It’s time for Week 12 of the 2023 CFL season with plenty of key storylines heading into the action. Ottawa has lost four straight games, Winnipeg and Montreal have won four straight games, Calgary is looking to score their first passing touchdown in a month, and the Edmonton Elks are looking to snap a 22-game home losing streak after getting their first win of the year last week.
3DownNation contributor JC Abbott has taken the sole lead in our picks straight-up, while Santino Filoso leapfrogged Joel Gasson last week 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. 24: Montreal Alouettes at Winnipeg Blue Bombers — 8:30 p.m. EDT
Two veteran quarterbacks have returned to the lineup for this game as Cody Fajardo and Zach Collaros will be under centre for their respective teams. Winnipeg beat Montreal 17-3 back in Week 4, though the offences sputtered partly due to the game being played in a torrential downpour. These are the two hottest teams in the CFL as both have won four straight games, which should make for a good matchup in front of a big crowd at IG Field.
DUNK: The Blue Bombers bounce back in big ways.
Straight-up: BOMBERS. Against the spread: BOMBERS.
HODGE: Winnipeg got a wake-up call last week but Montreal keeps it within a touchdown.
Straight-up: BOMBERS. Against the spread: ALS.
ABBOTT: Fajardo being back makes a difference. Collaros being back makes more of one.
Straight-up: BOMBERS. Against the spread: ALS.
BALLANTINE: Collaros coming back will means Winnipeg won’t have to rely on their defence to score all the touchdowns.
Straight-up: BOMBERS. Against the spread: BOMBERS.
FILOSO: Montreal is playing good football but with Zach back, Winnipeg cruises to victory.
Straight-up: BOMBERS. Against the spread: BOMBERS.
GASSON: The Als are pretty good but I don’t think they’re this good.
Straight-up: BOMBERS. Against the spread: ALS.
GRANT: I can’t see Winnipeg losing this game but Montreal has the players to keep it close.
Straight-up: BOMBERS Against the spread: ALS.
HOSKINS: Winnipeg back home and wanting to prove they are No. 1 with Collaros back.
Straight-up: BOMBERS. Against the spread: ALS.
KLEIN: This is a real test for the Als, who have been getting better. I don’t think they win but they can keep it close.
Straight-up: BOMBERS. Against the spread: ALS.
MCGUIRE: This point spread seems generous for Montreal. They won in Winnipeg a year ago but Marc Liegghio isn’t around to miss all those field goals this time around.
Straight-up: BOMBERS. Against the spread: BOMBERS.
SMITH: Montreal isn’t quite on Winnipeg’s level but they will keep this close.
Straight-up: BOMBERS. Against the spread: ALS.
TOTALS STRAIGHT-UP: Winnipeg 11, Montreal 0
TOTALS AGAINST THE SPREAD: Montreal 7, Winnipeg 4
Friday, Aug. 25: Calgary Stampeders at Toronto Argonauts — 7:30 p.m. EDT
The Stampeders are currently on the outside looking in for the CFL’s playoff picture, having lost four of their last five games. Jake Maier hasn’t thrown a touchdown pass in any of his last four starts and leads the league in interceptions with 12. Calgary won the last meeting between these two teams, though Chad Kelly was unable to play most of the game due to an ankle injury. Toronto will be well-rested for this one as they are coming off their third and final bye of the season.
DUNK: Jake Maier has to play better, but I don’t have faith in him, yet.
Straight-up: ARGOS. Against the spread: STAMPS.
HODGE: You know Calgary is in tough when Ryan picks against them.
Straight-up: ARGOS. Against the spread: ARGOS.
ABBOTT: The Stampeders are allergic to touchdowns. Chad Kelly is not.
Straight-up: ARGOS. Against the spread: ARGOS.
BALLANTINE: Calgary beat Toronto once and will be familiar enough with the schemes to keep it closer than this spread.
Straight-up: ARGOS. Against the spread: STAMPS.
FILOSO: Calgary can’t score touchdowns and Toronto averages 33.5 points per game. Easiest call of the week.
Straight-up: ARGOS. Against the spread: ARGOS.
GASSON: Toronto’s coaches are too good to let Calgary hang around this time.
Straight-up: ARGOS. Against the spread: ARGOS.
GRANT: Calgary has had Toronto’s number recently. I still think the Argos pull it out, but it will be much closer than it appears on paper.
Straight-up: ARGOS. Against the spread: STAMPS.
HOSKINS: Toronto learned from the last time they played Calgary. Lightning does not strike twice.
Straight-up: ARGOS. Against the spread: ARGOS.
KLEIN: Lightning isn’t striking twice for Calgary.
Straight-up: ARGOS. Against the spread: ARGOS.
MCGUIRE: I have zero confidence in the Calgary Stampeders right now.
Straight-up: ARGOS. Against the spread: ARGOS.
SMITH: Toronto off a bye will be a juggernaut.
Straight-up: ARGOS. Against the spread: ARGOS.
