We’re set for Week 1 of the Canadian Football League season and below are our predictions for each of this weekend’s four critical games.
Week 1 CFL betting odds and picks: Best bets for BC vs. Calgary, Hamilton vs. Winnipeg, and more
The long-awaited start to the 2023 CFL season is upon us and as with every opening week, there’s plenty of anticipation and intrigue surrounding the new campaign.
Thursday, June 8: B.C. Lions at Calgary Stampeders – 9:00 p.m. EDT
The Lions lost Nathan Rourke to the NFL and James Butler to the Tiger-Cats, but there’s still an abundance of firepower on offence.
Mobile veteran Vernon Adams Jr., who got plenty of valuable experience with the pass-catching corps last season, takes over for Rourke.
There’s some uncertainty in the backfield with Taquan Mizzell replacing Butler, and the Stamps, despite having a thinner depth chart at receiver, have an explosive backfield helmed by the highly versatile Ka’Deem Carey.
However, I like the Lions to have enough offensively — even if Keon Hatcher sits out with the foot injury that’s cost him the first two days of practice — to slide in under the number.
The Pick: Lions +3.5 or higher (-110 or better)
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Friday, June 9: Hamilton Tiger-Cats at Winnipeg Blue Bombers – 8:30 p.m. EDT
The Ticats roll out a new-look quarterback-tailback combination in Bo Levi Mitchell and James Butler, and the veteran signal-caller could be at his best early in the season.
However, he’ll work with a makeshift pass-catching corps that lost Steven Dunbar Jr. to the Elks and parted ways with Papi White during final roster cutdowns. D’haquille “Duke” Williams, who’s capable of filling the void caused by Dunbar’s exit, is also questionable due to a knee injury to begin the week.
The Bombers, having narrowly missed out on a three-peat in November, return the likes of Zach Collaros, Brady Oliveira, Rasheed Bailey and Dalton Schoen, helping make up for the returning Kenny Lawler’s season-opening suspension.
I look for the Bombers to eventually exert their will on both sides of the ball and secure a win of at least five points.
The Pick: Blue Bombers -4.5 (-110 or better)
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Saturday, June 10: Ottawa Redblacks at Montreal Alouettes– 7:00 p.m. EDT
The Redblacks have Jeremiah Masoli back from his 2022 season-ending leg injury, but as of Tuesday afternoon, Nick Arbuckle is reportedly set to draw the start for both the opener and Ottawa’s second game.
The fifth-year pro got 12 games’ worth of experience in the team’s offence last season following Masoli’s injury and has an intriguing group of targets that includes Jaelon Acklin, Nate Behar and Justin Hardy.
The Alouettes counter with a new but veteran quarterback-WR1 battery in Cody Fajardo and Greg Ellingson (UPDATE: Ellingson has been ruled out for Saturday’s game due to a knee injury), while William Stanback and Walter Fletcher have the potential to be one of the most explosive backfield duos in the league.
There are enough questions on defence, particularly for Ottawa, to give me faith this total can be eclipsed.
The Pick: Over 44.5 points (-110 or better)
Sunday, June 11: Saskatchewan Roughriders at Edmonton Elks – 7:00 p.m. EDT
The Riders begin the Trevor Harris Era with a matchup against one of his former squads, which sported the most generous defence in the CFL a year ago.
Edmonton dove into fixing its issues on both sides of the ball this offseason, however, and the additions of Loucheiz Purifoy and A.C. Leonard should eventually pay big dividends on defence.
The Elks also upgraded their offensive firepower significantly. On the other side, in addition to Harris, Saskatchewan will attack what was the league’s most porous run defence a year ago with the speedy backfield tandem of Jamal Morrow and Frankie Hickson.
There’s enough offensive talent on both sides here for the over to also hit in this slate-ending contest.
The Pick: Over 45.5 points (-110 or better)
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