Week 4 of the 2023 CFL regular season gets underway on Friday night with a shortened slate of long weekend action.
The Calgary Stampeders, Saskatchewan Roughriders, and Hamilton Tiger-Cats are all on bye weeks, but the remaining teams all have plenty to prove. The Montreal Alouettes, Toronto Argonauts, and B.C. Lions are all looking to stay unbeaten, while the Edmonton Elks and Ottawa Redblacks have a chance to notch their first win against each other.
3DownNation contributors JC Abbott and Peter Klein faltered for the first time with their straight-up picks last week, but still lead the pack with 10-1 records. Meanwhile, Klein has been equally good against the spread at 10-1.
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Friday, June 30: Edmonton Elks at Ottawa Redblacks — 7:30 p.m. EDT
It will be a battle of winless teams debuting new quarterbacks at TD Place, as the Redblacks move to Tyrie Adams in the absence of Jeremiah Masoli and the Elks hope rookie Jarret Doege can provide them with a spark. Edmonton will be without star receiver Eugene Lewis for at least six weeks due to a knee injury, but Ottawa recently lost electric returner DeVonte Dedmon for the season and were forced to cut receiver Quan Bray late Thursday after sexual assault charges came to light. RNation has witnessed 13 straight losses by the home team in Ottawa, with their last win coming against Edmonton on September 28, 2021.
DUNK: Teach me how to Doege.
Straight-up: ELKS. Against the spread: ELKS.
HODGE: This game will come down to the performance of two young quarterbacks. The one with the better weapons is Jarret Doege.
Straight-up: ELKS. Against the spread: ELKS.
ABBOTT: A Chris Jones coached defence is a much more difficult test for a young quarterback than one led by Barron Miles.
Straight-up: ELKS. Against the spread: ELKS.
BALLANTINE: Geno Lewis to the six-game makes this unappealing game even worse. I’ll take the Elks because neither of these teams are capable of a home win.
Straight-up: ELKS. Against the spread: ELKS
FILOSO: Ottawa has to win at home eventually, right? They’re coming off a bye, Geno Lewis is out, and I believe Tyrie Adams is better than Jarret Doege.
Straight-up: REDBLACKS. Against the spread: REDBLACKS.
GASSON: Someone has to win. I’ll go with the team coming off a bye.
Straight-up: REDBLACKS. Against the spread: REDBLACKS.
GRANT: Both teams have questions to answer at quarterback, but I like Edmonton’s defence more, even after what Toronto did to them last week. Plus, I’m not going to take Ottawa at home until they give me a reason to.
Straight-up: ELKS. Against the spread: ELKS.
HOSKINS: Two young quarterbacks and two good defences. I like what Doege brings. Edmonton keeps someone else’s home losing streak intact.
Straight-up: ELKS. Against the spread: ELKS.
KLEIN: Not much separates these two, which is not a compliment to either one. I think Edmonton has a bit more talent on the roster.
Straight-up: ELKS. Against the spread: ELKS
MCGUIRE: The toilet bowl for this season, part one of two. I’m rolling with the Elks for no reason other than the belief that both of these teams will go another season without winning a game at home. Of course, the Redblacks will win the rematch in Edmonton in August.
Straight-up: ELKS. Against the spread: ELKS.
SMITH: Ottawa has yet to score an offensive touchdown this year and are almost as bad at home as the Elks are. Doege looked competent in his relief role last week and he has the better supporting cast.
Straight-up: ELKS. Against the spread: ELKS.
TOTALS STRAIGHT-UP: Edmonton 9, Ottawa 2
TOTALS AGAINST THE SPREAD: Edmonton 9, Ottawa 2
Saturday, July 1: Winnipeg Blue Bombers at Montreal Alouettes — 7:00 p.m. EDT
The Alouettes have flown out to a stellar 2-0 start and look to be clicking on offence with Cody Fajardo under centre, but no contenders’ status is certain until they duel the Bombers. Winnipeg looked shell-shocked in an upset loss to the B.C. Lions last week and will be without star Canadian receiver Nic Demski. Meanwhile, Montreal will be missing pick-artist defensive back Ciante Evans, starting middle linebacker Avery Williams, and up-and-coming guard Pier-Olivier Lestage on Canada Day.
DUNK: Blue Bombers put B.C.’s beatdown behind them.
Straight-up: BOMBERS. Against the spread: ALS.
HODGE: This is a relatively large spread but Winnipeg has to bounce back from an abysmal performance against B.C.
Straight-up: BOMBERS. Against the spread: BOMBERS.
ABBOTT: Never bet on Mike O’Shea’s team to make the same mistake twice. Winnipeg’s culture is just too good.
Straight-up: BOMBERS. Against the spread: BOMBERS.
BALLANTINE: With all due respect to the Alouettes’ undefeated run, I’d imagine the Bombers feel like they have something to prove for the first time in a long time.
Straight-up: BOMBERS Against the spread: BOMBERS
FILOSO: Tough to see Winnipeg losing two in a row, but I like what Montreal has shown so far. They’ll keep things interesting.
