We’re back! After a long winter, the 2024 CFL season is ready to kick-off and 3DownNation is back to pick each game of the regular season.
Our contributors have already made their season-long predictions, choosing winners for Most Outstanding Player, Most Outstanding Defensive Player, Most Outstanding Canadian, Breakout Player, and the Grey Cup. Please return to this space each week where they will fearlessly pick every game straight-up and against the spread.
Last year, Santino Filoso and John Hodge led the way with records of 58-28 straight up with all of our contributors finishing at least 12 games over .500. Filoso also finished atop the standings against the spread at 53-31-2, so he could be a smart person to tail if you’re looking to wager on CFL games.
Without further ado, here are our picks for Week 1 in the CFL.
Thursday, June 6: Montreal Alouettes at Winnipeg Blue Bombers — 8:30 p.m. EDT
The last time these two teams met, Cody Fajardo hit Tyson Philpot for a last-minute, game-winning touchdown to win the Grey Cup at Tim Hortons Field in Hamilton. Both teams have undergone slight remodels since then as rookie Charleston Rambo has taken over for Austin Mack in Montreal’s receiving corps and Eric Lofton has replaced Jermarcus Hardrick at right tackle for the Blue Bombers. Winnipeg is 31-3 at home dating back to 2019, which is reflected in this relatively lopsided point spread.
ABBOTT: The Bombers are going to be plenty motivated and will have the full force of a home crowd behind them. That will be difficult for Montreal to overcome, especially in Week 1.
Straight-up: Winnipeg. Against the spread: Winnipeg.
BALLANTINE: This Grey Cup rematch sees the Bombers get a small measure of revenge on the reigning champions.
Straight-up: Winnipeg. Against the spread: Winnipeg.
FILOSO: Montreal and Winnipeg have previously met in six season openers and the Alouettes have won them all. The Blue Bombers will be seeking revenge for last year’s Grey Cup loss, but Montreal will be looking to prove their championship was no fluke.
Straight-up: Montreal. Against the spread: Montreal.
GASSON: It’s June, so I expect Zach Collaros to be at his best. The home team gets the early advantage in a hostile environment.
Straight-up: Winnipeg. Against the spread: Winnipeg.
GRANT: This is a tough way for the defending champions to open the season and the Alouettes generally start slow. They might be there in the end, but they won’t look like a top team in this one.
Straight-up: Winnipeg. Against the spread: Winnipeg.
HERRERA-VERGARA: Montreal kept the same key players from last year and will be ready to go against a Winnipeg team facing pressure after losing last year’s Grey Cup. It’s gonna be tight, but I see the Alouettes coming out victorious.
Straight-up: Montreal. Against the spread: Montreal.
HODGE: The Blue Bombers have traditionally started well under Mike O’Shea and will be highly motivated playing in front of an electric crowd. As long as the spread doesn’t continue to grow, roll with the home side.
Straight-up: Winnipeg. Against the spread: Winnipeg.
HOSKINS: I’m going against the grain a bit here but I believe in Montreal. Yes, the Blue Bombers want revenge, but the Alouettes want to prove they are, in fact, the better team.
Straight-up: Montreal. Against the spread: Montreal.
KLEIN: The Alouettes will pick up where they left off last year and start their title defence with an upset over the Blue Bombers in what should be a fun start to the season.
Straight-up: Montreal. Against the spread: Montreal.
MCGUIRE: Winnipeg’s defence ain’t what it used to be but it wasn’t in last year’s Grey Cup, either — and they still almost won. Add in some Chris Streveler gadget plays and a raucous hometown crowd and you have the recipe for a narrow Winnipeg win.
Straight-up: Winnipeg. Against the spread: Montreal.
TOTALS STRAIGHT-UP: Winnipeg 6, Montreal 4.
TOTALS AGAINST THE SPREAD: Montreal 5, Winnipeg 5.
Friday, June 7: Hamilton Tiger-Cats at Calgary Stampeders — 9:00 p.m. EDT
Bo Levi Mitchell will make his long-anticipated return to Calgary on Friday as the Tiger-Cats didn’t play at McMahon Stadium last season. The veteran passer made it clear he holds no ill will against his former team, though he fully intends on beating them after going 2-4 as a starter during his first season in Steeltown. Meanwhile, the Stampeders will look to bounce back from a disappointing season as CFL all-star Demerio Houston leads a retooled secondary that’s hoping to intercept more passes in 2024.
