The first week of the 2023 CFL regular season is finally here, which means it’s time for eleven of our esteemed contributors to provide picks straight-up and against the spread.
Our contributors will be permitted to change their selections if significant injuries or roster changes take place before any of the games listed below, so feel free to check back to this article as the games unfold. Picks must be finalized by kickoff of each respective game.
If you think you have the chops to match our experts, try 3DownNation‘s new Pick’em game. It’s free to play, with a $50 Amazon gift card up for grabs each game. All residents of Canada and the US are eligible to participate, excluding Quebec.
Thursday, June 8: B.C. Lions at Calgary Stampeders — 9:00 p.m. EDT
Tempers boiled over the last time these two teams met at McMahon Stadium as there was a postgame altercation in the parking lot. The incident was tied to an on-field altercation during which Stampeders’ linebacker Cameron Judge punched Lions’ receiver Lucky Whitehead in the face, for which he was suspended one game.
These clubs met in the West Semi-Final last season with the Lions coming out ahead by a score of 30-16. It was B.C.’s first playoff win since 2016, while it marked the third consecutive season in which the Stampeders lost in the first round of the playoffs.
Thursday’s game will mark the fourteenth time in franchise history that the Lions and Stampeders have opened the regular season against one another. Calgary leads the previous 13 meetings with a record of 5-7-1.
DUNK: Too many people are down on the Stampeders, but take the points in Week 1.
Straight-up: STAMPS. Against the spread: LIONS.
HODGE: The new Maier of Calgary should do just enough to win but Vernon Adams Jr. is out to prove that his preseason dominance was no fluke. This should be a good one.
Straight-up: STAMPS. Against the spread: LIONS.
ABBOTT: I’m drinking the preseason koolaid and believing that Vernon Adams Jr. has found his mojo. Calgary can beat the Lions running the ball, but not if B.C. scores quickly and efficiently through the air.
Straight-up: LIONS. Against the spread: LIONS.
BALLANTINE: The Stampeders’ starters barely played during the preseason and they were still a dropped pass from completing a 21-point comeback last week in Vancouver. Give me Calgary at McMahon.
Straight-up: STAMPS. Against the spread: STAMPS.
FILOSO: I hate picking against Calgary at home but Vernon Adams Jr. had B.C.’s offence looking scary good in the preseason. I’ll take the road team in a close one.
Straight-up: LIONS. Against the spread: LIONS.
GASSON: We’ll see if B.C.’s edge of Calgary was merely Nathan Rourke or something more. This still feels like a match-up issue for Calgary.
Straight-up: LIONS. Against the spread: LIONS.
GRANT: The drama surrounding the Kongbo trade probably brings the Lions closer together. I don’t like betting against Calgary but they’ve lost so many defensive pieces that B.C.’s offensive coordinator Jordan Maksymic is probably licking his chops.
Straight-up: LIONS. Against the spread: LIONS.
HOSKINS: These teams will be close as the year goes on but this early the year, the balance of the offensive attack will determine the outcome. Calgary has the edge in the running game and that will be the difference.
Straight-up: STAMPS. Against the spread: STAMPS.
KLEIN: Vernon Adams Jr. has shaken off the brief injury troubles he faced last year. B.C. will give the Stampeders fits much like they did in last year’s West Semi-Final.
Straight-up: LIONS. Against the spread: LIONS.
MCGUIRE: There are questions about Jake Maier’s ability to lead. I’m willing to bet the playoff loss in November and shaky preseason was nothing. Take the Stamps running away.
Straight-up: STAMPS. Against the spread: STAMPS.
SMITH: I don’t know how good the Lions will be without Nathan Rourke. I feel comfortable saying Calgary will be just fine.
Straight-up: STAMPS. Against the spread: STAMPS.
TOTALS STRAIGHT-UP: Calgary 6, B.C. 5
TOTALS AGAINST THE SPREAD: B.C. 7, Calgary 4
Friday, June 9: Hamilton Tiger-Cats at Winnipeg Blue Bombers — 8:30 p.m. EDT
New franchise quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell will make his much-anticipated debut with the visitors, who should also have newcomers James Butler, Duke Williams, Casey Sayles, and Jameer Thurman in the lineup. The Ticats have turned the page from a disappointing 2022 campaign and are looking to return to the top spot in the East Division ahead of hosting this year’s Grey Cup at Tim Hortons Field.
Winnipeg has seen very little turnover from last season when they made a third consecutive appearance in the Grey Cup, albeit in a losing effort to the underdog Toronto Argonauts. The veteran-laden roster has drawn criticism for getting a little bit long in the tooth, though it’s hard to argue with team’s 26-6 record over the last two regular seasons.
