CFL Odds For This Weekend: Rough Riders Will Go to 4-0

Yes, it has been a few weeks since we gave our CFL picks for the week. But now we’ve had a chance to see these teams play some games, thanks to ESPN and NBC Sports Network. Not having seen much CFL football in past seasons, we are still getting used to some of the strange rules. The longer and wider field with the extremely long end zones is strange to look at. Also, seeing all the receivers going in motion toward the line is odd as well. The Canadian game is very exciting though. With only three downs to gain the necessary 10 yards to get a first down, this means offenses have to put the ball in the air a lot. Imagine an NFL offense that never gains a yard on first down. That is how every offensive series starts in the CFL.

Another thing that will sometimes throw us off is when a punt goes into the end zone for a touch-back, the punting teams gets one point. Last week in a driving rain storm a place kicker grabbed the ball after snap squirted right through the holder’s hands. He picked it up and wisely punted the ball into the end zone to salvage at least the one point for his team. In the NFL, a play like that often ends in disaster such as a kicker getting tackled or turning the ball over for a defensive touchdown.

Let’s look at the CFL standings going into this week’s action:

West Division

Saskatchewan Rough Riders  3-0   The Rough Riders have beaten Edmonton 38-19, Calgary 36-21 and Toronto 39-28.

Calgary Stampeders                   2-1   Calgary has beaten BC 44-32, lost to the Rough Riders 36-21 and beat Montreal 22-14.

BC Lions                                          2-1    The Lions lost to Calgary 44-32 then beat Toronto 24-16 and then beat Edmonton 17-3.

Edmonton Eskimos                    1-2    The Eskimos lost to the Rough Riders 39-18, then beat Hamilton 30-20 and then lost to BC 17-3.

East Division

Toronto Argonauts                    1-2     The Argos beat Hamilton 39-34, lost to BC 24-16 and lost to Saskatchewan 39-28.

Hamilton Tiger-Cats                 1-2     Hamilton lost to Toronto 39-34, lost to Edmonton 30-2- and beat Winnipeg 25-20.

Winnipeg Blue Bombers          1-2     Winnipeg lost to Montreal 38-33, beat Montreal 19-11 and lost to Hamilton 25-20.

Montreal Alouettes                    1-2     The Alouettes beat Winnipeg 38-33, then lost to them 19-11 then lost to Calgary 22-14.

Oddsmaker  has the odds for this week’s games:

Toronto at Winnipeg– Toronto is -2 -110 and Winnipeg +2 -110 ATS. Over/Under is 53 with over and under both -110. We are going to go with Toronto -2 and the over.

Montreal at Calgary-   Montreal is +7 and Calgary is -7 ATS. Over/Under is 50 with both -110. We will take Montreal +7 and the over on this one.

Edmonton at BC-           Edmonton is +8.5 and BC -8.5 -110 ATS.  Over/Under is 50 with both -110.  We will take Edmonton +8.5 and the over on this one.

Hamilton at Saskatchewan-  Hamilton is +6 -110 and the Rough Riders -6 -110. Over/Under is 57 with both -110.  We like Saskatchewan -6 and the under.