We’ve reached Week 15 in the CFL season and the kings of the East are looking to secure their crown. With a four-game lead over their second-place opponent, Toronto can become the first team with nothing left to play for.
When it comes to our picks, 3DownNation contributor JC Abbott’s lead straight-up remains impressive, though he’s far from clinching like the Argos. Santino Filoso has been similarly dominant against the spread, but the competition remains just one bad week off the pace.
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 15: Toronto Argonauts at Montreal Alouettes — 7:00 p.m. EDT
The East Division’s two top teams don’t have to wait long to get reacquainted after Toronto’s 39-10 win last week, though both will look significantly different for this game. The Alouettes are buoyed by the addition of all-star linebacker Darnell Sankey and the return of three defensive starters, while Canadian standout Kaion Julien-Grant will be back catching passes. The Argonauts, meanwhile, will be without their own homegrown receiver in Kurleigh Gittens Jr. and productive American Cam Phillips when they attempt to clinch the East Division crown with a victory.
DUNK: Toronto is on another level right now.
Straight-up: ARGOS. Against the spread: ARGOS.
HODGE: Toronto rolls to clinch first place in the East Division.
Straight-up: ARGOS. Against the spread: ARGOS.
ABBOTT: It’s tough enough to beat an opponent twice in a row, let alone blow them out back-to-back. Watch the back door cover.
Straight-up: ARGOS. Against the spread: ALS.
BALLANTINE: Not sure when I won’t be picking double Argos the rest of the way.
Straight-up: ARGOS. Against the spread: ARGOS.
FILOSO: No reason to pick against Toronto.
Straight-up: ARGOS. Against the spread: ARGOS.
GASSON: This one may be tighter but the Als are going in the wrong direction.
Straight-up: ARGOS. Against the spread: ARGOS.
GRANT: I think this game will be the toughest of the season so far for the Argos. If they can avoid further injuries, they’ll pull it out, but just barely.
Straight-up: ARGOS. Against the spread: ALS.
HOSKINS: Winning back-to-back games is hard, unless you’re the Argos this year. Als make a game of it.
Straight-up: ARGOS. Against the spread: ALS
KLEIN: I just don’t see the Als being able to keep this close either. Argos by a bunch.
Straight-up: ARGOS. Against the spread: ARGOS.
MCGUIRE: Montreal fumbles hurt last week but who’s kidding who here? They would have lost anyway. Closer game this week but the same result.
Straight-up: ARGOS. Against the spread: ALS.
SMITH: If Montreal can’t at least make this interesting we might as well just hand the Argos their Grey Cup tickets.
Straight-up: ARGOS. Against the spread: ALS.
TOTALS STRAIGHT-UP: Toronto 11, Montreal 0
TOTALS AGAINST THE SPREAD: Toronto 6, Montreal 5
Friday, September 15: Edmonton Elks at Saskatchewan Roughriders — 9:30 p.m. EDT
The Riders may still be licking their wounds after last week’s Banjo Blowout but their faith in quarterback Jake Dolegala remains unshaken. The debut of former CFL interception leader Trumaine Washington in the secondary highlights the team’s return home, while Edmonton’s dual-threat sensation Tre Ford will be without one of his top receivers in Steven Dunbar Jr. The previous two meetings between these teams were settled by a combined five points in Saskatchewan’s favour, but the margin could be closer than ever now.
DUNK: Seems like a prime bounce back spot but there’s something about this Tre Ford kid.
Straight-up: ELKS. Against the spread: ELKS.
HODGE: Saskatchewan licks its wounds enough to bounce back from an embarrassing loss.
Straight-up: RIDERS. Against the spread: RIDERS.
ABBOTT: Mosaic Stadium will not be kind to a young quarterback who has struggled to throw the ball the last two weeks.
Straight-up: RIDERS. Against the spread: RIDERS.
BALLANTINE: Stamps provided tape on how to limit Tre Ford. We will see if the Riders watched it.
Straight-up: RIDERS. Against the spread: RIDERS.
FILOSO: I continue to believe in Tre Ford’s magic
Straight-up: ELKS. Against the spread: ELKS.
GASSON: The Riders have things rolling at home.
Straight-up: RIDERS. Against the spread: RIDERS.
GRANT: The Riders are the better team and they really need this one at home after being embarrassed last week.
Straight-up: RIDERS. Against the spread: RIDERS.
HOSKINS: Elks almost got it done, twice, with Cornelius. This time, they finish the job.
Straight-up: ELKS. Against the spread: ELKS.
KLEIN: Riders bounce back after getting thumped last week.
Straight-up: RIDERS. Against the spread: RIDERS.
MCGUIRE: Elks blew into Regina last fall when the Riders were feeling blue and grabbed a W. I’m feeling a sense of deja vu.
Straight-up: ELKS. Against the spread: ELKS.
SMITH: Saskatchewan needs this one to wash the taste out of their collective mouths from last week.
Straight-up: RIDERS. Against the spread: RIDERS.
