CFL Betting Notes – Week 16

It was a wild weekend in the CFL starting with Winnipeg’s 31-14 victory against Montreal on Friday night as a 10-point home favorite. Saturday’s action started with Ottawa pulling off the upset against Edmonton as a three-point underdog at home in a solid 28-15 victory.

Saskatchewan got past Toronto 30-29 later in the day, but the favored Roughriders could not cover the three points on the road. Week 15 closed things out with British Columbia squeezing past Hamilton 35-32 in overtime as a 2 ½-point underdog at home.

Friday, Sept. 28

Toronto Argonauts (3-9 SU, 5-7 ATS) at Calgary Stampeders (10-2 SU, 7-5 ATS)
Point-spread: Calgary -13
Total:: 53

Game Overview

The Argonauts are fading from the playoff picture in the East Division with four straight-up losses in a row. Covering against Saskatchewan on Saturday moved them to 1-3 against the spread during this same span. The total went OVER 51 points in that game and it has now gone OVER in six of Toronto’s last eight games. Defensively, the Argos are allowing an average of 31.3 points per game.

Calgary is coming off a Week 15 bye. The Stampeders failed to clinch a playoff berth while remaining idle with the Roughriders’ win, but they still have a comfortable two and a half game lead in the West Division title race. They have closed as favorites in all 12 games with an even 3-3 record ATS in six previous home games. The total has gone OVER in four of their last five games behind an offense that is averaging 31.7 points per game.

Betting Trends

-- Calgary has won nine of its last 10 games against Toronto SU including a 41-7 romp in Week 2 as a four-point road favorite. However, the Argonauts have a 5-2 edge ATS in their last seven road games against the Stampeders. The total has stayed UNDER in nine of the last 11 meetings in Calgary.

Saturday, Sept. 29

British Columbia Lions (6-6 AU, 8-4 ATS) at Hamilton Tiger-Cats (6-7 SU, 5-7-1 ATS)
Point-spread: Hamilton -7
Total:: 51

Game Overview

The Lions remain in the thick of the playoff race in the West as a possible crossover team to the weaker East Division. They have quietly put together a three-game winning streak both SU and ATS with the mild upset over Hamilton their last time out. Travis Lulay is sidelined with a separated shoulder, but Jonathan Jennings filled the void against the Tiger-Cats with 346 yards passing and three touchdown throws.

Hamilton fell two games off the pace set by Ottawa in the East with last week’s loss. Coming into the backend of this inter-division home-and-home series, they have lost their last two games (SU and ATS) following a SU three-game winning streak. This is the kind of inconsistency that has plagued the Tiger-Cats all season long. They are 3-3 SU at home this season with a 2-4 record ATS. The total has gone OVER in their last four games overall.

Betting Trends

-- BC has a 4-1 edge both SU and ATS in its last five games against Hamilton and the total has gone OVER in seven of the last 10 games between the two. The Lions have won 11 of the last 16 games played in Hamilton SU.

Winnipeg Blue Bombers (6-7 SU, 6-6-1 ATS) at Edmonton Eskimos (7-6 SU, 6-7 ATS)
Point-spread: Edmonton -6 ½
Total:: 56

Game Overview

Winnipeg moved a half game out of the final playoff spot with Friday’s win. The victory snapped a four-game losing streak both SU and ATS. It was also the first time in the Blue Bombers’ last five games that the total stayed UNDER the closing line. It has gone OVER in nine of their first 13 games this season. Matt Nichols completed 72 percent of his 25 passing attempts on Friday for 256 yards and a score.

The Eskimos’ slow start out of the gate on Saturday led to an early 9-0 deficit that they could never close. This was a bad loss for a team chasing a playoff spot in the West and their third SU setback in their last four games. The total stayed UNDER 55 points against the RedBlacks and it has stayed UNDER or ended as a PUSH in five of Edmonton’s last seven games. The Eskimos have gone 3-7 ATS this season when closing as favorites.

Betting Trends

-- These two division rivals met in Week 1 with Edmonton coming away with a 33-30 win on the road as a seven-point favorite. Winnipeg has covered ATS in four of the last five meetings with the total going OVER in three of the five games.

Sunday, Sept. 30

Saskatchewan Roughriders (8-5 SU, 7-6 ATS) at Montreal Alouettes (3-10 SU, 6-7 ATS)
Point-spread: Saskatchewan -6
Total:: 48

Game Overview

The Roughriders have won five of their last six games SU, but they have failed to cover in their last two contests. The total went OVER 51 points in Saturday’s win at Toronto and it has gone OVER in five of their last six games. Zach Collaros tossed two touchdowns and two interceptions in that game with Marcus Thigpen leading the way on the ground with 95 yards rushing on just four carries. His longest run of the day covered 82 yards resulting in a score.

Montreal continues to bring up the rear in the East Division behind an offense that is averaging just 16.8 points a game. Johnny Manziel got the chance to start at quarterback against Winnipeg and he ended the game with 212 yards passing and 36 more yards on the ground. Trailing by two touchdowns at halftime, the Alouettes could only manage to score eight points over the final two quarters.

Betting Trends

-- Montreal has won four of its last five games against the Roughriders SU including this season’s 23-17 victory in late June as a 10 ½-point road underdog. The Alouettes are 4-2 ATS in their last six home games against Saskatchewan and the total has stayed UNDER in the last five meetings overall.