Get your duds in order because the CFL is bound to cross the water once again in Week 8, which will include another Touchdown Atlantic tilt. Unlike Randy Ambrosie’s expansion dreams, the 3DownNation picks are a lock.
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.
Friday, July 28: Hamilton Tiger-Cats at Ottawa Redblacks — 7:30 p.m. EDT
Hamilton secured a 21-13 victory over Ottawa just three weeks ago, but neither team will have the same two under centre for this matchup. The Redblacks have pulled off back-to-back improbable overtime victories thanks to exciting young quarterback Dustin Crum and are scheduled to get three former CFL all-stars back in the lineup this week. Meanwhile, the Tiger-Cats will be starting franchise signal-caller Bo Levi Mitchell for the first time in four games after pulling him off the six-game injured list early.
DUNK: It’s all crumming together for Ottawa.
Straight-up: REDBLACKS. Against the spread: REDBLACKS.
HODGE: Dustin Crum might be a better quarterback than Bo Levi Mitchell right now.
Straight-up: REDBLACKS. Against the spread: REDBLACKS.
ABBOTT: Are we sure that a half-strength Bo Levi Mitchell is a better option than Taylor Powell?
Straight-up: REDBLACKS. Against the spread: REDBLACKS.
BALLANTINE: Don’t call it a Crumback, he’s been here for weeks.
Straight-up: REDBLACKS. Against the spread: REDBLACKS.
FILOSO: Ottawa’s on a roll and the Ticats aren’t the team to slow them down
Straight-up: REDBLACKS. Against the spread: REDBLACKS.
GASSON: Dustin Crum will hit a bump in the road eventually, but not yet.
Straight-up: REDBLACKS. Against the spread: REDBLACKS.
GRANT: Perhaps I’m being foolish or stubborn, but I’m still not ready to crown Crum or Ottawa just yet. I think Hamilton pulls this one out late.
Straight-up: TICATS. Against the spread: TICATS.
HOSKINS: I am loving the exciting football Ottawa is playing. It carries over to this game too
Straight-up: REDBLACKS. Against the spread: REDBLACKS.
KLEIN: I’m going to have to see it before I believe it again from Bo and Hamilton.
Straight-up: REDBLACKS. Against the spread: REDBLACKS.
MCGUIRE: How does anyone think these lacklustre Cats have any shot against the Crumback kids?
Straight-up: REDBLACKS. Against the spread: REDBLACKS.
SMITH: As odd as this is to say, I have seen more from Dustin Crum this year than Bo Levi Mitchell.
Straight-up: REDBLACKS. Against the spread: REDBLACKS.
TOTALS STRAIGHT-UP: Ottawa 10, Hamilton 1
TOTALS AGAINST THE SPREAD: Ottawa 10, Hamilton 1
Saturday, July 29: Saskatchewan Roughriders at Toronto Argonauts — 4:00 p.m. EDT
The Riders and Argos will meet in the Touchdown Atlantic game for the second year in a row, this time at Saint Mary’s University in Halifax. Toronto continues to be a juggernaut as the league’s only undefeated team, while the injury-plagued Riders are starting to get healthy, though they will be led by backup Mason Fine for the second straight week.
DUNK: Argos reel in another win in the east coast.
Straight-up: ARGOS. Against the spread: RIDERS.
HODGE: Toronto leads the league in turnover differential and Mason Fine isn’t the guy to reverse that trend.
Straight-up: ARGOS. Against the spread: ARGOS.
ABBOTT: The Riders are going to wish they were in Sherbrooke now.
Straight-up: ARGOS. Against the spread: ARGOS.
BALLANTINE: Turns out that having Fine quarterbacking just isn’t enough. The spread scares me, but I’m still all in on Toronto
Straight-up: ARGOS. Against the spread: ARGOS.
FILOSO: Toronto is very good, and Saskatchewan is not. The nautical-themed team wins big in the Atlantic
Straight-up: ARGOS. Against the spread: ARGOS.
GASSON: Long travel for a banged-up Riders team with an uninspiring quarterback.
Straight-up: ARGOS. Against the spread: ARGOS.
GRANT: The Argos are the better team, but this is a ridiculous line for what will feel like more of a home game for Saskatchewan in Halifax.
Straight-up: ARGOS. Against the spread: RIDERS.
HOSKINS: The Riders can’t match up against this good Argos’ D. They should cover this fairly easily.
Straight-up: ARGOS. Against the spread: ARGOS.
KLEIN: I haven’t seen anything from Saskatchewan in a post-Harris world that makes me believe they can hang with Toronto.
Straight-up: ARGOS. Against the spread: ARGOS.
MCGUIRE: The Roughriders couldn’t beat Toronto in Touchdown Atlantic when they thought they had a quarterback. What makes anyone think they can do it now when they’re not really sure?
Straight-up: ARGOS. Against the spread: RIDERS.
SMITH: We know Toronto will score at least 30. Do you believe the Riders will score 20? I don’t.
Straight-up: ARGOS. Against the spread: ARGOS.
