Week 10 of the CFL season is already underway with the Ottawa Redblacks losing to the Toronto Argonauts on Wednesday night. All of our contributors except for Santino Filoso picked the Argos, which is already reflected in the records at the bottom of the article.
We’ve got a couple of all-West Division matchups slated for the early portion of the weekend, following by two all-East Division contests on Thanksgiving Monday. Enjoy the holiday, folks. We’re thankful for the CFL, turkey, and each and every one of you.
Without further ado, here are the picks.
Friday, October 8
Edmonton Elks at Winnipeg Blue Bombers, 8:30 p.m. EST
Betting Line: Bombers -10
These teams both experienced controversy this week with Eddie Steele being fired from his radio gig in Edmonton after being critical of general manager Brock Sunderland, while Kenny Lawler was suspended after being arrested for impaired driving. This feels like a mismatch on the field with the clubs at opposite ends of the West Division standings.
DUNK: Winnipeg in a walk. BOMBERS
HODGE: When do tickets for the West Final go on sale? BOMBERS
ABBOTT: Winnipeg is the best team in the league and Edmonton is a flaming manure truck careening towards a canyon. BOMBERS
BALLANTINE: You know it’s a bad week in Edmonton when getting blown out by Winnipeg is the third worst L of the week. BOMBERS
FILOSO: Edmonton is in a free fall, both on and off the field BOMBERS
GASSON: Edmonton is bad. Real bad. Winnipeg is the opposite. BOMBERS
HUDSON: Winnipeg at home versus a franchise in on/off-field turmoil and QB concerns. BOMBERS
LUDWIG: I badly wanted to do it, but ultimately the only way you pick Edmonton is if you’re angling for a job with 630 CHED. BOMBERS
MCGUIRE: Losing Kenny Lawler hurts, but not enough to fall short at home to this dumpster fire. BOMBERS
SMITH: It has been a bad week in Edmonton and it’s going to get worse when they get molly-whopped by Winnipeg. BOMBERS
ELKS 0
BOMBERS 10
Saturday, October 9
Calgary Stampeders at Saskatchewan Roughriders, 7:00 p.m. EST
Betting Line: Riders -3
Bo Levi Mitchell can’t wait to make his first start in Regina in three years, saying “it’s so fun to go into a stadium where people hate you.” Cody Fajardo had a tough week during which he suggested he “spazzed out like a child” amid Saskatchewan’s loss in Calgary. He’ll look to have a bounce-back game and get the Riders back to their winning ways.
DUNK: Redemption time for Cody Fajardo. RIDERS
HODGE: Cody Fajardo apologized for his postgame comments. He won’t have to apologize for another loss. RIDERS
ABBOTT: This game will be a major test of Fajardo’s ability to overcome adversity. I think he passes. RIDERS
BALLANTINE: Bo says he’s fine, Jake could step in if he isn’t. Calgary is in must-win mode. STAMPS
FILOSO: I believe in Bo. STAMPS
GASSON: Saskatchewan needs this one. RIDERS
HUDSON: Calgary’s plan to win this back-to-back using shoestring receivers lasted about a half. RIDERS
LUDWIG: Calgary had a whopping 244 net yards last week. Saskatchewan isn’t losing to that again. RIDERS
MCGUIRE: Last week, Calgary was the wounded animal. This week, it’s Saskatchewan. RIDERS
SMITH: Home team won last week, home team will win again this week. RIDERS
STAMPS 2
RIDERS 8
Monday, October 11
Ottawa Redblacks at Montreal Alouettes, 1:00 p.m. EST
Betting Line: Als -9
Ottawa’s already lost once this week with Caleb Evans throwing three interceptions against Chris Jones’ tough defence. The Als are looking to win consecutive games for the first time this season after completing a miraculous comeback against the Ticats last week. Vernon Adams Jr. put up 51 points against Ottawa in Week 5. Can he do it again?
DUNK: Get right game for Montreal. ALS
HODGE: Vernon Adams Jr. is elite (when playing Ottawa, at least). ALS
ABBOTT: Ottawa is bad and play twice this week. Rarely a winning combo. ALS
BALLANTINE: Montreal dominates a deflated and tired team. ALS
FILOSO: If Ottawa doesn’t beat themselves, they’ll have a chance REDBLACKS
GASSON: Good time for a get-right game for Montreal. ALS
HUDSON: Short week for a bad Ottawa team against the waiting Alouettes. ALS
LUDWIG: We’ll talk if Ottawa ever beats a competent team. ALS
MCGUIRE: Caleb Evans looked promising against Edmonton but it has to be taken with a grain of salt because it was, after all, the Elks. ALS
SMITH: Caleb Evans isn’t as good as he looked against Edmonton, nor as bad as he looked against Toronto, but a rookie QB is tough to trust. ALS
REDBLACKS 1
ALS 9
Monday, October 11
Toronto Argonauts at Hamilton Tiger-Cats, 4:00 p.m. EST
Betting Line: Ticats -4.5
The Battle of Ontario rages on in this contest, which will decide the season series between the Argos and Ticats. Toronto has won two straight games with McLeod Bethel-Thompson under centre, though he hasn’t produced a ton of yardage. Jeremiah Masoli was far from spectacular in his return from injury last week, throwing for 223 yards and no touchdowns.
DUNK: The schedule makes winners out of Hamilton. TICATS
HODGE: Toronto’s the better team, but it’s tough to overcome playing on such a short turnaround. TICATS
ABBOTT: The team with two starting quarterbacks in training camp hasn’t had a good game from any of the three they’ve used. ARGOS
BALLANTINE: Toronto is feeling themselves after winning all three phases against the Redblacks. ARGOS
FILOSO: Toronto is lights out at home. On the road, not so much TICATS
GASSON: Gonna go with the more rested team. TICATS
HUDSON: Another short-week game, but at least expect Argos to make this one close. Still think an angry Hamilton team closes. TICATS
LUDWIG: As a close follower of the Elks, Hamilton’s underwhelming offensive performances are too familiar. ARGOS
MCGUIRE: The Boatmen have something they didn’t have a month ago when they split the Labour Day back-to-back: Chris Jones running the defence. ARGOS
SMITH: Argos aren’t as good on the road as they are at home, and Hamilton needs this one to keep pace in the division. TICATS
ARGOS 4
TICATS 6
2021 records
Gasson 21-14
Dunk 20-15
Hudson 19-16
McGuire 18-17
Hodge 17-18
Ludwig 16-19
Smith 15-20
Ballantine 14-21
Filoso 11-24
Abbott 11-24