Straight-up: BOMBERS. Against the spread: ALS.
GASSON: For the first time in a while, Mike O’Shea actually needs to coach this week. Winnipeg won’t have two stinkers in a row.
Straight-up: BOMBERS. Against the spread: BOMBERS.
GRANT: I think Winnipeg wins this game by double digits, but Montreal has made me look foolish for doubting them twice. I still don’t believe they’re a good football team, though a win over the Bombers would have me convinced.
Straight-up: BOMBERS. Against the spread: BOMBERS.
HOSKINS: The Bombers come out angry after last week’s showing. Montreal keeps it close in the first but Winnipeg reminds the league who they are.
Straight-up: BOMBERS. Against the spread: BOMBERS.
KLEIN: Montreal has been a fun early-season story, but I imagine Winnipeg is really motivated after their performance last week. The Bombers will take their frustrations out on the Als.
Straight-up: BOMBERS. Against the spread: BOMBERS.
MCGUIRE: The Blue Bombers caught a nasty uppercut last week and are stumbling around feeling a little punch-drunk these days. That’s why I’m taking the home side here.
Straight-up: ALS. Against the spread: ALS.
SMITH: Montreal can be a tough place to play but after getting their teeth kicked in at home for the first time with Zach Collaros as their quarterback, I think the Bombers show everyone who the big dog still is.
Straight-up: BOMBERS. Against the spread: BOMBERS.
TOTALS STRAIGHT-UP: Winnipeg 10, Montreal 1
TOTALS AGAINST THE SPREAD: Winnipeg 8, Montreal 3
Monday, July 3: B.C. Lions at Toronto Argonauts — 7:00 p.m. EDT
A battle of unbeatens is the holiday Monday treat for CFL fans. The defending Grey Cup champion Argonauts have answered every question thus far thanks to the promising play of new starting quarterback Chad Kelly, while free agent additions Folarin Orimolade and Adarius Pickett have flourished on defence. However, the Lions have jumped out as the early season favourites thanks to a dominating defence that has allowed just 21 points in three games. Vernon Adams Jr. has looked almost as good on the other side of the ball, and can only benefit from the likely return of receivers Keon Hatcher and Dominique Rhymes.
DUNK: Argos as home underdogs? Yes, please.
Straight-up: ARGOS. Against the spread: ARGOS.
HODGE: I’d take Toronto against the spread by a field goal or more, but it’s impossible not to like what the Lions are doing right now.
Straight-up: LIONS. Against the spread: LIONS.
ABBOTT: Ryan Phillips is about to serve Chad Kelly his toughest test yet, while B.C. potentially gets two dangerous weapons back for an already potent offence.
Straight-up: LIONS. Against the spread: LIONS.
BALLANTINE: If the spread were more than a field goal, I would have been tempted to take the split here. However, the Lions’ defence has been a different animal this season.
Straight-up: LIONS. Against the spread: LIONS.
FILOSO: B.C.’s defence is legit, but the Argos are perfectly built to wear it down. For the first time since 1991, Toronto starts 3-0.
Straight-up: ARGOS. Against the spread: ARGOS.
GASSON: Long travel for a west coast team on a weird day. The Lions could be set up for a letdown following a big win last week.
Straight-up: ARGOS. Against the spread: ARGOS.
GRANT: B.C. is a very good team, but I have a hard time taking them on the second leg of tough back-to-back road games — especially as favourites against the defending Grey Cup champions.
Straight-up: ARGOS. Against the spread: ARGOS.
HOSKINS: B.C. is coming off a giant win last week and has shown their defence to be high-end. Toronto has played second-tier opponents so far.
Straight-up: LIONS. Against the spread: LIONS.
KLEIN: I love this matchup. One week after B.C. proved they are for real, the Argos have a chance to do the same. The Lions just have too much for the East’s top team.
Straight-up: LIONS. Against the spread: LIONS.
MCGUIRE: This is the game of the week and maybe the season. The Leos are probably the better team but the Boatmen are feeling their oars, especially at home.
Straight-up: ARGOS. Against the spread: ARGOS.
SMITH: My reservations about Chad Kelly aside, Toronto is simply too good to be getting points at home.
Straight-up: ARGOS. Against the spread: ARGOS.
TOTALS STRAIGHT-UP: Toronto 6, B.C. 5
TOTALS AGAINST THE SPREAD: Toronto 6, B.C. 5
Records to date (straight-up)
ABBOTT — 10-2
KLEIN — 10-2
FILOSO — 9-3
MCGUIRE — 8-4
BALLANTINE — 7-5
DUNK — 7-5
GRANT — 7-5
HODGE — 7-5
HOSKINS — 7-5
GASSON — 6-6
SMITH — 6-6
Records to date (against the spread)
KLEIN — 11-1
FILOSO — 10-2
ABBOTT — 9-3
BALLANTINE — 8-4
GASSON — 8-4
DUNK — 6-6
GRANT — 6-6
HODGE — 6-6
HOSKINS — 6-6
MCGUIRE — 6-6
SMITH — 4-8
