Week 9 of the 2023 CFL season has arrived, bringing with it a slate of relatively tight spreads. B.C. and Winnipeg are duking it out for first place in the West Division, Hamilton and Montreal are looking to break away in the East Division, and the Saskatchewan Roughriders are trying to snap a three-game losing streak.
3DownNation contributors JC Abbott and Santino Filoso have pulled ahead in our picks straight-up, while Filoso has held his lead atop the standings against the spread.
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, Aug. 3: B.C. Lions at Winnipeg Blue Bombers — 8:30 p.m. EDT
Dane Evans will start for B.C. for the second straight week, while the Blue Bombers got a couple of key defenders back in Kyrie Wilson and Winston Rose. This game has huge implications in the West Division standings as these two teams have started to separate themselves from the pack. The Lions won the first meeting of the season by a score of 30-6 back on June 22, embarrassing the Blue Bombers on their home turf.
DUNK: Blue Bombers off a bye and revenge-minded, sign me up.
Straight-up: BOMBERS. Against the spread: BOMBERS.
HODGE: B.C.’s coming off a short week and Winnipeg’s coming off a bye. Advantage: home side.
Straight-up: BOMBERS. Against the spread: LIONS.
ABBOTT: In a battle of excellent defensive lines, bet on the team with the better blockers and the more mobile quarterback.
Straight-up: BOMBERS. Against the spread: LIONS.
BALLANTINE: Lots of people are giving Winnipeg credit like they didn’t get held to six points by B.C. earlier this year.
Straight-up: LIONS. Against the spread: LIONS.
FILOSO: This is the game of week. I’ll take the team fresh off a bye with their QB1 vs. the team off a short week with QB2.
Straight-up: BOMBERS. Against the spread: LIONS.
GASSON: This should be a dandy — appointment viewing for sure. I don’t see the Lions getting the Bombers twice.
Straight-up: BOMBERS. Against the spread: LIONS.
GRANT: I’d take B.C. at home, but Winnipeg has all the advantages in this game from a scheduling point of view.
Straight-up: BOMBERS. Against the spread: LIONS.
HOSKINS: A short week vs. a bye week? Winnipeg takes this in a close one.
Straight-up: BOMBERS. Against the spread: LIONS.
KLEIN: Not much separates these two but giving Winnipeg extra rest and time to prepare should give them enough of an edge.
Straight-up: BOMBERS. Against the spread: BOMBERS.
MCGUIRE: There’s no way Zach Collaros doesn’t make the adjustments needed to do better this time.
Straight-up: BOMBERS. Against the spread: LIONS.
SMITH: CFL teams coming off a bye are 8-1 straight up and 7-2 against the spread this season. I like that trend to continue.
Straight-up: BOMBERS. Against the spread: BOMBERS.
TOTALS STRAIGHT-UP: Winnipeg 10, B.C. 1
TOTALS AGAINST THE SPREAD: B.C. 8, Winnipeg 3
Friday, Aug. 4: Toronto Argonauts at Calgary Stampeders — 9:00 p.m. EDT
The Stampeders are heavy underdogs at home in this game after being considered virtually unbeatable at McMahon Stadium for most of the past decade. Toronto is the league’s only remaining undefeated team and are coming off an 18-point win over the Saskatchewan Roughriders in Touchdown Atlantic. With a tough upcoming schedule, the pressure is on Calgary to get their third win of the season.
DUNK: Jake Maier turns the football over too much to trust.
Straight-up: ARGOS. Against the spread: ARGOS.
HODGE: These coaching staffs know each other extremely well, which should make this a close game.
Straight-up: ARGOS. Against the spread: STAMPS.
ABBOTT: A tough stretch for the Stampeders only gets tougher.
Straight-up: ARGOS. Against the spread: ARGOS.
BALLANTINE: This is Toronto’s fourth straight road game and the club recently played all the way out east. This spread is too wide.
Straight-up: ARGOS. Against the spread: STAMPS.
FILOSO: The only thing that could stop Toronto from moving to 7-0 is themselves.
Straight-up: ARGOS. Against the spread: ARGOS.
GASSON: The Argos keep on rolling.
Straight-up: ARGOS. Against the spread: ARGOS.
GRANT: Toronto’s been dishing out double-digit wins, but walking into McMahon will give Argos players flashbacks after last year’s nightmare.
Straight-up: ARGOS. Against the spread: STAMPS.
HOSKINS: Toronto gives me no reason to not pick them. Calgary won’t keep it close against that defence.
Straight-up: ARGOS. Against the spread: ARGOS.
KLEIN: Toronto’s on a roll and Calgary can’t put a complete game together. I don’t expect either of those trends to change this week.
Straight-up: ARGOS. Against the spread: ARGOS.
MCGUIRE: I can’t believe how down everyone is on the Stampeders. Jake Maier just threw for 450 yards, people! The Boatmen are prime for an upset.
Straight-up: STAMPS. Against the spread: STAMPS.
SMITH: Sometimes you just have a gut feeling and nothing can move you off that. This is one of those times.
Straight-up: STAMPS. Against the spread: STAMPS.
TOTALS STRAIGHT-UP: Toronto 9, Calgary 2
TOTALS AGAINST THE SPREAD: Toronto 6, Calgary 5
Saturday, Aug. 5: Montreal Alouettes at Hamilton Tiger-Cats — 7:00 p.m. EDT
Montreal snapped a three-game losing streak this past week on the strength of six field goals from David Côté and a pick-six from Kabion Ento. Meanwhile, Bo Levi Mitchell has been placed back on the six-game injured list after suffering a fractured leg late in Hamilton’s narrow victory over the Ottawa Redblacks. Taylor Powell will make his second career start after throwing for 283 yards and one interception back in Week 7.
