We’re set for a four-game slate in Week 18 of the Canadian Football League season, and below are our predictions for two of those contests.
Week 18 CFL betting odds and picks: Best bets for Winnipeg vs. BC, Ottawa at Montreal
The playoffs loom ever closer, and Friday night’s Blue Bombers-Lions showdown will likely go a long way to determining the winner of the West Division.
Meanwhile, the Alouettes-Redblacks Thanksgiving Monday clash has stakes for both clubs – Montreal can secure a home date for the East Semi-Final if they win and Hamilton loses Saturday, while Ottawa is eliminated from postseason contention with a loss.
Friday, Oct. 6: Winnipeg Blue Bombers at BC Lions – 10:00 p.m. EDT
This shapes up as one of the games of the season considering each team’s 11-4 record and their joint quest for the West Division title.
Despite both squads’ solid defences, the offensive talent on either side should have plenty of chances to shine in this scenario. Winnipeg (479 points) and B.C. (420 points) rank first and third, respectively, in points scored, and they’re first and second in touchdowns with Winnipeg’s 53 tied for the CFL lead with the Argos and B.C.’s 42 serving as the runner-up figure.
The two clubs split their two prior meetings, with the Lions earning a decisive 30-6 win in Week 3 and the Bombers walloped their opponents by a 50-14 score in Week 9. However, Vernon Adams Jr. was unavailable for B.C. in the second contest, which took place at IG Field in Winnipeg.
The setting for the deciding contest is BC Place in Vancouver, where the Lions sport a 6-1 mark and have scored 41 and 33 points in their last two games as part of a four-game stretch where they’ve racked up 145 points overall.
The total is elevated here, but that doesn’t discourage me considering the cumulative skill-position talent that will be on the field. Consequently, I’m in the camp of the Over.
The Pick: Over 50.5 points or less (-110 or better)
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Monday, Oct. 9: Ottawa Redblacks at Montreal Alouettes – 1:00 p.m. EDT
This game has postseason implications for both teams as noted earlier, but unlike the Bombers-Lions matchup, I think scoring could be a bit more muted.
It marks the fourth matchup of the season between these two teams. The first three finished with totals of 31, 49 and 47 points. It can be tricky enough to face a team twice in the same season, let alone four, and the most recent matchup came just last week.
Each quarterback has shown some key vulnerabilities that could lead to a fair share of short-circuited drives, turnovers and sacks. Ottawa’s Dustin Crum has thrown nine picks against just seven touchdowns, and he’s taken 46 sacks in 15 games (11 starts). Meanwhile, Fajardo has thrown 10 interceptions in 15 games (14 starts) and has absorbed 45 sacks in his own right.
Ottawa also has a paltry 1-6 record on the road and is tied with the Roughriders for third-fewest offensive touchdowns scored (29), while Montreal is tied with the Stampeders for second with 27 visits to the end zone on offence.
While the Redblacks have been vulnerable to big plays through the air, each team pretty much knows what’s coming from the other at this point and each defence may also be a bit sharper than usual due to the game’s significance.
I see a third lower-scoring game between the teams unfolding, putting me on the Under.
The Pick: Under 47.5 points or more (-110 or better)
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