CFL Betting Notes – Week 1
VegasInsider Staff Sports Betting Expert
Calgary has opened as a 13/5 favorite on the futures betting market. Second on the list is the British Columbia Lions at 9/2 followed by Ottawa and the Winnipeg Blue Bombers at 11/2 betting odds.
Further down the list at 7/1 is the Hamilton Tiger-Cats with the Saskatchewan Roughriders at 15/2. Rounding out the nine CFL teams are the Edmonton Eskimos (10/1), Toronto Argonauts (15/1) and Montreal Alouettes (18/1).
Thursday, June 13
Saskatchewan Roughriders (12-7 SU, 10-9 ATS) at Hamilton Tiger-Cats (9-11 SU, 8-11-1 ATS)
Point-spread: Tiger-Cats -5
Total: 48
Game Overview
The Roughriders were one game off the pace to win the West Division last season ahead of a 23-18 loss to Winnipeg in the playoffs as two-point home underdogs. Craig Dickenson takes over the reins as head coach for the departed Chris Jones.
He is likely to turn to Zach Collaros as his starting quarterback for Week 1 with the long-term hopes that he can stay healthy and return to form as a solid passer in the CFL. Saskatchewan was 6-3 straight-up on the road last year.
Expectations have been raised for Hamilton this season in light of Jeremiah Masoli’s play at quarterback in 2018. He was second in the CFL with 5,209 total passing yards while tossing 28 touchdowns against 18 interceptions.
The Tiger-Cats also have a new head coach at the helm with Orlondo Steinauer taking over for the departed June Jones. Hamilton bowed out of the playoffs last season with a 46-27 loss to Ottawa as a 3 ½-point road underdog in the East Division Finals.
Betting Trends
-- Saskatchewan has won the last five meetings SU and the total has stayed UNDER in seven of the last 10 games in this inter-division matchup.
Friday, June 14
Montreal Alouettes (5-13 SU, 11-7 ATS) at Edmonton Eskimos (9-9 SU, 8-10 ATS)
Point-spread: Eskimos -10
Total: 50
Game Overview
A front office shake-up over the weekend sent Mike Sherman packing after just one season as Montreal’s head coach. This unexpected departure less than a week before the season opener elevated offensive coordinator
Khari Jones to the top spot. It was believed that Vernon Adams Jr. would be the team’s starter at quarterback, but Antonio Pipkin was also in the mix during the preseason. Other off-field issues have the Alouettes under league ownership while the search for a buyer continues.
The Eskimos missed the playoffs last season after falling to last place in the West. Following the loss of Mike Reilly at quarterback, Edmonton will turn to Trevor Harris after playing last season in Ottawa.Harris threw for 5,116 passing yards while helping the RedBlacks get back to the CFL title game. He tossed 22 touchdowns against 11 interceptions in 2018. The Eskimos did win two of three both SU and against the spread to close out 2018 on a positive note.
Betting Trends
-- Montreal has a 6-3 edge ATS in the last nine meetings, but Edmonton has won its last five home games against the Alouettes SU. The total has gone OVER in four of the last five meetings.
Saturday, June 15
Ottawa RedBlacks (12-8 SU, 10-10 ATS) at Calgary Stampeders (15-5 SU, 11-9 ATS)
Point-spread: Stampeders -8
Total: 51
Game Overview
The quest to win another East Division title begins with Dominique Davis as the likely starter at quarterback for this rematch of last year’s Grey Cup. Ottawa also has Jonathan Jennings on the roster as another possible option under center.
The RedBlacks will also have some new faces running the ball with the departure of William Powell, who led the CFL in rushing attempts last year. Heading on the road for the season opener, Ottawa was 6-5 ATS last season in 11 games closing as an underdog.
It has been a given that Calgary would post the best SU record in the CFL after doing so the previous three seasons. However, the Stampeders lost 11 starters from last year’s championship roster.
Bo Levi Mitchell was resigned at quarterback after being named the league’s Most Outstanding Player. He was third in total passing yards (5,124) while leading the way with 35 touchdown throws. Until some other team steps up its game, Calgary remains the team to beat in the CFL.
Betting Trends
-- Calgary has won its last five home games against Ottawa SU and it has a 6-1 edge ATS in the last seven meetings at McMahon Stadium. The total has gone OVER in seven of the last 10 games between the two inter-division rivals.
Winnipeg Blue Bombers (11-9 SU, 11-8-1 ATS) at B.C. Lions (9-10 SU, 10-9 ATS)
Point-spread: Lions -1
Total: 51
Game Overview
The Blue Bombers are another solid team stuck in the logjam that is the West Division. They made it all the way to the division finals last season before losing to Calgary 22-14 as 4 ½-point road underdogs.
The total stayed UNDER in six of their final eight games after leading the CFL in scoring last season with an average of 30.6 points per game. Matt Nichols started 14 games and threw for 3,146 yards and 18 touchdowns, but he was also picked off 13 times. Winnipeg also has Chris Streveler waiting in the wings.
The Lions are among the ranks of the five teams that will start the 2019 regular season with a new head coach. With Wally Bruno calling it a career, the torch has been passed to DeVone Claybrooks.
He is already facing some high expectations with Reilly returning to BC as the new starting quarterback after he began his CFL career with the Lions. In his final season in Edmonton, Reilly once again led the league in total passing yards (5,562) with 30 passing touchdowns and 18 interceptions.
Betting Trends
-- BC has won seven of its last 10 home games against Winnipeg SU in this West Division tilt, but Winnipeg has an overall 8-2 edge ATS in the last 10 meetings. The total has gone OVER in seven of the last nine matchups.
Cfl News
