Week 6 of the 2023 CFL season is set to get underway with the Edmonton Elks looking to break a 19-game home losing streak that dates all the way back to October 2019.
Ottawa contributor Santino Filoso sits atop our picks standings with a scintillating record of 15-4 straight-up, while he shares the lead against-the-spread with Joel Gasson and Peter Klein at 14-5.
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 U.S. are eligible to participate, excluding Quebec.
Thursday, July 13: Hamilton Tiger-Cats at Edmonton Elks — 9:00 p.m. EDT
Edmonton has lost 19 consecutive games at home and the club is looking to avoid tying the all-time professional sports record of 20 set by the St. Louis Browns of Major League Baseball in 1953. With the Ticats coming off a short week and Edmonton’s next three contests coming against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers (4-1) and B.C. Lions (4-1), this is a must-win game for the Elks.
DUNK: The Elks have to win at home at some point, right?
Straight-up: ELKS. Against the spread: ELKS.
HODGE: I can’t believe I’m doing this.
Straight-up: ELKS. Against the spread: ELKS.
ABBOTT: Logic says Hamilton will struggle on a short week, but losses like the one Edmonton suffered last week can break a team.
Straight-up: TICATS. Against the spread: TICATS.
BALLANTINE: Is this streak worth anything if it doesn’t break the pro sports record? Without the actual record, all of Edmonton’s losses would have been for nothing.
Straight-up: TICATS. Against the spread: TICATS.
FILOSO: Someone has to win, right? Give me the home team, I guess.
Straight-up: ELKS. Against the spread: ELKS.
GASSON: If not now, when?
Straight-up: ELKS. Against the spread: ELKS.
GRANT: This is the week the streak finally ends. It’s tough sledding after this game for the Elks, so they really need this as an organization.
Straight-up: ELKS. Against the spread: ELKS.
HOSKINS: Elks finally put together a full game after a long week to get the monkey off their back.
Straight-up: ELKS. Against the spread: ELKS.
KLEIN: On one hand, Edmonton almost won last week. On the other, they only scored 11 points. I think they’ll have to wait at least one more week for win number one.
Straight-up: TICATS. Against the spread: TICATS.
MCGUIRE: Hamilton has the better quarterback but luckily for Edmonton, it’s about more than who’s under centre. The Elks are due.
Straight-up: ELKS. Against the spread: ELKS.
SMITH: It wouldn’t shock me if Edmonton pulled this one off and they are likely to be the majority’s pick to do so, but a team scoring barely more than 12 points per game is not one I can back under any circumstances.
Straight-up: TICATS. Against the spread: TICATS.
TOTALS STRAIGHT-UP: Edmonton 7, Hamilton 4
TOTALS AGAINST THE SPREAD: Edmonton 7, Hamilton 4
Friday, July 14: Toronto Argonauts at Montreal Alouettes — 7:30 p.m. EDT
The Argos are riding high coming off their second bye week of the season as head coach Ryan Dinwiddie signed a multi-year extension with the club. The league’s last undefeated team will be a tough match-up for the Alouettes, a team that is currently on pace to allow 99 sacks this season, which would be the second-highest total in league history. If Montreal is serious about pushing Toronto for first place in the East Division this season, this game could be considered a must-win.
DUNK: Argos keep sailing smoothly against an East Division opponent.
Straight-up: ARGOS. Against the spread: ARGOS.
HODGE: Montreal is on pace to give up 99 sacks this season and Toronto’s defence will take full advantage.
Straight-up: ARGOS. Against the spread: ARGOS.
ABBOTT: Losses against Winnipeg and B.C. proved that Montreal’s 2-0 start was a sham. Toronto is the league’s other powerhouse.
Straight-up: ARGOS. Against the spread: ARGOS.
BALLANTINE: Why is this spread this low?
Straight-up: ARGOS. Against the spread: ARGOS.
FILOSO: The Argos have scored 120 points in their three games. Nothing I’ve seen from Montreal’s defence makes me think they can slow down Toronto’s attack.
Straight-up: ARGOS. Against the spread: ARGOS.
GASSON: Two teams going in different direction. Fajardo might get sacked more than the spread.
Straight-up: ARGOS. Against the spread: ARGOS.
GRANT: I expect a slow start from Toronto coming off their second early bye. They should have the horses for a comeback win, but it will be close.
Straight-up: ARGOS. Against the spread: ALS.
HOSKINS: Fajardo’s famous spin out of the pocket won’t fool Toronto’s defence. The visitors take this one rather handily.
Straight-up: ARGOS. Against the spread: ARGOS.
KLEIN: When the odds gods bless you with the best team in the league favoured by 4.5 points, you don’t ask questions. You simply say thank you and move on.
Straight-up: ARGOS. Against the spread: ARGOS.
MCGUIRE: Fajardo and Maas set a franchise record for sacks allowed in Saskatchewan last year and are already threatening to do the same in Montreal. This will be a romp.
Straight-up: ARGOS. Against the spread: ARGOS.
SMITH: Teams coming off a bye have been almost automatic this season, winning five of six. The talent disparity between Toronto and Montreal is also immense.
Straight-up: ARGOS. Against the spread: ARGOS.
TOTALS STRAIGHT-UP: Toronto 11, Montreal 0
TOTALS AGAINST THE SPREAD: Toronto 10, Montreal 1
Saturday, July 15: Winnipeg Blue Bombers at Ottawa Redblacks — 4:00 p.m. EDT
Dustin Crum will make his first career CFL start with Jeremiah Masoli and Tyrie Adams out for the rest of the season due to injury. The dual-threat passer ran for 91 yards in a relief effort last week against Hamilton but also threw two costly interceptions. Meanwhile, the Blue Bombers appear to have gotten back to their winning ways following back-to-back victories over Montreal and Calgary.