ABBOTT: I don’t trust either of these teams as far as I can spit, but I will bet on Bo Levi Mitchell’s bruised ego to provide just enough of a difference.
Straight-up: Hamilton. Against the spread: Hamilton.
BALLANTINE: Bo Levi makes his return to Calgary, but shows again why the Stampeders moved on a few years ago.
Straight-up: Calgary. Against the spread: Calgary.
FILOSO: I don’t trust either of these quarterbacks but Calgary’s defence and special teams are better.
Straight-up: Calgary. Against the spread: Calgary.
GASSON: These are two fairly similar teams that could be pretty close in the standings when all is said and done. I’ll give the edge to the home team.
Straight-up: Calgary. Against the spread: Calgary.
GRANT: This script is already written, isn’t it? Jonathan Moxey, recently signed by the Tiger-Cats following his release from Calgary, intercepts a late pass while Bo Levi Mitchell has his best game in a few seasons.
Straight-up: Hamilton. Against the spread: Hamilton.
HERRERA-VERGARA: Bo Levi Mitchell finally makes his return to Calgary and will be fired up to beat his old team. Jonathan Moxey could get back at the team who let him go, too.
Straight-up: Hamiton. Against the spread: Hamilton.
HODGE: If nothing else, Calgary should be able to pound the ball with a talented group of running backs. With the Tiger-Cats fielding a young linebacking corps, the Stampeders should be able to take advantage.
Straight-up: Calgary. Against the spread: Calgary.
HOSKINS: The Stampeders are in for a rough year and it starts by losing to their old quarterback. Bo Levi Mitchell has his best game of the year.
Straight-up: Hamilton. Against the spread: Hamilton.
KLEIN: Famed wrestling announcer Jim Ross would describe this game as “bowling shoe ugly.” The Stampeders take it in a grind at McMahon Stadium.
Straight-up: Calgary. Against the spread: Calgary.
MCGUIRE: How has Bo Levi Mitchell’s return to Calgary not happened already? Oh right, the geniuses who make the schedule is a conversation for another day. The timing might work out well for the Tiger-Cats as Mitchell’s grown comfortable in his surroundings.
Straight-up: Hamilton. Against the spread: Hamilton.
TOTALS STRAIGHT-UP: Calgary 5, Hamilton 5.
TOTALS AGAINST THE SPREAD: Calgary 5, Hamilton 5.
Saturday, June 8: Saskatchewan Roughriders at Edmonton Elks — 4:00 p.m. EDT
Corey Mace has brought optimism to Riderville since being hired as the team’s new head coach, while A.J. Ouellette, Jermarcus Hardrick, and Jameer Thurman were all top-notch additions in free agency. The Elks also have reasons for optimism as the ever-steady McLeod Bethel-Thompson has taken over under centre and electric return man Javon Leake should provide a boost on special teams. Both of these teams failed to make the postseason last year, which means they’re under pressure to get off to good starts in 2024.
ABBOTT: The Elks’ defence is an inexperienced wasteland yet again. I expect Trevor Harris to remain upright and A.J. Ouellette to deliver the hammer.
Straight-up: Saskatchewan. Against the spread: Saskatchewan.
BALLANTINE: The Roughriders have proven they can win consistently — as long as it’s before Labour Day.
Straight-up: Saskatchewan. Against the spread: Saskatchewan.
FILOSO: How Edmonton is favoured is beyond me. They’ve been terrible at home, they aren’t starting their best quarterback, and Saskatchewan has a deeper overall roster.
Straight-up: Saskatchewan. Against the spread: Saskatchewan.
GASSON: When you consider home teams automatically get three points against the spread, this game is essentially a pick ’em. The Elks find another way to give the Riders another freebie.
Straight-up: Saskatchewan. Against the spread: Saskatchewan.