DUNK: The Alouettes have more juice by squeezing Shawn Lemon.
Straight-up: ALS. Against the spread: ALS.
HODGE: Montreal has proven they can consistently beat the league’s second-tier teams.
Straight-up: ALS. Against the spread: ALS.
ABBOTT: The Ticats might actually be better with Taylor Powell at the helm, but they still aren’t good.
Straight-up: ALS. Against the spread: ALS.
BALLANTINE: Hamilton has shown to be a bad team with or without Bo Levi Mitchell at the helm.
Straight-up: ALS. Against the spread: ALS.
FILOSO: Montreal has been more consistent and won’t be relying on their third-string QB.
Straight-up: ALS. Against the spread: ALS.
GASSON: Hamilton’s quarterback won’t throw five interceptions this week. This should be a close one but Montreal’s a bit better.
Straight-up: ALS. Against the spread: ALS.
GRANT: Hamilton has a better team overall, but I don’t think their quarterback will move the ball well enough to win.
Straight-up: ALS. Against the spread: ALS.
HOSKINS: There’s tape out on Powell now. Noel Thorpe will have Montreal’s defence ready for him.
Straight-up: ALS. Against the spread: ALS.
KLEIN: The QB change in Hamilton shouldn’t change much and their edge in skill should give them a slight advantage.
Straight-up: TICATS. Against the spread: TICATS.
MCGUIRE: This is a very winnable game for Montreal as they’re showing signs of sorting out their pass protection issues.
Straight-up: ALS. Against the spread: ALS.
SMITH: I think Taylor Powell is going to surprise some people and Hamilton’s defensive line awoke from a slumber against Ottawa.
Straight-up: TICATS. Against the spread: TICATS.
TOTALS STRAIGHT-UP: Montreal 9, Hamilton 2
TOTALS AGAINST THE SPREAD: Montreal 9, Hamilton 2
Sunday, Aug. 6: Ottawa Redblacks at Saskatchewan Roughriders — 7:00 p.m. EDT
The Redblacks came close to completing the comeback against Hamilton last week, though they were unable to over-Crum the deficit. Saskatchewan’s now lost three straight games and have yet to score an offensive touchdown with Mason Fine at the controls since he took over as the team’s starter. Head coach Craig Dickenson gave Fine a vote of confidence after Touchdown Atlantic, though the third-year passer was pulled late in the game.
DUNK: Dustin Crumsback in a big way.
Straight-up: REDBLACKS. Against the spread: REDBLACKS.
HODGE: Saskatchewan’s defence should be able to contain Dustin Crum enough to stop their losing streak.
Straight-up: RIDERS. Against the spread: RIDERS.
ABBOTT: Teams have been successful in spying Dustin Crum but I’m not sure the Riders have a backer athletic enough to do it.
Straight-up: REDBLACKS. Against the spread: REDBLACKS.
BALLANTINE: I said it last week and I’ll say it again, having a quarterback who is just Fine isn’t enough to win.
Straight-up: REDBLACKS. Against the spread: REDBLACKS.
FILOSO: Ottawa should have won last week, and with another week of practice and film study under his belt, I believe Crum bounces back.
Straight-up: REDBLACKS. Against the spread: REDBLACKS.
GASSON: It’s now or never for Mason Fine. No travel. Not a top opponent. Speak now or forever find the bench.
Straight-up: RIDERS. Against the spread: RIDERS.
GRANT: I’m in the minority but I thought the Riders showed positive signs last week. I see Saskatchewan running away with this.
Straight-up: RIDERS. Against the spread: RIDERS.
HOSKINS: Crum could put on another show against a Saskatchewan defence that hasn’t been stellar.
Straight-up: REDBLACKS. Against the spread: REDBLACKS.
KLEIN: I still think Ottawa has something in Crum and I don’t have faith in what Saskatchewan will do offensively.
Straight-up: REDBLACKS. Against the spread: REDBLACKS.
MCGUIRE: Mason Fine isn’t playing that badly, he just needs his teammates to step up a bit. It happens this week.
Straight-up: RIDERS. Against the spread: RIDERS.
SMITH: Saskatchewan’s defence held Chad Kelly in check, so Dustin Crum shouldn’t be a problem.
Straight-up: RIDERS. Against the spread: RIDERS.
TOTALS STRAIGHT-UP: Ottawa 6, Saskatchewan 5
TOTALS AGAINST THE SPREAD: Ottawa 6, Saskatchewan 5
Records to date (straight-up)
ABBOTT — 23-8
FILOSO — 23-8
KLEIN — 21-10
GASSON — 20-11
GRANT — 20-11
SMITH — 20-11
BALLANTINE — 19-12
DUNK — 19-12
HOSKINS — 19-12
HODGE — 18-13
MCGUIRE — 18-13
Records to date (against the spread)
FILOSO — 21-9-1
GASSON — 20-10-1
KLEIN — 20-10-1
ABBOTT — 17-13-1
BALLANTINE — 17-13-1
GRANT — 16-14-1
SMITH — 15-15-1
HODGE — 14-16-1
HOSKINS — 14-16-1
MCGUIRE — 13-17-1
DUNK — 12-18-1
