It’s time for Week 11 of the 2023 CFL season with plenty of key storylines heading into the action. Hamilton will play their first game with Scott Milanovich as offensive coordinator, Montreal is looking to win a fourth straight game, Saskatchewan is trying to get back to .500, Ottawa is attempting to snap a three-game losing streak, and the Edmonton Elks are still searching for their first win.
3DownNation contributors JC Abbott and Santino Filoso continue to set the pace in our picks straight-up, while Joel Gasson has taken the lead in our picks against the spread. If you’re looking to tail someone’s picks, he’d make a great choice.
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. 17: Edmonton Elks at Hamilton Tiger-Cats — 7:30 p.m. EDT
Edmonton coughed up a 22-point lead against Winnipeg last week to drop their ninth consecutive game of the season, though Tre Ford was able to breathe some life into the team’s offence. The Tiger-Cats have a new offensive coordinator after Tommy Condell and the club parted ways during last week’s bye, which could help spark the club’s seventh-ranked attack.
DUNK: It’s time.
Straight-up: ELKS. Against the spread: ELKS.
HODGE: I can’t believe I’m doing this.
Straight-up: ELKS. Against the spread: ELKS.
ABBOTT: I’m a sick, sick man.
Straight-up: ELKS. Against the spread: ELKS.
BALLANTINE: The dysfunction continues in Edmonton, and I’m not sure what it will take to get over this hump.
Straight-up: TICATS. Against the spread: TICATS.
FILOSO: This pick is strictly because of Tre Ford.
Straight-up: ELKS. Against the spread: ELKS.
GASSON: I’m tempted to take the Elks but they’re travelling cross country against a team coming off a bye who will have a new coach bump.
Straight-up: TICATS. Against the spread: TICATS.
GRANT: Hamilton isn’t a great football team, but they’re significantly better than Edmonton, plus they’re rested and playing at home.
Straight-up: TICATS. Against the spread: TICATS.
HOSKINS: I can’t believe Hodge did that either. Hamilton’s coming off a bye with new schemes that have no film.
Straight-up: TICATS. Against the spread: ELKS.
KLEIN: These are two teams I’ve had success picking against all season. I don’t trust Hamilton to beat anyone by more than a touchdown, so this stays close.
Straight-up: TICATS. Against the spread: ELKS.
MCGUIRE: Edmonton proved on Canada Day last year that they can win in the Hammer with Tre Ford at QB.
Straight-up: ELKS. Against the spread: ELKS.
SMITH: I don’t like the 5.5-point spread but when teams off a bye are 9-2 both straight up and against the spread this season, I will trust the data.
Straight-up: TICATS. Against the spread: TICATS.
TOTALS STRAIGHT-UP: Hamilton 6, Edmonton 5
TOTALS AGAINST THE SPREAD: Edmonton 7, Hamilton 4
Friday, Aug. 18: Winnipeg Blue Bombers at Calgary Stampeders — 9:00 p.m. EDT
Zach Collaros is questionable for this game due to a neck injury, which could mean Dru Brown gets the start for Winnipeg. The Stampeders have lost three of their last four games and, if the season ended today, would miss the playoffs for the first time since 2004. Jake Maier is currently playing some of the worst football of his career, having gone three consecutive games without a touchdown pass.
DUNK: Prime bounce-back spot for Calgary just not to play terribly.
Straight-up: Bombers. Against the spread: STAMPS.
HODGE: Zach Collaros or Dru Brown? Doesn’t matter.
Straight-up: BOMBERS. Against the spread: BOMBERS.
ABBOTT: Dru Brown will drop dimes while Jake Maier tries to score with pennies.
Straight-up: BOMBERS. Against the spread: BOMBERS.
BALLANTINE: Winnipeg’s been very vulnerable up the middle and Calgary can exploit that better than most teams.
Straight-up: STAMPS. Against the spread: STAMPS.
FILOSO: Calgary is in such a rut that Winnipeg could start Dakota Prukop and I’d still take them.
Straight-up: BOMBERS. Against the spread: BOMBERS.
GASSON: Games played in Calgary used to mean something. Not anymore.
Straight-up: BOMBERS. Against the spread: BOMBERS.
GRANT: Calgary isn’t done, but their secondary is going to have their hands full in this one. They just don’t match up well against Winnipeg.
Straight-up: BOMBERS. Against the spread: STAMPS.
HOSKINS: Winnipeg completes the Alberta sweep.
Straight-up: BOMBERS. Against the spread: BOMBERS.
KLEIN: Calgary got a big win against Toronto but showed us how they really compare to the top tier of the league last week. Winnipeg by a bunch.
Straight-up: BOMBERS. Against the spread: BOMBERS.
MCGUIRE: Calgary beat the Argos, a good team with a backup QB. Probably won’t win this one but should keep it close.
Straight-up: BOMBERS. Against the spread: STAMPS.
SMITH: Calgary has scored one offensive touchdown in their last three games and I don’t suspect Winnipeg will give them a 22-0 head start.
Straight-up: BOMBERS. Against the spread: BOMBERS.