TOTALS STRAIGHT-UP: Saskatchewan 7, Edmonton 4
TOTALS AGAINST THE SPREAD: Saskatchewan 7, Edmonton 4
Saturday, September 16: Winnipeg Blue Bombers at Hamilton Tiger-Cats — 4:00 p.m. EDT
The Bombers are healthy and should still have a full tank of gas after coasting to a dominant win last week. That said, it was exactly a year ago that the Ticats shell-shocked Winnipeg in this exact game. With the health of defensive tackle Dylan Wynn, cornerback Richard Leonard, running back James Butler, and safety Tunde Adeleke all in question, they may not have the horses to repeat the feat — though the same could have been said last week.
DUNK: Mike O’Shea makes sure his team doesn’t forget last year’s Hamilton nightmare…
Straight-up: BOMBERS. Against the spread: BOMBERS.
HODGE: If Winnipeg was mad about their loss in Regina, imagine how mad they still are about their loss in Hamilton last year.
Straight-up: BOMBERS. Against the spread: BOMBERS.
ABBOTT: The risk of an emotional letdown is there on both sides, which swings the advantage back to the Bombers’ superior talent.
Straight-up: BOMBERS. Against the spread: BOMBERS.
BALLANTINE: Bombers will continue to build off the Banjo Bowl beat down against another bad team.
Straight-up: BOMBERS. Against the spread: BOMBERS.
FILOSO: No reason to pick against Winnipeg.
Straight-up: BOMBERS. Against the spread: BOMBERS.
GASSON: Just a gut feeling. Winnipeg could get caught after a highly emotional game.
Straight-up: TICATS. Against the spread: TICATS.
GRANT: I can’t see Winnipeg getting caught out here like they did last season. The Bombers should take care of business.
Straight-up: BOMBERS. Against the spread: BOMBERS.
HOSKINS: Bombers continue their push to lock down the west.
Straight-up: BOMBERS. Against the spread: BOMBERS.
KLEIN: Bombers got back on track last week and they stay on track this week. Tough timing for the Ticats.
Straight-up: BOMBERS. Against the spread: BOMBERS.
MCGUIRE: Blue Bombers were lit up by Dane Evans. Can Taylor Powell do the same? I doubt it.
Straight-up: BOMBERS. Against the spread: BOMBERS.
SMITH: While Hamilton has been decent-ish on the road, they have been straight-up awful at home this year.
Straight-up: BOMBERS. Against the spread: BOMBERS.
TOTALS STRAIGHT-UP: Winnipeg 10, Hamilton 1
TOTALS AGAINST THE SPREAD: Winnipeg 10, Hamilton 1
Saturday, September 16: Ottawa Redblacks at B.C. Lions — 7:00 p.m. EDT
The Lions will be well-rested coming off a bye week but a mid-season siesta won’t stop their leading tackler Bo Lokombo from missing this game. Star cornerback Garry Peters is also questionable, but the Redblacks will also be worse for wear in the secondary after losing Abdul Kanneh for the season. After six straight losses, there won’t be much season left to salvage if Ottawa drops another.
DUNK: Let’s see if the real Redblacks standup or if it’s just been imposters the whole time.
Straight-up: LIONS. Against the spread: REDBLACKS.
HODGE: Right now, Ottawa’s team is just a bunch of losers.
Straight-up: LIONS. Against the spread: LIONS.
ABBOTT: This could get ugly.
Straight-up: LIONS. Against the spread: LIONS.
BALLANTINE: Ottawa is a bad team right now that finds ways to lose. BC is not and will feast on plaid.
Straight-up: LIONS. Against the spread: LIONS.
FILOSO: Ottawa doesn’t get blown out, but they also don’t win
Straight-up: LIONS. Against the spread: REDBLACKS.
GASSON: A bad team on the long trip west.
Straight-up: LIONS. Against the spread: LIONS.
GRANT: I’m sort of surprised this spread isn’t higher. It may not be a repeat of the Banjo Bowl, but this should be a blowout.
Straight-up: LIONS. Against the spread: LIONS.
HOSKINS: This one stays close, and then they do the coin toss.
Straight-up: LIONS Against the spread: LIONS
KLEIN: I don’t know what the spread would have to be for me to take Ottawa but 9.5 isn’t it.
Straight-up: LIONS. Against the spread: LIONS.
MCGUIRE: Should be a slam dunk for the Leos but the Redblacks have been good against the West.
Straight-up: LIONS. Against the spread: REDBLACKS.
SMITH: Ottawa has only lost by double digits three times this year. I believe they can do enough to cover the spread in a loss.
Straight-up: LIONS. Against the spread: REDBLACKS.
TOTALS STRAIGHT-UP: B.C. 11, Ottawa 0
TOTALS AGAINST THE SPREAD: B.C. 7, Ottawa 4
Records to date (straight-up)
ABBOTT — 41-14
GASSON — 38-17
FILOSO — 37-18
GRANT — 36-19
HODGE — 36-19
DUNK — 35-20
SMITH — 34-21
KLEIN — 34-21
MCGUIRE — 33-22
HOSKINS — 33-22
BALLANTINE — 31-24
Records to date (against the spread)
FILOSO — 35-18-2
GASSON — 32-21-2
ABBOTT — 32-21-2
KLEIN — 30-23-2
GRANT — 29-24-2
DUNK — 28-25-2
BALLANTINE — 28-25-2
HOSKINS — 28-25-2
SMITH — 27-26-2
MCGUIRE — 27-26-2
HODGE — 26-27-2