GRANT: The Elks look like a much better team on paper than they did a year ago, but I’m still not sure they know how to win yet. I could see Edmonton dominating statistically but falling short due to costly mistakes down the stretch.
Straight-up: Saskatchewan. Against the spread: Saskatchewan.
HERRERA-VERGARA: Saskatchewan’s new culture under Corey Mace should inspire the Roughriders to start strong. The Elks have better players, but will they be a better team?
Straight-up: Saskatchewan. Against the spread: Saskatchewan.
HODGE: I’ll take Saskatchewan against the spread since I’m getting points, though I’ll take the Elks to win straight up. This team has to learn to close out games eventually.
Straight-up: Edmonton. Against the spread: Saskatchewan.
HOSKINS: The Elks have gifted three games to the Roughriders in 12 months. They don’t do that here and start the 75th season in franchise history off right.
Straight-up: Edmonton. Against the spread: Edmonton.
KLEIN: Corey Mace and his new-look Roughriders squad set the tone to start the year with a win over a division foe. Edmonton is better than last year but a healthy Trevor Harris keeps Sasky ahead in this one.
Straight-up: Saskatchewan. Against the spread: Saskatchewan.
MCGUIRE: This matchup is pitiful but delicious at the same time as these teams have collectively averaged five wins per season over the last two years. The Roughriders won this match by a hair last year and there’s no reason to think Edmonton improved more than Saskatchewan during the offseason.
Straight-up: Saskatchewan. Against the spread: Saskatchewan.
TOTALS STRAIGHT-UP: Saskatchewan 8, Edmonton 2.
TOTALS AGAINST THE SPREAD: Saskatchewan 9, Edmonton 1.
Sunday, June 9: B.C. Lions at Toronto Argonauts — 7:00 p.m. EDT
The B.C. Lions are the consensus Grey Cup favourites this season as they will host the CFL’s championship game for the first time in a decade. Keon Hatcher and T.J. Lee will miss possibly the entire year due to injury but the addition of Christian Covington has made everyone forget about Mathieu Betts’ departure to the NFL. In Toronto, the Cameron Dukes era has started as franchise quarterback Chad Kelly will miss at least the first half of the season due to a suspension.
ABBOTT: The Lions have plenty of questions, with new starters in the receiving corps and secondary. The Argos aren’t sure they have a quarterback. Those aren’t equivalent challenges.
Straight-up: B.C. Against the spread: Toronto.
BALLANTINE: I’m not yet confident that Cameron Dukes can adequately replace Toronto’s suspended franchise quarterback.
Straight-up: B.C. Against the spread: B.C.
FILOSO: Cameron Dukes might turn out to be a good QB, but he won’t look like one this week against B.C.’s imposing defence.
Straight-up: B.C. Against the spread: B.C.
GASSON: The Lions begin their quest for the Grey Cup with a W.
Straight-up: B.C. Against the spread: B.C.
GRANT: Ryan Dinwiddie finds ways to win tough football games, especially at home. He’s done it with Nick Arbuckle, McLeod Bethel-Thompson, Chad Kelly, and now Cameron Dukes. Toronto’s defensive line should shine against the Lions.
Straight-up: Toronto. Against the spread: Toronto.
HERRERA-VERGARA: Cameron Dukes is surrounded by a strong supporting cast but hasn’t yet convinced me he can lead the Argonauts.
Straight-up: B.C. Against the spread: B.C.
HODGE: The Argonauts will fare better without Chad Kelly than most people think but the Lions feel like a team of destiny this year.
Straight-up: B.C. Against the spread: B.C.
HOSKINS: The Lions will start how I think they will finish the year: winning.
Straight-up: B.C. Against the spread: B.C.
KLEIN: I’d probably pick B.C. even if Kelly was healthy. This is a statement year for the Lions and they start it with a win over the Argonauts.
Straight-up: B.C. Against the spread: B.C.
MCGUIRE: The home team has uncertainty at quarterback, while the visitors do not. The Lions should win this one by more than a touchdown.
Straight-up: B.C. Against the spread: B.C.
TOTALS STRAIGHT-UP: B.C. 9, Toronto 1.
TOTALS AGAINST THE SPREAD: B.C. 8, Toronto 2.
