We’ve reached Week 13 of the 2023 CFL season and its time for some classic rematches. Labour Day weekend featured a surprising upset and some thrilling finishes, but now four historic rivals will get to do it all again.
3DownNation contributor JC Abbott continues to run the show when it comes to picks straight-up, bumping his lead to three games. Meanwhile, Santino Filoso now has a two-game edge 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.
Friday, September 8: Hamilton Tiger-Cats at Ottawa Redblacks — 7:30 p.m. EDT
In the snail’s race for third in the East Division, this could prove to be the deciding matchup. Hamilton has won the two previous meetings between these teams and already holds the season series, but will be playing on just three days rest after a Labour Day beatdown. All is not right in the Ticats’ dressing room either, as disgruntled receiver Duke Williams has been sat down for this one. Meanwhile, the Redblacks are coming off a bye week and should have several healthy bodies back in the lineup.
DUNK: Must win game for Ottawa and off a bye…
Straight-up: REDBLACKS. Against the spread: REDBLACKS.
HODGE: Ottawa’s season is over if they lose this one.
Straight-up: REDBLACKS. Against the spread: REDBLACKS.
ABBOTT: The Ticats might have trouble walking on three days’ rest, let alone playing football.
Straight-up: REDBLACKS. Against the spread: REDBLACKS.
BALLANTINE: This scheduling is a crime. Give me the bye week-rested Redblacks vs. a short week Ticats.
Straight-up: REDBLACKS. Against the spread: REDBLACKS.
FILOSO: Ottawa simply has to have this game and coming off a bye, there are absolutely no excuses.
Straight-up: REDBLACKS. Against the spread: REDBLACKS.
GASSON: Ticats get saddled with a Monday-to-Friday turnaround against a team coming off a bye. Never change, CFL.
Straight-up: REDBLACKS. Against the spread: REDBLACKS.
GRANT: Ottawa is the better team, they’re at home, and they’re rested. Hamilton is the opposite of all these things.
Straight-up: REDBLACKS. Against the spread: REDBLACKS.
HOSKINS: This brutal scheduling moment will be good for Redblacks fans at home.
Straight-up: REDBLACKS. Against the spread: REDBLACKS.
KLEIN: The rest edge should be enough of a differencemaker for Ottawa to get a big win in the East.
Straight-up: REDBLACKS. Against the spread: REDBLACKS.
MCGUIRE: I have lost just about all faith in the Redblacks but I’m changing my mind and picking them anyways.
Straight-up: REDBLACKS. Against the spread: TICATS.
SMITH: If Ottawa is ever going to finally get one over Hamilton, this is the one.
Straight-up: REDBLACKS. Against the spread: REDBLACKS.
TOTALS STRAIGHT-UP: Ottawa 11, Hamilton 0
TOTALS AGAINST THE SPREAD: Ottawa 10, Hamilton 1
Saturday, September 9: Montreal Alouettes at Toronto Argonauts — 1:00 p.m. EDT
At this stage in the season, the Argonauts seem to be almost toying with teams and they can clinch a postseason berth with a victory this week. It will have to come against an Alouettes team riding a two-game losing skid and desperate to prove they belong in the conversation with the league’s contending teams.
DUNK: Toronto is really good but big spreads are hard to cover consistently.
Straight-up: ARGOS. Against the spread: ALS.
HODGE: Toronto’s dominant but some complacency could make this game close.
Straight-up: ARGOS. Against the spread: ALS.
ABBOTT: This is a wide spread, but not as wide as the gulf between first and second in the East.
Straight-up: ARGOS. Against the spread: ARGOS.
BALLANTINE: The good ship Argo should easily navigate these waters.
Straight-up: ARGOS. Against the spread: ARGOS.
FILOSO: Chad Kelly and his crew cement their spot atop the East.
Straight-up: ARGOS. Against the spread: ARGOS.
GASSON: Montreal has yet to beat a top team. That continues.
Straight-up: ARGOS. Against the spread: ALS.
GRANT: Their first matchup was a very tight game, so I don’t expect this to be much different.
Straight-up: ARGOS. Against the spread: ALS.
HOSKINS: The Argos will continue to roll against a Montreal team that is very up and down
Straight-up: ARGOS. Against the spread: ARGOS.
KLEIN: This will be another example of the gap between the Argos and everyone else in the East.
Straight-up: ARGOS. Against the spread: ARGOS.
MCGUIRE: Toronto is the real deal. Montreal is a house of cards.
Straight-up: ARGOS. Against the spread: ARGOS.
SMITH: Toronto will win but 10.5 is a lot of points against a decent Montreal side.
Straight-up: ARGOS. Against the spread: ALS.
TOTALS STRAIGHT-UP: Toronto 11, Montreal 0
TOTALS AGAINST THE SPREAD: Toronto 6, Montreal 5
Saturday, September 9: Saskatchewan Roughriders at Winnipeg Blue Bombers — 4:00 p.m. EDT
Bad blood should dominate the Banjo Bowl more than usual after the Riders pulled off the upset last week complete with a cheapshot headbutt on Bombers’ QB Zach Collaros. Defensive end Pete Robertson will contritely serve his suspension for the incident, but that won’t cool the revenge factor in what is usually the most heated game of the season.
