We’re set for a four-game slate in Week 7 of the Canadian Football League season and below are our predictions for two of those contests.
Week 7 CFL betting odds and picks: Best bets for Saskatchewan vs. B.C., Ottawa vs. Calgary
Week 6 could certainly be a tough act to follow after several games came down to the wire. However, this week we have a pair of very intriguing matchups that feature teams making do with quarterbacks they didn’t start the season with.
We’ll circumvent a tricky large full-game spread in the first game and put some faith in the underdog of the Week 7 finale.
Saturday, July 22: Saskatchewan Roughriders at B.C. Lions – 7:00 p.m. EDT
The Roughriders endured a significant personnel hit on offence in Week 6 when Trevor Harris was lost for extended time due to a knee injury.
Mason Fine stepped in and offered some reason for optimism, however. He completed six-of-eight passes for 116 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions, while adding a 24-yard rush.
Granted, a big chunk of Fine’s production came on an unlikely 69-yard touchdown pass off a deflection. However, Fine isn’t without prior experience as he completed 65.7 percent of his passes for 690 yards with three touchdowns and three interceptions a year ago, along with 52 yards on nine rushes.
Fine should be helped significantly by having a full week to prepare as the starter as well as having the presence of the highly versatile Jamal Morrow in the backfield.
Morrow, who compiled 100 total yards and a receiving touchdown in Week 6, can help keep the talented B.C. defence off balance, as can the team’s athletic group of big-bodied pass catchers.
While the host Lions are heavy favourites overall for good reason, the first half should have a solid chance of remaining mostly competitive. As such, I’m in the camp of Saskatchewan being able to slide under the elevated number.
The Pick: 1st Half: Roughriders +5.5 (-110 or better)
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Sunday, July 23: Ottawa Redblacks at Calgary Stampeders – 7:00 p.m. EDT
The Redblacks are a week ahead of the Roughriders in terms of their own makeshift quarterback situation. In Ottawa’s case, their first full game with new signal-caller Dustin Crum went about as well as they could have hoped.
The highly-mobile Kent State product led an mprobable comeback win over the Blue Bombers in Week 6 with his 261 passing yards, 74 rushing yards and two rushing TDs, the final of which resulted in the game-winning score.
Crum had already shown signs of what he was capable of when he stepped in for Jeremiah Masoli (Achilles) in the first half of Week 5. He threw for 149 yards and rushed for 91 and a touchdown on six carries in that game.
Ottawa also got lead back Devonte Williams back from injury in Week 6 while Crum displayed impressive chemistry with a deep pass-catching group that includes veterans Nate Behar, Justin Hardy, and Jaelon Acklin.
On the other side, the Stampeders did escape with a 33-31 win over a Roughriders squad that lost Harris. Yet, Calgary’s inconsistent defence has helped lead to a minus-13-point differential and 2-3 mark for the Stamps in the first five games.
Crum has plenty of confidence and certainly has his teammates won over after barrelling into the end zone for the decisive Week 6 touchdown in overtime. This number, therefore, seems a bit elevated, putting me in the camp of taking the underdog to slide under it.
The Pick: Redblacks +5 (-110 or better)
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