Week 2 of the CFL regular season is set to get underway on Thursday night and our esteemed contributors are back to provide picks straight-up and against the spread for all four contests. Peter Klein is coming off a scintillating week during which he correctly picked all four games straight-up and against the spread, while Ryan Ballantine and Justin Dunk are trying to shake-off 1-3 starts.
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.
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Thursday, June 15: Calgary Stampeders at Ottawa Redblacks — 7:30 p.m. EDT
Both clubs are looking for a big bounce back after disappointing season-opening losses last week. The Stampeders will be without all-star running back Ka’Deem Carey, while the Redblacks are looking to snap a 12-game home losing streak. Nick Arbuckle will start at quarterback for the Redblacks, though it appears Jeremiah Masoli could return from injury following the team’s bye next week.
DUNK: The Redblacks need Nick Arbuckle to play better to win.
Straight-up: STAMPS. Against the spread: REDBLACKS.
HODGE: Nick Arbuckle has to be better than he was a week ago, if only because he can’t possibly be worse. The Stampeders will win but Ottawa can keep it close.
Straight-up: STAMPS. Against the spread: REDBLACKS.
ABBOTT: The only quarterback I have less faith in than Nick Arbuckle is Jake Maier. The Stampeders are still the better team, but Ottawa will make it a contest.
Straight-up: STAMPS. Against the spread: REDBLACKS.
BALLANTINE: Look for Calgary to get on track now that their starters have actually played some football.
Straight-up: STAMPS. Against the spread: STAMPS.
FILOSO: If Ottawa gets even half-decent quarterback play, they should win.
Straight-up: REDBLACKS. Against the spread: REDBLACKS.
GASSON: Call me crazy but no Ka’Deem Carey could be trouble for Cowtown.
Straight-up: REDBLACKS. Against the spread: REDBLACKS.
GRANT: Both teams underperformed last week, but Calgary’s issues are easier to fix given the time constraints. Ottawa’s defence might keep them in the game but I can’t see their offence scoring more than 14 points.
Straight-up: STAMPS. Against the spread: STAMPS.
HOSKINS: No Ka’Deem Carey for the Stamps but their backups are also good. This should be a defensive battle but I see Calgary bouncing back in a close one.
Straight-up: STAMPS. Against the spread: STAMPS.
KLEIN: Calgary has weaknesses but Ottawa doesn’t look like the team that can exploit them. The Stamps win this one, though they still have long-term questions to answer.
Straight-up: STAMPS. Against the spread: STAMPS.
MCGUIRE: It’s the same old story for Ottawa. They’re a good team but have no quarterback to lead the charge until Masoli is back.
Straight-up: STAMPS. Against the spread: STAMPS.
SMITH: Neither team looked sharp in Week 1 but no Ka’Deem Carey means Calgary is without their best weapon. Upset alert on this one for sure.
Straight-up: REDBLACKS. Against the spread: REDBLACKS.
TOTALS STRAIGHT-UP: Calgary 8, Ottawa 3
TOTALS AGAINST THE SPREAD: Ottawa 6, Calgary 5
Friday, June 16: Winnipeg Blue Bombers at Saskatchewan Roughriders — 9:00 p.m. EDT
This is the week’s only matchup that will feature two undefeated teams and it should be a doozy as Winnipeg and Saskatchewan have one of the league’s best rivalries. Zach Collaros was sensational in the Blue Bombers’ season-opener, while Trevor Harris is questionable due to a hip injury. Playing in the friendly confines of Mosaic Stadium should help give the home side a boost as they look to beat Winnipeg for the first time since 2019.
DUNK: Craig Dickenson isn’t fooling anyone.
Straight-up: BOMBERS. Against the spread: BOMBERS.
HODGE: The injury bug has bitten Saskatchewan at the worst possible time. With the Riders coming off a short week, Winnipeg should roll.
Straight-up: BOMBERS. Against the spread: BOMBERS.