TOTALS STRAIGHT-UP: Toronto 11, Calgary 0
TOTALS AGAINST THE SPREAD: Toronto 8, Calgary 3
Saturday, Aug. 26: Hamilton Tiger-Cats at B.C. Lions — 7:00 p.m. EDT
The Lions have suddenly lost two of their last three games, though they remain undefeated in the friendly confines of BC Place Stadium. Hamilton will presumably have rookie quarterback Taylor Powell under centre again this week with Bo Levi Mitchell and Matthew Shiltz out due to injury, though he has not thrown a touchdown pass in any of his three starts this season. This game will be the first of two meetings between Hamilton and B.C. this season.
DUNK: The Tiger-Cats are far from tigers and B.C. is the king of the CFL’s jungle animals.
Straight-up: LIONS. Against the spread: LIONS.
HODGE: B.C. bounces back in a big way from last week’s loss.
Straight-up: LIONS. Against the spread: LIONS.
ABBOTT: Jake Dolegala surprised the Lions last week, Taylor Powell won’t do the same.
Straight-up: LIONS. Against the spread: LIONS.
BALLANTINE: If it wasn’t Hamilton, I’d be far more interested in the status of Vernon Adams Jr.
Straight-up: LIONS. Against the spread: LIONS.
FILOSO: Nothing about the Ticats inspires confidence right now.
Straight-up: LIONS. Against the spread: LIONS.
GASSON: If this were in Hamilton, maybe. But it’s not.
Straight-up: LIONS. Against the spread: LIONS.
GRANT: This will be a rout. It doesn’t even qualify as a trap game because B.C. is coming home off a gutting loss.
Straight-up: LIONS. Against the spread: LIONS.
HOSKINS: B.C. is back at home and angry after last week. Poor Tabbies.
Straight-up: LIONS. Against the spread: LIONS.
KLEIN: B.C. with a get right game after last weeks upset.
Straight-up: LIONS. Against the spread: LIONS.
MCGUIRE: An angry Lions den is usually a victorious one for B.C.
Straight-up: LIONS. Against the spread: LIONS.
SMITH: B.C. is going to be angry.
Straight-up: LIONS. Against the spread: LIONS.
TOTALS STRAIGHT-UP: B.C. 11, Hamilton 0
TOTALS AGAINST THE SPREAD: B.C. 11, Hamilton 0
Sunday, Aug. 27: Ottawa Redblacks at Edmonton Elks — 7:00 p.m. EDT
The Redblacks are riding a four-game losing streak, while Edmonton is riding a 22-game home losing skid that dates back to 2019. Clearly, something’s gotta give. Ottawa has generally kept games close this year, though the club’s defence ranks ninth in offensive touchdowns allowed and eighth in opponent net offence. The Elks have finally found a spark on offence, as Canadian quarterback Tre Ford was named last week’s top performer by Pro Football Focus.
DUNK: The streak is about to be ova.
Straight-up: ELKS. Against the spread: ELKS.
HODGE: Edmonton’s not ready to win back-to-back games just yet.
Straight-up: REDBLACKS. Against the spread: REDBLACKS.
ABBOTT: In Ford we trust.
Straight-up: ELKS. Against the spread: ELKS.
BALLANTINE: The losing streak finally ends this week as the Redblacks’ season continues to Crum-ble.
Straight-up: ELKS. Against the spread: ELKS.
FILOSO: The only team Ottawa has beat consistently in recent years is Edmonton. Tre Ford will keep things exciting but I expect Dyce’s squad to get back on track
Straight-up: REDBLACKS. Against the spread: REDBLACKS.
GASSON: It‘s time.
Straight-up: ELKS. Against the spread: ELKS.
GRANT: Everyone’s excited about the Elks suddenly and that’s great for the city of Edmonton, but Ottawa is a better football team.
Straight-up: REDBLACKS. Against the spread: REDBLACKS.
HOSKINS: Dear whichever higher power you subscribe to: the streak needs to finally end. Signed, EE fans.
Straight-up: ELKS. Against the spread: ELKS.
KLEIN: The Elks are on fire! I don’t think their season-high one-game winning streak ends here.
Straight-up: ELKS. Against the spread: ELKS.
MCGUIRE: 1,410 days and counting. My daughter wasn’t even born when this streak began and now she’s walking, talking, and playing baseball.
Straight-up: REDBLACKS. Against the spread: REDBLACKS.
SMITH: I’m not ready to believe in the Elks just because they blew out a bad Ticats team.
Straight-up: REDBLACKS. Against the spread: REDBLACKS.
TOTALS STRAIGHT-UP: Edmonton 6, Ottawa 5
TOTALS AGAINST THE SPREAD: Edmonton 6, Ottawa 5
Records to date (straight-up)
ABBOTT — 32-11
FILOSO — 31-12
GASSON — 29-14
GRANT — 29-14
SMITH — 28-15
DUNK — 27-16
HODGE — 27-16
KLEIN — 27-16
MCGUIRE — 27-16
HOSKINS — 26-17
BALLANTINE — 24-19
Records to date (against the spread)
FILOSO — 28-14-1
GASSON — 27-15-1
ABBOTT — 24-18-1
GRANT — 24-18-1
KLEIN — 24-18-1
SMITH — 23-19-1
BALLANTINE — 22-20-1
HODGE — 22-20-1
HOSKINS — 22-20-1
DUNK — 21-21-1
MCGUIRE — 20-22-1
