
Betting Trends
-- Edmonton has won seven of its last eight road games against the Blue Bombers SU and the total has gone OVER in five of the last six meetings in Winnipeg.
Friday, June 28
Montreal Alouettes (0-1 SU, 1-0 ATS) at Hamilton Tiger-Cats (2-0 SU, 2-0 ATS)
Point-spread: Hamilton -14
Total: 57 ½
Game Overview
The prospect for success in Montreal is not all that high given its front-office issues off the field and its lack of deep talent on the field. The Alouettes were able to cover in a 32-25 loss to Edmonton in Week 1 as eight-point road underdogs. They are coming off a bye in Week 2, so the added rest could be a bonus as even heavier road dogs for this matchup. Question marks at the quarterback position continue. Antonio Pipkin was the starter in Week 1, but an injury paved the way for Vernon Adams Jr. to show what he can do with this offense. He was able to tie the game against the Eskimos in the final two minutes, but Montreal’s defense could not stop Edmonton in its final possession.
The Tiger-Cats demonstrated just how potent their offense can be by ranking up 64 points in Week 2 after scoring 23 points in a Week 1 win at home against Saskatchewan. Jeremiah Masoli completed 23-of-31 passing attempts for 338 yards and three scores in Saturday’s romp. He completed passes to seven different players while Hamilton was also able to gain another 161 yards running the ball on 25 rushing attempts.Betting Trends
-- Montreal has the 4-1 edge ATS in the last five games played in Hamilton. However, the Tiger-Cats are 12-3 SU in their last 15 home games against their East Division rivals. The total has stayed UNDER in six of the last nine meetings in Hamilton.
Saturday, June 29
British Columbia Lions (0-2 SU, 0-2 ATS) at Calgary Stampeders (0-1 SU, 0-1 ATS)
Point-spread: Calgary -10 ½
Total: 53
Game Overview
The arrival of Mike Reilly as BC’s new starting quarterback drew the attention of the betting public when it came to the team’s CFL futures odds to win this season’s Grey Cup title. It has been a rocky start for Reilly through his first two games with 473 yards passing on a completion rate of 54.5 percent. He has thrown for two touchdowns against three interceptions. The Lions’ leading rusher has been John White with 28 yards on 12 carries.
Week 3 will be a good test to see if Calgary’s 32-28 loss to Ottawa in Week 1 as a nine-point favorite was just a fluke. The Stampeders’ lineup on both sides of ball is filled with quite a few new faces from last season’s championship run. Bo Levi Mitchell threw for 275 yards with one touchdown pass and one interception in the season opener. He completed 59.0 percent of his 39 passing attempts. Calgary’s defense gave up 276 yards through the air and another 125 yards on the ground against the RedBlacks.
Betting Trends
-- Calgary has won seven of its last eight games against the Lions SU and the total has stayed UNDER in the last five meetings. The total has also stayed UNDER in four of the last five meetings in Calgary.
Monday, July 1
Toronto Argonauts (0-1 SU, 0-1 ATS) at Saskatchewan Roughriders (0-2 SU, 1-1 ATS)
Point-spread: Saskatchewan -13
Total: 54
Game Overview
Toronto started this season pretty much the way it played last season with a bad loss. The 2017 Grey Cup Champions sunk to just four straight-up victories last year. The Argonauts’ defense allowed a touchdown on six consecutive Hamilton drives in Saturday’s loss, in what was the team’s worst loss ever in this heated East Division battle. James Franklin got the call at quarterback and he threw for 211 yards and no scores against one interception. Mcleod Bethel-Thompson completed nine-of-16 passes for 99 yards and the team’s only touchdown throw.
The Roughriders hung tight against Ottawa last Thursday coming off a tough loss to Hamilton on the road in Week 1. With quarterback Zach Collaros once again sidelined with an injury, Cody Fajardo took over the reins and completed 27 of his 34 passing attempts against the RedBlacks for 360 yards and two touchdowns against zero interceptions. Saskatchewan’s defense allowed 354 yards and three scores through the air.
Betting Trends
-- Saskatchewan has a SU 5-1 record against Toronto in the last six meetings with a 4-2 edge ATS. However, the Argonauts are 8-4-1 ATS in their last 13 road games against the Roughriders.
Cfl News