ABBOTT: Willie Jefferson will line up against a pair of unproven tackles and chase down a hampered — or absent — Trevor Harris. There isn’t a line in the world that would make me bet on Saskatchewan.
Straight-up: BOMBERS. Against the spread: BOMBERS.
BALLANTINE: Saskatchewan had difficulty scoring in Edmonton last week and Harris is banged up. Winnipeg is kilometres ahead of Edmonton. This won’t be close.
Straight-up: BOMBERS. Against the spread: BOMBERS.
FILOSO: Winnipeg looked like the best team in the league last week, while Saskatchewan needed a late goal-line stand to hold off the Elks.
Straight-up: BOMBERS. Against the spread: BOMBERS.
GASSON: The Riders are due for a shocking win. They tend to perform well when no one believes in them.
Straight-up: RIDERS. Against the spread: RIDERS.
GRANT: The Riders might be able to hang with Winnipeg later in the season, but they’re just not there yet — and, to be fair, no one is. With Harris banged up, this likely this one won’t be close.
Straight-up: BOMBERS. Against the spread: BOMBERS.
HOSKINS: Winnipeg is on another level in every phase. This is the first easy pick of the year.
Straight-up: BOMBERS. Against the spread: BOMBERS.
KLEIN: I don’t care who is at quarterback for Saskatchewan, Winnipeg has the advantage in every level of the game. I don’t know what the spread would have to be for me to pick Saskatchewan but this isn’t it.
Straight-up: BOMBERS. Against the spread: BOMBERS.
MCGUIRE: Winnipeg’s offence looked much more crisp in Week 1, which is just another reason to not pick against them.
Straight-up: BOMBERS. Against the spread: RIDERS.
SMITH: With Trevor Harris, the Riders were in tough. Without him, they don’t stand a chance.
Straight-up: BOMBERS. Against the spread: BOMBERS.
TOTALS STRAIGHT-UP: Winnipeg 10, Saskatchewan 1
TOTALS AGAINST THE SPREAD: Winnipeg 9, Saskatchewan 2
Saturday, June 17: Edmonton Elks at B.C. Lions — 7:00 p.m. EDT
LL Cool J will be on-hand for this one as the Lions booked an A-list musical act to perform at the club’s home-opener for the second consecutive year. On the field, Edmonton is looking to avoid getting drubbed by 44 points like they did in B.C.’s home-opener last season, while the Lions are looking to improve to 2-0 for the second consecutive year.
DUNK: There’s already pressure on Taylor Cornelius to play better or get the hook.
Straight-up: LIONS. Against the spread: ELKS.
HODGE: Taylor Cornelius has to be better than he was a week ago, if only because he can’t possibly be worse. Edmonton’s defence keeps this game close.
Straight-up: LIONS. Against the spread: ELKS.
ABBOTT: 179-53 is the Lions’ combined margin of victory in their last four games against the Elks. That won’t change until Edmonton get s reliable QB play.
Straight-up: LIONS. Against the spread: LIONS.
BALLANTINE: Taylor Cornelius completed 57 percent of his passes last week against a secondary that’s inferior to B.C.’s. This spread is big but not big enough to scare me off.
Straight-up: LIONS. Against the spread: LIONS.
FILOSO: As good as B.C. looked offensively last week, their defence limiting Calgary to just 249 yards is what really caught my attention.
Straight-up: LIONS. Against the spread: LIONS.
GASSON: A tale of two quarterbacks and its not particularly close.
Straight-up: LIONS. Against the spread: LIONS.
GRANT: B.C. is unquestionably the better team but the gap between these two squads isn’t what it was last season. The Lions could be caught sleeping here.
Straight-up: ELKS. Against the spread: ELKS.
HOSKINS: Edmonton still needs time to gel on offence but the defence seems to be coming together quickly. This one will be close.
Straight-up: LIONS. Against the spread: ELKS.