DUNK: Bombers start slow but find a way to win with rested veterans leading the way.
Straight-up: BOMBERS. Against the spread: TICATS.
HODGE: It’s the new-look Tabbies against the old-look Bombers. I’ll take the home side to win but Hamilton should keep it close.
Straight-up: BOMBERS. Against the spread: TICATS.
ABBOTT: Winnipeg is a notorious slow starter and Hamilton will need time for the new pieces to gel. This one should be close.
Straight-up: BOMBERS. Against the spread: TICATS.
BALLANTINE: If this was Week 2 or 3 I might think differently, but continuity will keep Winnipeg on top for now.
Straight-up: BOMBERS. Against the spread: BOMBERS.
FILOSO: Winnipeg is the best and deepest team in the CFL until proven otherwise.
Straight-up: BOMBERS. Against the spread: BOMBERS.
GASSON: Hamilton will be fine but it will take a few weeks to get going.
Straight-up: BOMBERS. Against the spread: BOMBERS.
GRANT: I expect Hamilton to be good, but the problem for the Ticats is they haven’t had enough time for their new pieces to gel, while Winnipeg is coming out virtually the same as they were last year.
Straight-up: BOMBERS. Against the spread: TICATS.
HOSKINS: Want to show that a bunch of shiny new pieces actually work well together? Take them into one of the toughest stadiums in the league and pull off a win. If this were Week 4, I’d say Hamilton does it. Week 1? Not so much.
Straight-up: BOMBERS. Against the spread: TICATS.
KLEIN: The Bombers are the best team in the league, no need to overthink this one. Time will tell if the Ticats are new and improved (or just new).
Straight-up: BOMBERS. Against the spread: BOMBERS.
MCGUIRE: There’s no way I’m betting against Winnipeg in their own house but I’ll bet Bo and the Ticats keep it close.
Straight-up: BOMBERS. Against the spread: TICATS.
SMITH: The new-look Ticats will take some time to build cohesion. The same does not need to be said about the Bombers.
Straight-up: BOMBERS. Against the spread: TICATS.
TOTALS STRAIGHT-UP: Winnipeg 11, Hamilton 0
TOTALS AGAINST THE SPREAD: Hamilton 7, Winnipeg 4
Saturday, June 10: Ottawa Redblacks at Montreal Alouettes — 7:00 p.m. EDT
Jeremiah Masoli isn’t ready to return from a devastating leg injury he suffered early last season, giving Nick Arbuckle a chance to start for Ottawa. The Redblacks are entering the regular season with a number of key injuries as receiver Shaq Evans, linebacker Jovan Santos-Knox, and defensive back Money Hunter are all expected to miss some time.
Cody Fajardo is looking to “prove all the haters wrong” after what he described as a “down year” with the Saskatchewan Roughriders in 2022. Montreal has a lot to prove coming out of an off-season ownership crisis that saw Trevor Harris, Eugene Lewis, and Jake Wieneke depart via free agency. Jason Maas, the team’s new head coach, will also be looking prove himself after being fired as Saskatchewan’s offensive coordinator after last season.
DUNK: Nick Arbuckle can get it done plus Ottawa is better along the offensive and defensive lines.
Straight-up: REDBLACKS. Against the spread: REDBLACKS.
HODGE: Ottawa has the better coaching staff but Nick Arbuckle doesn’t inspire any confidence. Pierre-Karl Péladeau gets a close win in his first game as Montreal’s new owner.
Straight-up: ALS. Against the spread: ALS.
ABBOTT: There are too many injuries in Ottawa to provide me with any degree of confidence. Cody Fajardo proves the doubters wrong — for now, at least.
Straight-up: ALS. Against the spread: ALS.
BALLANTINE: Arbuckle has had time to prepare and there’s been nothing to instil confidence in me that either Maas or Fajardo will exceed expectations.
Straight-up: REDBLACKS. Against the spread: REDBLACKS.
FILOSO: Bob Dyce will have his team ready to run through a wall, and his coordinators, Khari Jones and Barron Miles, will be looking to prove their old team wrong.
Straight-up: REDBLACKS. Against the spread: REDBLACKS.
GASSON: It’s difficult to get behind either team at this moment. I like Ottawa’s coaching staff and their chances down the road.
Straight-up: REDBLACKS. Against the spread: REDBLACKS.
GRANT: Ottawa has a lot of question marks, but I’m not picking Montreal until they prove me wrong at least twice.
Straight-up: REDBLACKS. Against the spread: REDBLACKS.
HOSKINS: If Masoli started this game, I’d be in on the Redblacks. I see Montreal having a season like Saskatchewan did a year ago: strong start, poor finish.