DUNK: Dustin Crum let’s see what you got — learn fast.
Straight-up: BOMBERS. Against the spread: BOMBERS.
HODGE: Welcome to the CFL, Dustin Crum.
Straight-up: BOMBERS. Against the spread: BOMBERS.
ABBOTT: Willie Jefferson feels no sympathy for the Redblacks’ QB situation.
Straight-up: BOMBERS. Against the spread: BOMBERS.
BALLANTINE: There are miracle rookie starts. This won’t be one of them.
Straight-up: BOMBERS. Against the spread: BOMBERS.
FILOSO: For a rookie QB to have any chance against Winnipeg’s experienced defence, everyone around him needs to play mistake-free football. I’m not convinced Ottawa can.
Straight-up: BOMBERS. Against the spread: REDBLACKS.
GASSON: I like Crum’s potential but this is a pretty big ask for a first career start.
Straight-up: BOMBERS. Against the spread: REDBLACKS.
GRANT: I’m not writing Crum off, but with a week for Winnipeg to prepare for him, he’ll look lost. There’s a good chance Nick Arbuckle will finish this game for Ottawa.
Straight-up: BOMBERS. Against the spread: BOMBERS.
HOSKINS: Crum may as well be playing quidditch in this one. Winnipeg’s experience will prevail.
Straight-up: BOMBERS. Against the spread: BOMBERS.
KLEIN: This Winnipeg team isn’t the squad to work in a new QB against. Winnipeg takes this convincingly.
Straight-up: BOMBERS. Against the spread: BOMBERS.
MCGUIRE: Dustin Crum might be OK. The only problem is OK won’t cut it against this crew.
Straight-up: BOMBERS. Against the spread: BOMBERS.
SMITH: Winnipeg’s defence isn’t Hamilton’s and Dustin Crum will find out what life in the CFL is really like.
Straight-up: BOMBERS. Against the spread: BOMBERS.
TOTALS STRAIGHT-UP: Winnipeg 11, Ottawa 0
TOTALS AGAINST THE SPREAD: Winnipeg 9, Ottawa 2
Saturday, July 15: Calgary Stampeders at Saskatchewan Roughriders — 7:00 p.m. EDT
The Stampeders were outclassed in Winnipeg last week as franchise quarterback Jake Maier was pulled late amid a poor performance. He and the rest of his team will be looking to avenge a Week 3 loss to the Riders at McMahon Stadium, a game that went into double overtime before Maier threw a game-sealing interception to Nick Marshall. A win for Saskatchewan would not only improve their record to 4-1 on the year but also secure the season series against Cowtown.
DUNK: Until Jake Maier proves otherwise, bet against him.
Straight-up: RIDERS. Against the spread: RIDERS.
HODGE: Calgary doesn’t have much of a choice at this point.
Straight-up: STAMPS. Against the spread: STAMPS.
ABBOTT: The Riders are the better team, but they may not even be able to rely on a rouge due to injuries.
Straight-up: STAMPS. Against the spread: STAMPS.
BALLANTINE: The Riders barely escaped Calgary with a win earlier this year. I expect it to be the reverse this week.
Straight-up: STAMPS. Against the spread: STAMPS.
FILOSO: Until the Stampeders get better QB play, they’ll keep losing.
Straight-up: RIDERS. Against the spread: RIDERS.
GASSON: Saskatchewan doesn’t have an opponent to play down to here, plus they have the better quarterback.
Straight-up: RIDERS. Against the spread: RIDERS.
GRANT: Trevor Harris is playing good football despite what everyone in my Twitter feed thinks. I have trouble seeing the Stampeders winning this one.
Straight-up: RIDERS. Against the spread: RIDERS.
HOSKINS: Riders seem to be executing as a team more than the Stamps these days. This should be a close one but I’ll take the home side.
Straight-up: RIDERS. Against the spread: RIDERS.
KLEIN: The Riders can build off that last drive against Edmonton last week and the defence knows what Calgary can and, maybe more importantly, can’t do.
Straight-up: RIDERS. Against the spread: RIDERS.
MCGUIRE: This is the game of the week. Calgary might win if Jake Maier stays away from Nick Marshall. I’m guessing he’ll slip up once or twice.
Straight-up: RIDERS. Against the spread: RIDERS.
SMITH: The Stamps look lost right now and Saskatchewan should be able to do enough to cover the small spread at home.
Straight-up: RIDERS. Against the spread: RIDERS.
TOTALS STRAIGHT-UP: Saskatchewan 7, Calgary 3
TOTALS AGAINST THE SPREAD: Saskatchewan 7, Calgary 3
Records to date (straight-up)
FILOSO — 15-4
ABBOTT — 14-5
KLEIN — 14-5
GASSON — 13-6
DUNK — 12-7
GRANT — 12-7
MCGUIRE — 12-7
SMITH — 12-7
BALLANTINE — 11-8
HODGE — 11-8
HOSKINS — 11-8
Records to date (against the spread)
FILOSO — 14-5
GASSON — 14-5
KLEIN — 14-5
ABBOTT — 11-8
BALLANTINE — 10-9
GRANT — 10-9
HODGE — 9-10
MCGUIRE — 9-10
DUNK — 8-11
HOSKINS — 8-11
SMITH — 8-11
