3DownNation CFL picks: can Labour Day underdogs shake up the the standings?

Photo courtesy: Bob Butrym/RFB Sport Photography

We’ve reached Week 13 of the 2023 CFL season — or its official kickoff date, depending on how you feel about an old cliche. Labour Day weekend will see all of the league’s fiercest rivalries renewed, with some serious long-term implications riding on the results.

3DownNation contributor JC Abbott has expanded his lead in our picks straight-up, while Santino Filoso continues to set the pace against the spread. If you’re wondering whose advice to avoid, ignore any selection made by Ryan Ballantine and tune out Brendan McGuire when he tells you who will cover.

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.

Saturday, September 2: B.C. Lions at Montreal Alouettes — 7:00 p.m. EDT

Though it might be the lowest-profile game of the week, this non-rivalry clash has serious implications for two franchises trying to prove they deserve a spot in the CFL’s elite tier. The Lions are reeling after two straight upset losses, while the Alouettes saw their promising winning streak end in a blowout loss to the Bombers last week. The home squad is getting a few big-name reinforcements back in the lineup in the form of receiver Greg Ellingson and defensive back Ciante Evans, though they’ll have to contend with a familiar face in new Lions’ defensive end Nick Usher attempting to exact some revenge for his early season release.

[metabet_core_odds_board query=”531052″ site_id=”3downnation”]

DUNK: B.C. gets a win but Montreal covers.

Straight-up: LIONS. Against the spread: ALS.

HODGE: B.C. has to snap out of this funk at some point.

Straight-up: LIONS. Against the spread: LIONS.

ABBOTT: Three straight losses would make it time to panic in B.C. They don’t need to quite yet.

Straight-up: LIONS. Against the spread: LIONS.

BALLANTINE: If this game was in B.C., I’d take the Lions for the same reason I’m taking the Als. This travel isn’t easy and can mess up the road team. 

Straight-up: ALS. Against the spread: ALS.

FILOSO: Is B.C. the better team? Yes. Does that mean they’ll win? No. Give me the home squad in an upset

Straight-up: ALS. Against the spread: ALS.

GASSON: This long trip does in many teams. 

Straight-up: ALS. Against the spread: ALS. 

GRANT: If the Lions want to be taken seriously going forward, they win this game easily.

Straight-up: LIONS. Against the spread: LIONS

HOSKINS: Both teams want a bounce-back performance, but Montreal is a tough place for a West team.

Straight-up: ALS. Against the spread: ALS.

KLEIN: I believe in what the Lions are doing and think they get back on track after this mini slide.

Straight-up: LIONS. Against the spread: LIONS.

MCGUIRE: The Alouettes are who we thought they were and Vernon Adams Jr. will have a little something extra to show Maciocia in his return.

Straight-up: LIONS. Against the spread: LIONS.

SMITH: Winning in Montreal isn’t easy and the Lions are a wounded animal right now.

Straight-up: ALS. Against the spread: ALS.

TOTALS STRAIGHT-UP: B.C. 6, Montreal 5

TOTALS AGAINST THE SPREAD: Montreal 6, B.C. 5

Sunday, September 3: Winnipeg Blue Bombers at Saskatchewan Roughriders — 7:00 p.m. EDT

A sold-out Mosaic Stadium awaits this heated prairie rivalry, as the vaunted Bombers look to officially clinch a playoff spot in hostile territory. Saskatchewan is coming off a bye and will once again be led by third-string quarterback Jake Dolegala, who impressed in an upset win over B.C. two weeks ago. It will be up to him to stop Winnipeg from winning a third straight Labour Day Classic for the first time since 1982.

[metabet_core_odds_board query=”531053″ site_id=”3downnation”]

DUNK: Saskatchewan has had two weeks to prepare.

Straight-up: BOMBERS. Against the spread: RIDERS.

HODGE: Saskatchewan is never a bad pick on Labour Day weekend.

Straight-up: RIDERS. Against the spread: RIDERS.

ABBOTT: Dolegala’s fan favourite status won’t survive this rivalry.

Straight-up: BOMBERS. Against the spread: RIDERS.

BALLANTINE: Bombers gonna do what the Bombers been doing. 

Straight-up: BOMBERS. Against the spread: BOMBERS.

FILOSO: Collaros continues his streak of never losing a Labour Day Classic.

Straight-up: BOMBERS. Against the spread: RIDERS.

GASSON: You gotta take a swing sometimes. 

Straight-up: RIDERS. Against the spread: RIDERS. 

GRANT: Winnipeg likely wins, but I’m not giving up that many points in Saskatchewan on Labour Day.

Straight-up: BOMBERS. Against the spread: RIDERS.

HOSKINS: Bombers know how to win at Mosaic. That continues.

Straight-up: BOMBERS. Against the spread: BOMBERS.

KLEIN: Homefield advantage won’t be enough to help the Riders against the Bombers.

Straight-up: BOMBERS. Against the spread: BOMBERS.

MCGUIRE: What are the odds that Sask would lose five straight at home to Collaros?

Straight-up: RIDERS. Against the spread: RIDERS.

SMITH: I believe in the magic of Labour Day.

Straight-up: RIDERS. Against the spread: RIDERS.