DUNK: An upset Zach Collaros dissects the Riders.
Straight-up: BOMBERS. Against the spread: BOMBERS.
HODGE: Winnipeg by a bundle.
Straight-up: BOMBERS. Against the spread: BOMBERS.
ABBOTT: There will be considerably less diarrhea than last year, but the Riders will still wish they called in sick.
Straight-up: BOMBERS. Against the spread: BOMBERS.
BALLANTINE: Every time the Bombers have lost this season, they’ve won their next game by 14 points.
Straight-up: BOMBERS. Against the spread: BOMBERS.
FILOSO: I find it hard to believe that Winnipeg drops two in a row.
Straight-up: BOMBERS. Against the spread: BOMBERS.
GASSON: The better team generally wins this game, while stealing one at home isn’t terribly difficult.
Straight-up: BOMBERS. Against the spread: BOMBERS.
GRANT: I don’t think this game will be close. The Bombers are better, they’re at home, and they’re filled with rage.
Straight-up: BOMBERS. Against the spread: BOMBERS.
HOSKINS: Bombers are angry and want to prove a point at home. Likely not close.
Straight-up: BOMBERS Against the spread: BOMBERS
KLEIN: Bombers are clearly the better team, but that was true last week too. Winnipeg wins but Sask keeps it close to give you some Jake Dolegala-dolla bills, y’all!
Straight-up: BOMBERS. Against the spread: RIDERS.
MCGUIRE: I need some Hail Marys to win this thing and the prairie giant story is too good to let disappear.
Straight-up: RIDERS. Against the spread: RIDERS.
SMITH: A pissed-off Bombers team is a dangerous Bombers team.
Straight-up: BOMBERS. Against the spread: BOMBERS.
TOTALS STRAIGHT-UP: Winnipeg 10, Saskatchewan 1
TOTALS AGAINST THE SPREAD: Winnipeg 9, Saskatchewan 2
Saturday, September 9: Calgary Stampeders at Edmonton Elks — 7:00 p.m. EDT
The Elks and their fleet-footed young quarterback seemed to have full control of last week’s Labour Day Classic until a fourth-quarter defensive collapse altered the equation. The Stampeders now have life in the playoff hunt while Edmonton is all but dead, though a trip to Commonwealth is no longer a guaranteed victory for the road team.
DUNK: If Chris Jones’ defence can, you know, hold a lead Edmonton gets it done.
Straight-up: ELKS. Against the spread: ELKS.
HODGE: A home winning streak in Edmonton? Imagine that!
Straight-up: ELKS. Against the spread: ELKS.
ABBOTT: Tre Ford will continue to win games if the defence doesn’t throw them away.
Straight-up: ELKS. Against the spread: ELKS.
BALLANTINE: If the fourth quarter Stamps show up this week, no reason to think they don’t sweep this home and home.
Straight-up: STAMPS. Against the spread: STAMPS.
FILOSO: After waiting years for a single home win, Edmonton fans are spoiled with two in a row.
Straight-up: ELKS. Against the spread: ELKS.
GASSON: The count of days since the Elks lost at home keeps growing.
Straight-up: ELKS. Against the spread: ELKS.
GRANT: I like Edmonton to win and cover at home. They were the better team in Calgary but they don’t know how to finish, so this will be tight again.
Straight-up: ELKS. Against the spread: ELKS.
HOSKINS: Elks performed well for three quarters last week. They find a way to finish this week.
Straight-up: ELKS. Against the spread: ELKS.
KLEIN: I’m old enough to remember when the Elks struggled at home. Calgary now knows what Ford can do and how to handle it.
Straight-up: STAMPS. Against the spread: STAMPS.
MCGUIRE: Anytime I think something good is happening Cowtown this year, they prove me wrong.
Straight-up: ELKS. Against the spread: ELKS.
SMITH: I am not quite ready to start giving points to the Elks.
Straight-up: STAMPS. Against the spread: STAMPS.
TOTALS STRAIGHT-UP: Edmonton 8, Calgary 3
TOTALS AGAINST THE SPREAD: Edmonton 8, Calgary 3
Records to date (straight-up)
ABBOTT — 38-13
GASSON — 35-16
FILOSO — 34-17
GRANT — 33-18
HODGE — 33-18
SMITH — 32-19
DUNK — 32-19
KLEIN — 32-19
MCGUIRE — 31-20
HOSKINS — 30-21
BALLANTINE — 29-22
Records to date (against the spread)
FILOSO — 33-17-1
GASSON — 31-19-1
ABBOTT — 30-20-1
KLEIN — 29-21-1
GRANT — 28-22-1
DUNK — 27-23-1
BALLANTINE — 26-24-1
SMITH — 26-24-1
HOSKINS — 26-23-1
HODGE — 25-25-1
MCGUIRE — 25-25-1