TOTALS STRAIGHT-UP: Toronto 11, Saskatchewan 0
TOTALS AGAINST THE SPREAD: Toronto 8, Saskatchewan 3
Saturday, July 29: B.C. Lions at Edmonton Elks — 7:00 p.m. EDT
The Lions got lucky with the injury to starting quarterback Vernon Adams Jr., with backup Dane Evans only expected to take over for a week or two. Meanwhile, the Elks have never been lucky at Commonwealth Stadium, where they could set a new all-time North American pro sports record by losing their 21st consecutive home game.
DUNK: The Lions feast on Taylor Cornelius.
Straight-up: LIONS. Against the spread: LIONS.
HODGE: The bleeding continues at Commonwealth.
Straight-up: LIONS. Against the spread: LIONS.
ABBOTT: B.C.’s struggling interior offensive line could pose a problem for the immobile Dane Evans, but not enough for the Elks to pull an upset.
Straight-up: LIONS. Against the spread: ELKS.
BALLANTINE: Was always going to pick B.C. straight up, but the spread is close enough to take them twice
Straight-up: LIONS. Against the spread: LIONS.
FILOSO: This has all the makings of a trap game for B.C. but as long as the Elks continue to start Taylor Cornelius, they’ll continue to lose
Straight-up: LIONS. Against the spread: LIONS.
GASSON: Both streaks continue for Edmonton.
Straight-up: LIONS. Against the spread: LIONS.
GRANT: This could be like one of those games we saw early in the season where the Lions’ offence looked unstoppable.
Straight-up: LIONS. Against the spread: LIONS.
HOSKINS: The B.C. defence is too powerful. Elks officially set the record for most consecutive home losses.
Straight-up: LIONS. Against the spread: LIONS.
KLEIN: Dane Evans with something to prove going up against a winless team is a bad combination for Edmonton
Straight-up: LIONS. Against the spread: LIONS.
MCGUIRE: What are the odds of Edmonton losing 21 in a row at home?
Straight-up: ELKS. Against the spread: ELKS.
SMITH: As long as Dane Evans limits the mistakes that plagued him in Hamilton last year, the Leos should roll.
Straight-up: LIONS. Against the spread: LIONS.
TOTALS STRAIGHT-UP: B.C. 10, Edmonton 1
TOTALS AGAINST THE SPREAD: B.C. 9, Edmonton 2
Sunday, July 30: Calgary Stampeders at Montreal Alouettes — 7:00 p.m. EDT
Calgary was called to task by head coach Dave Dickenson following last week’s loss to Ottawa, but their passing attack has never looked more lethal in the Jake Maier era. He may not have as much time to find his targets this week, however, as the Alouettes celebrated their bye week by acquiring veteran pass rusher Shawn Lemon.
DUNK: It feels like a trap game for Calgary but it’s a must-win for them.
Straight-up: STAMPS. Against the spread: STAMPS.
HODGE: With a brutal upcoming schedule, Calgary can’t afford to drop this one.
Straight-up: STAMPS. Against the spread: STAMPS.
ABBOTT: Jake Maier is finally cooking with gas.
Straight-up: STAMPS. Against the spread: STAMPS.
BALLANTINE: Montreal has been a tough place for the Stamps to win, even when they were among the league’s best. That said, Ka’Deem Carey could return, and the deep balls are finally connecting.
Straight-up: STAMPS. Against the spread: STAMPS.
FILOSO: Give me the home team coming off a bye.
Straight-up: ALS. Against the spread: ALS.
GASSON: Montreal is a tough place to play for good Western teams. Calgary is borderline at best.
Straight-up: ALS. Against the spread: ALS.
GRANT: I think Montreal is the more complete team, but I don’t trust either squad. I’ll hitch my wagon to the better quarterback.
Straight-up: ALS. Against the spread: ALS.
HOSKINS: The Stamps are improving but are playing in a stadium where they’ve had little luck.
Straight-up: ALS. Against the spread: ALS.
KLEIN: I’m worried about how banged up Calgary is but their receivers are really stepping up. That gives them enough to get a bounce-back win here.
Straight-up: STAMPS. Against the spread: STAMPS.
MCGUIRE: You can live with the mistakes Jake Maier makes because of his upside. It’s hard to live with Cody Fajardo’s shortcomings because of his ceiling.
Straight-up: STAMPS. Against the spread: STAMPS.
SMITH: The Stamps have lost five of six in Montreal and all of those Calgary teams were better than this one. Molson Stadium continues to be a nightmare factory for the red and white.
Straight-up: ALS. Against the spread: ALS.
TOTALS STRAIGHT-UP: Calgary 6, Montreal 5
TOTALS AGAINST THE SPREAD: Calgary 6, Montreal 5
Records to date (straight-up)
ABBOTT — 21-6
FILOSO — 20-7
KLEIN — 19-8
BALLANTINE — 17-10
DUNK — 17-10
GASSON — 17-10
MCGUIRE — 17-10
SMITH — 17-10
GRANT — 16-11
HODGE — 16-11
HOSKINS — 16-11
Records to date (against the spread)
FILOSO — 18-8-1
KLEIN — 18-8-1
GASSON — 17-9-1
ABBOTT — 16-10-1
BALLANTINE — 15-11-1
GRANT — 13-13-1
MCGUIRE — 13-13-1
HODGE — 12-14-1
SMITH — 12-14-1
DUNK — 11-15-1
HOSKINS — 11-15-1