TOTALS STRAIGHT-UP: Winnipeg 7, Saskatchewan 4

TOTALS AGAINST THE SPREAD: Saskatchewan 8, Winnipeg 3

Monday, September 4: Toronto Argonauts at Hamilton Tiger-Cats — 3:30 p.m. EDT

This will be the first Labour Day Classic start for M.O.P. frontrunner Chad Kelly but Argos fans can look forward to many more after he signed a three-year contract extension this week. On top of becoming the CFL’s highest-paid player starting next year, the 29-year-old got some added money in his pocket this year and will have lots of added incentive to deliver the rivalry win. He faces off against a Ticats team flying high after they logged their best performance of the season last week in B.C.

[metabet_core_odds_board query=”531054″ site_id=”3downnation”]

DUNK: Chad Kelly shows us why he’s a $600,000 man.

Straight-up: ARGOS. Against the spread: ARGOS.

HODGE: Hamilton’s home-field advantage helps them keep it close.

Straight-up: ARGOS. Against the spread: TICATS.

ABBOTT: More money, no problems for Chad Kelly in his first Labour Day start.

Straight-up: ARGOS. Against the spread: ARGOS.

BALLANTINE: Chad Kelly needs to prove the big extension was worth every penny. 

Straight-up: ARGOS.  Against the spread: ARGOS.

FILOSO: Normally I wouldn’t feel confident taking Toronto in Hamilton on Labour Day, but the gap between these squads is accurately reflected in the standings.

Straight-up: ARGOS. Against the spread: ARGOS.

GASSON: You don’t have to take a swing sometimes. 

Straight-up: ARGOS. Against the spread: ARGOS. 

GRANT: This shouldn’t be close, but it’s Labour Day in Hamilton, so logic doesn’t apply.

Straight-up: ARGOS. Against the spread: TICATS.

HOSKINS: Labour Day is fun! Unless you’re wearing black and gold this year. 

Straight-up: ARGOS. Against the spread: ARGOS.

KLEIN: Hamilton is coming off a huge win but they aren’t anywhere close to the Argos’ level.

Straight-up: ARGOS. Against the spread: ARGOS.

MCGUIRE: The Ticats are feeling good and the Argos are busy reading CK’s press clippings. I smell an upset for Oskeewee!

Straight-up: TICATS. Against the spread: TICATS.

SMITH: The one Hamilton game where if you just blindly picked the home team you’d make a lot of money. 

Straight-up: TICATS. Against the spread: TICATS.

TOTALS STRAIGHT-UP: Toronto 9, Hamilton 2

TOTALS AGAINST THE SPREAD: Toronto 7, Hamilton 4

Monday, September 4: Edmonton Elks at Calgary Stampeders — 7:00 p.m. EDT

The struggling Stamps finally found their offensive touch last week, but 387 yards and four touchdowns from Jake Maier weren’t enough to fix their losing ways. Meanwhile, the Elks have secured two straight victories thanks to the sensational play of Canadian quarterback Tre Ford. Remarkably, the once-hapless Green and Gold can leapfrog their provincial counterparts in the standings with a win on this holiday Monday.

[metabet_core_odds_board query=”531055″ site_id=”3downnation”]

DUNK: Canadian QB Tre Ford, all Edmonton needs.

Straight-up: Elks. Against the spread: ELKS.

HODGE: If Calgary loses this game, their season might be over.

Straight-up: STAMPS. Against the spread: STAMPS.

ABBOTT: This won’t be a contest if Calgary opens up the passing attack like last week. The question is whether they learned the right lesson.

Straight-up: STAMPS. Against the spread: ELKS.

BALLANTINE: Somehow beating the other garbage teams has some people thinking the Elks are something, while Calgary hanging with the best teams in the league means nothing. Stamps in a blowout. 

Straight-up: STAMPS. Against the spread: STAMPS.

FILOSO: Edmonton might be the hottest team in the league right now.

Straight-up: ELKS. Against the spread: ELKS.

GASSON: The Elks are putting it together but we’ll talk next week. 

Straight-up: STAMPS. Against the spread: STAMPS.

GRANT: Edmonton is flying high and Calgary is getting tight. Plus, Ford scares me more than Maier. 

Straight-up: ELKS. Against the spread: ELKS

HOSKINS: You have to pick Ford or Maier. It has only been two wins but I like the young speedster and his better playbook. 

Straight-up: ELKS. Against the spread: ELKS.

KLEIN: Ford has been a difference maker in Edmonton and that continues this week in enemy territory.

Straight-up: ELKS. Against the spread: ELKS.

MCGUIRE: The Stamps’ struggles have been underreported all season. Until now!

Straight-up: ELKS. Against the spread: ELKS.

SMITH: If Calgary loses this game… yikes.

Straight-up: STAMPS. Against the spread: ELKS.

TOTALS STRAIGHT-UP: Edmonton 6, Calgary 5

TOTALS AGAINST THE SPREAD: Edmonton 8, Calgary 3

Records to date (straight-up)

ABBOTT — 35-12
FILOSO — 33-14
GASSON — 32-15
GRANT — 31-16
SMITH — 30-17
DUNK — 30-17
KLEIN — 30-17
HODGE — 29-18
MCGUIRE — 29-18
HOSKINS — 29-18
BALLANTINE — 27-20

Records to date (against the spread)

FILOSO — 30-16-1
GASSON — 29-17-1
ABBOTT — 26-20-1
KLEIN — 26-20-1
GRANT — 25-21-1
BALLANTINE — 25-21-1
SMITH — 24-22-1
HOSKINS — 24-22-1
DUNK — 24-22-1
HODGE — 23-23-1
MCGUIRE — 22-24-1