KLEIN: Edmonton didn’t do a lot to inspire confidence in their Week 1 loss to the Riders, while the Lions are one of the best teams in the league.
Straight-up: LIONS. Against the spread: LIONS.
MCGUIRE: The Leos are too steady to expect a hiccup against Taylor Cornelius.
Straight-up: LIONS. Against the spread: ELKS.
SMITH: The Lions will win but more than a touchdown is too much to lay against the spread this early in the season.
Straight-up: LIONS. Against the spread: ELKS.
TOTALS STRAIGHT-UP: B.C. 10, Edmonton 1
TOTALS AGAINST THE SPREAD: Edmonton 6, B.C. 5
Sunday, June 18: Hamilton Tiger-Cats at Toronto Argonauts — 7:00 p.m. EDT
The Argonauts are going to see the field for the first time following their Week 1 bye, officially kicking off the Chad Kelly era in The Six. Hamilton, meanwhile, is looking to get back on track after coming out flat in their season-opening loss to Winnipeg. This will mark the first of four editions of the Battle of Ontario this season, a series that Toronto won last year by a margin of 3-1.
DUNK: There’s lots of money flowing on the Ticats to bounce back but I have concerns about Hamilton’s secondary.
Straight-up: ARGOS. Against the spread: ARGOS.
HODGE: I see no reason why the Argos should be getting points in this game. Am I missing something?
Straight-up: ARGOS. Against the spread: ARGOS.
ABBOTT: Hamilton is several weeks away from being in-sync and the Argos are a proven commodity. The Chad Kelly era will open with a bang.
Straight-up: ARGOS. Against the spread: ARGOS.
BALLANTINE: The Ticats made it close last week but needed a ton of breaks to do so. Toronto hasn’t played yet this season, which makes this pick tougher than I’d like.
Straight-up: ARGOS. Against the spread: ARGOS.
FILOSO: Toronto always plays well at BMO Field and with an extra week of preparation and the hype of unveiling their Grey Cup banner, they should ride that emotion to a win.
Straight-up: ARGOS. Against the spread: ARGOS.
GASSON: Week 1 byes can be tough.
Straight-up: TICATS. Against the spread: TICATS.
GRANT: Toronto is the better team and will probably finish first in the East Division, but Hamilton will be determined to spoil their rival’s Grey Cup celebration. This might be the best game we see the Ticats play all season.
Straight-up: TICATS. Against the spread: TICATS.
HOSKINS: This is a tough choice only because the Argos had the Week 1 bye. I’ll go with the lineup that has more continuity this early on.
Straight-up: ARGOS. Against the spread: ARGOS.
KLEIN: I’m really intrigued to see what Toronto looks like against a Hamilton team that feels like a good early-season measuring stick.
Straight-up: ARGOS. Against the spread: ARGOS.
MCGUIRE: Chad Kelly hasn’t ironed out the kinks yet. Bo Levi Mitchell has.
Straight-up: TICATS. Against the spread: TICATS.
SMITH: Until Chad Kelly proves he can live up to the hype, I will be hesitant to believe in the Argos.
Straight-up: TICATS. Against the spread: TICATS.
TOTALS STRAIGHT-UP: Toronto 7, Hamilton 4
TOTALS AGAINST THE SPREAD: Toronto 7, Hamilton 4
Records to date (straight-up)
ABBOTT — 4-0
KLEIN — 4-0
GRANT — 3-1
FILOSO — 3-1
MCGUIRE — 3-1
GASSON — 2-2
HODGE — 2-2
HOSKINS — 2-2
SMITH — 2-2
BALLANTINE — 1-3
DUNK — 1-3
Records to date (against the spread)
KLEIN — 4-0
ABBOTT — 3-1
FILOSO — 3-1
GASSON — 3-1
GRANT — 2-2
HODGE — 2-2
MCGUIRE — 2-2
BALLANTINE — 1-3
DUNK — 1-3
HOSKINS — 1-3
SMITH — 1-3