TOTALS STRAIGHT-UP: Winnipeg 10, Calgary 1
TOTALS AGAINST THE SPREAD: Winnipeg 7, Calgary 4
Saturday, Aug. 19: Montreal Alouettes at Ottawa Redblacks — 7:00 p.m. EDT
The Alouettes sat Cody Fajardo due to a shoulder injury last week and the move paid off as the club easily dispatched of Saskatchewan without him. He’ll once again be a game-time decision for Montreal this week. Meanwhile, Dustin Crum is coming off his best performance of the year, throwing for three touchdowns and zero interceptions in a relatively close loss against Toronto.
DUNK: Ottawa needs this game to keep pace with Montreal in the division.
Straight-up: REDBLACKS. Against the spread: REDBLACKS.
HODGE: If Fajardo plays, I’ll take Montreal to win and cover. If he doesn’t, Ottawa takes the win.
Straight-up: REDBLACKS. Against the spread: REDBLACKS.
ABBOTT: Under the assumption that Fajardo plays, I have to go Alouettes. But I’ll hedge my bets with the spread.
Straight-up: ALS. Against the spread: REDBLACKS.
BALLANTINE: Montreal has been rolling since adding some Lemon to the recipe.
Straight-up: ALS. Against the spread: ALS.
FILOSO: Ottawa needs it more.
Straight-up: REDBLACKS. Against the spread: REDBLACKS.
GASSON: This line feels low. Montreal is better.
Straight-up: ALS. Against the spread: ALS.
GRANT: Crum is coming off a great game, but I think he provided Montreal with some good tape to study.
Straight-up: ALS. Against the spread: ALS.
HOSKINS: This is a much tighter line than I would have expected. The tape is out and Ottawa can up their game against Evans.
Straight-up: REDBLACKS. Against the spread: REDBLACKS.
KLEIN: I don’t trust either team but I trust Montreal a bit more.
Straight-up: ALS. Against the spread: ALS.
MCGUIRE: I’m still not sold on the Alouettes, who beat a so-so team on a short week.
Straight-up: REDBLACKS. Against the spread: REDBLACKS.
SMITH: Caleb Evans wasn’t great last week and the Als are due for a letdown.
Straight-up: REDBLACKS. Against the spread: REDBLACKS.
TOTALS STRAIGHT-UP: Ottawa 6, Montreal 5
TOTALS AGAINST THE SPREAD: Ottawa 7, Montreal 4
Sunday, Aug. 20: B.C. Lions at Saskatchewan Roughriders — 7:00 p.m. EDT
The Lions got back to their winning ways this past week to remain in a tie with Winnipeg atop the West Division. Saskatchewan has lost four of their last five and will be without Mason Fine due to a hamstring injury in this game, allowing Jake Dolegala to make his second career start. These clubs played back in Week 7 as the Lions came away with a 19-9 win, though Vernon Adams Jr. left the game early due to a knee injury.
DUNK: This could get really ugly.
Straight-up: LIONS. Against the spread: LIONS.
HODGE: The Lions are rolling.
Straight-up: LIONS. Against the spread: LIONS.
ABBOTT: Jake Dolegala is not a meaningful threat to this B.C. defence.
Straight-up: LIONS. Against the spread: LIONS.
BALLANTINE: I’d take the Lions with a 13.5-point spread.
Straight-up: LIONS. Against the spread: LIONS.
FILOSO: B.C. is the better team, but that’s a big spread.
Straight-up: LIONS. Against the spread: RIDERS.
GASSON: The Riders are due for a gobsmacking win but they haven’t done it under Dickenson.
Straight-up: LIONS. Against the spread: RIDERS.
GRANT: I’ve made some terrible blunders this year, but I really like Saskatchewan to bounce back well this week at home.
Straight-up: RIDERS. Against the spread: RIDERS.
HOSKINS: Saskatchewan has found a few ways to win at home this year. Not this time, but they keep it closer than that big spread.
Straight-up: LIONS. Against the spread: RIDERS.
KLEIN: I don’t know if the Riders even cover this with a perfectly healthy team.
Straight-up: LIONS. Against the spread: LIONS.
MCGUIRE: I took the Riders on TV this week so I can’t change here. B.C. games are always a blowout so if Saskatchewan can keep it close, I like their chances.
Straight-up: RIDERS. Against the spread: RIDERS.
SMITH: Laying nearly 10 points on the road is a big ask and with a spread this size, you always have to be concerned about the backdoor cover.
Straight-up: LIONS. Against the spread: RIDERS.
TOTALS STRAIGHT-UP: B.C. 9, Saskatchewan 2
TOTALS AGAINST THE SPREAD: Saskatchewan 6, B.C. 5
Records to date (straight-up)
ABBOTT — 29-10
FILOSO — 29-10
GASSON — 27-12
SMITH — 27-12
GRANT — 26-13
DUNK — 25-14
HODGE — 25-14
HOSKINS — 25-14
KLEIN — 25-14
MCGUIRE — 24-16
BALLANTINE — 23-16
Records to date (against the spread)
GASSON — 26-12-1
FILOSO — 25-13-1
KLEIN — 23-15-1
ABBOTT — 22-16-1
GRANT — 22-16-1
BALLANTINE — 21-17-1
SMITH — 21-17-1
HODGE — 20-18-1
HOSKINS — 19-19-1
DUNK — 18-20-1
MCGUIRE — 16-22-1