Straight-up: ALS. Against the spread: ALS.
KLEIN: A lot of money will be made betting against these two teams this year alone. Fajardo has a lot to prove coming off a dreadful season and I expect him to get off to a decent start here.
Straight-up: ALS. Against the spread: ALS.
MCGUIRE: The Redblacks have struggled mightily without a proven quarterback calling the signals and the absence of Masoli gives me no confidence that trend will end this week.
Straight-up: ALS. Against the spread: ALS.
SMITH: The news that Jeremiah Masoli will miss the game changed my mind on the outcome. The Jason Maas-Cody Fajardo era gets off on the right foot.
Straight-up: ALS. Against the spread: ALS.
TOTALS STRAIGHT-UP: Montreal 6, Ottawa 5
TOTALS AGAINST THE SPREAD: Montreal 6, Ottawa 5
Sunday, June 11: Saskatchewan Roughriders at Edmonton Elks — 7:00 p.m. EDT
The Riders are looking to get back into the playoffs following a disastrous 2022 season that included dirty hits, helmet-throwing, a COVID game postponement, and diarrhea. Saskatchewan looked excellent in a preseason win over Winnipeg last week and new franchise quarterback Trevor Harris looks dialled in. Despite last year’s challenges, there are plenty of reasons for early optimism in Riderville.
Edmonton’s home losing streak has reached 19 games, stretching all the way back to the 2019 season. The club has fully embrace the meme, creating a “guaranteed win” promotion that allows fans to purchase a ticket that will get them into every game until the club is victorious. Given that the Elks signed Eugene Lewis, Steven Dunbar Jr., and Kyran Moore to their receiving corps this off-season, it wouldn’t be shocking if they broke the streak in Week 1.
DUNK: Chris Jones and his group are sick of hearing about the team’s home losing streak.
Straight-up: ELKS. Against the spread: ELKS.
HODGE: Saskatchewan’s offensive line is already banged up and it’ll be an emotional night in Edmonton as they pay tribute to the late Christian Saulsberry.
Straight-up: ELKS. Against the spread: ELKS.
ABBOTT: Both teams should be improved, but I don’t trust Edmonton’s kicking game to come up clutch in a tight contest.
Straight-up: RIDERS. Against the spread: RIDERS.
BALLANTINE: Kevin Brown and Eugene Lewis on the offence and Jake Ceresna on defence have me believing the Elks can end their 1,338-day losing streak.
Straight-up: ELKS. Against the spread: ELKS.
FILOSO: Edmonton’s home woes continue thanks to a big game from Trevor Harris.
Straight-up: RIDERS. Against the spread: RIDERS.
GASSON: See Hamilton. It also feels natural for the Elks’ streak to end against the Riders.
Straight-up: ELKS. Against the spread: RIDERS.
GRANT: I like Saskatchewan this year, but I’d be picking against them if their opener was against anyone but Edmonton or Montreal. Lucky them.
Straight-up: RIDERS. Against the spread: RIDERS.
HOSKINS: It’s probably not a shocker that I’m picking the home losing streak to come to an end. Expect a lot of running from both teams but Edmonton’s receiving corps will be the difference.
Straight-up: ELKS. Against the spread: ELKS.
KLEIN: No matter how this game goes, one fan base is going to be close to the panic button after Week 1. Saskatchewan has a quarterback I trust a little bit more so I’ll go with them.
Straight-up: RIDERS. Against the spread: RIDERS.
MCGUIRE: I won’t bet on Saskatchewan every week but this week I will. On paper, the Riders should win and, until the Elks prove otherwise, I will continue to believe they are cursed at Commonwealth.
Straight-up: RIDERS. Against the spread: RIDERS.
SMITH: The Elks will improve in year two under Chris Jones and after two years of torture, the home losing streak comes to an end.
Straight-up: ELKS. Against the spread: ELKS.
TOTALS STRAIGHT-UP: Edmonton 6, Saskatchewan 5
TOTALS AGAINST THE SPREAD: Saskatchewan 6, Edmonton 5
Records to date (straight-up)
DUNK — 0-0
HODGE — 0-0
ABBOTT — 0-0
BALLANTINE — 0-0
FILOSO — 0-0
GASSON — 0-0
GRANT — 0-0
HOSKINS — 0-0
KLEIN — 0-0
MCGUIRE — 0-0
SMITH — 0-0
Records to date (against the spread)
DUNK — 0-0
HODGE — 0-0
ABBOTT — 0-0
BALLANTINE — 0-0
FILOSO — 0-0
GASSON — 0-0
GRANT — 0-0
HOSKINS — 0-0
KLEIN — 0-0
MCGUIRE — 0-0
SMITH — 0-0
