Week 5 of the 2024 CFL regular season is here, bringing with it a full slate of games across the country.
Two playoff teams from a year ago are still looking for their first wins of the season, while another two are looking to remain perfect to start 2024. Calgary, Toronto, and Ottawa are all somewhere in the middle, while the B.C. Lions are looking to break away from the pack in the West Division.
Without further ado, here are our picks for Week 5 in the CFL.
Thursday, July 4: Toronto Argonauts at Saskatchewan Roughriders — 9:00 p.m. EDT
Both teams have made significant changes from last week as the visitors shuffled their secondary and Trevor Harris and Shawn Bane Jr. won’t play for the Riders. Shea Patterson, who has attempted only 16 career CFL passes, will make his first career start as Saskatchewan looks to improve to 4-0 for the first time since 2013, when they last won the Grey Cup. Toronto, meanwhile, will be looking to bounce back from their first loss of the season, a 30-20 defeat to the Montreal Alouettes.
ABBOTT: It will take a whole lot more than 41 passing yards to beat the Argos.
Straight-up: Toronto. Against the spread: Toronto.
BALLANTINE: This line is too small considering Harris is out, Saskatchewan needed a late-game collapse against Edmonton in Week 1, and a miracle to beat Hamilton in Week 2.
Straight-up: Toronto. Against the spread: Toronto.
DURRELL: Saskatchewan built enough of a lead against Hamilton that Shea Patterson only needed to manage the rest of the game. I suspect this game will be different.
Straight-up: Toronto. Against the spread: Toronto.
FILOSO: Toronto’s defence > Shea Patterson. It’s really that simple.
Straight-up: Toronto. Against the spread: Toronto.
GASSON: Since no one else did.
Straight-up: Saskatchewan. Against the spread: Saskatchewan.
GRANT: I’m not prepared to pick a Shea Patterson-led team until I see a bit more from him. It should be a tight game with Toronto pulling away late.
Straight-up: Toronto. Against the spread: Toronto.
HERRERA-VERGARA: I don’t see Shea Patterson finding a way to beat the Argos, simple as that. Cameron Dukes should bounce back, too.
Straight-up: Toronto. Against the spread: Toronto.
HODGE: The Argonauts will rally after last week’s loss and take advantage of Saskatchewan’s injuries.
Straight-up: Toronto. Against the spread: Toronto.
HOSKINS: Saskatchewan has a ton of injuries and the Argos want to bounce back after last week. I’m surprised the line is as close as it is.
Straight-up: Toronto. Against the spread: Toronto.
KLEIN: I don’t know if I’d take Saskatchewan plus-three even if Harris was healthy. Patterson didn’t look very comfortable in relief a couple of weeks ago and the Argos will make him look even more uncomfortable this week.
Straight-up: Toronto. Against the spread: Toronto.
TOTALS STRAIGHT-UP: Toronto 9, Saskatchewan 1.
TOTALS AGAINST THE SPREAD: Toronto 9, Saskatchewan 1.
Friday, July 5: Ottawa Redblacks at Winnipeg Blue Bombers — 10:30 p.m. EDT
The Redblacks are still riding high from last week’s walk-off win over the Tiger-Cats, though they’ll have to play in front of a hostile crowd at Princess Auto Stadium after resting for only four days. Winnipeg is 0-4 for the first time in the Mike O’Shea era as Zach Collaros is questionable to play after suffering a thorax injury in an overtime loss to Calgary last week. If he can’t go, Chris Streveler is expected to make his first CFL start since before the COVID-19 pandemic.
ABBOTT: Ottawa won’t surprise the Bombers like they did the first time around, but will that be enough to float a decimated roster?
Straight-up: Winnipeg. Against the spread: Ottawa.
BALLANTINE: There’s something rotten in Denmark. Winnipeg is in Denmark, right?
Straight-up: Ottawa. Against the spread: Ottawa.
DURRELL: Even if Zach Collaros is healthy for this game, I think Ottawa will snag its second consecutive win.
Straight-up: Ottawa. Against the spread: Ottawa.
FILOSO: This banged up, the soon-to-be 0-5 Blue Bombers have no right being favoured.
Straight-up: Ottawa. Against the spread: Ottawa.
GASSON: I don’t know if I trust Ottawa on the road but I trust Winnipeg less at the moment.
Straight-up: Ottawa. Against the spread: Ottawa.
GRANT: I’ve watched enough sports movies to know Dru Brown will end up with the ball in his hands, driving for the win. We know how this film ends.
Straight-up: Ottawa. Against the spread: Ottawa.
HERRERA-VERGARA: The Bombers will play with urgency, which should make the difference in the end.
Straight-up: Winnipeg. Against the spread: Winnipeg.
HODGE: Ottawa’s going on the road coming off a short week. If Winnipeg can’t win this game, they may as well pack it in.
Straight-up: Winnipeg. Against the spread: Winnipeg.
HOSKINS: I didn’t see myself taking Ottawa over Winnipeg at any point this season, but here we are.
Straight-up: Ottawa. Against the spread: Ottawa.
KLEIN: There isn’t much separating these two teams right now. The Blue Bombers win but Ottawa keeps it close.
Straight-up: Winnipeg. Against the spread: Ottawa.
TOTALS STRAIGHT-UP: Ottawa 6, Winnipeg 4.
TOTALS AGAINST THE SPREAD: Ottawa 8, Winnipeg 2.
Saturday, July 6: Calgary Stampeders at Montreal Alouettes — 7:00 p.m. EDT
The widest line of the week comes from La Belle Province where the high-flying Alouettes are heavily favoured over the visitors from Cowtown. Montreal’s defence has been dominant all season long, while Cody Fajardo is only six touchdown passes shy of his total from all of last season. The Stampeders are coming off a walk-off win over the Blue Bombers at McMahon Stadium during which Jake Maier threw for 239 yards, one touchdown, and one interception.
ABBOTT: Bet on the better Philpot. The Alouettes are on a different level than everybody else right now.
Straight-up: Montreal. Against the spread: Montreal.
BALLANTINE: Many times over the years, a dominant Stamps team would go into Montreal and get upset by a plucky upstart squad. Maybe they return the favour?
Straight-up: Montreal. Against the spread: Calgary.
DURRELL: Montreal has proven to be a dominant force in 2024, but I think Calgary can keep this close.
Straight-up: Montreal. Against the spread: Calgary.
FILOSO: The Alouettes are head and shoulders above every other team in the CFL, but this spread is too big.
Straight-up: Montreal. Against the spread: Calgary.
GASSON: Montreal is rolling. Not much else to say.
Straight-up: Montreal. Against the spread: Calgary.
GRANT: I’d take Montreal over anyone right now, but I’m not a fan of eating this many points regardless of who’s playing.
Straight-up: Montreal. Against the spread: Calgary.
HERRERA-VERGARA: Who will stop the Als? I don’t see the Stamps being able to do that, however the spread seems too wide.
Straight-up: Montreal. Against the spread: Calgary.
HODGE: The Stampeders are going to have a tough time scoring in this one but this spread still seems awfully wide.
Straight-up: Montreal. Against the spread: Calgary.
HOSKINS: The Alouettes continue to roll. This line is bonkers but Calgary will have a tough time in Montreal. Let’s have some fun.
Straight-up: Montreal. Against the spread: Montreal.
KLEIN: Calgary just doesn’t have the firepower to keep up with Montreal. The Alouettes run away and hide in this one.
Straight-up: Montreal. Against the spread: Montreal.
TOTALS STRAIGHT-UP: Montreal 10, Calgary 0.
TOTALS AGAINST THE SPREAD: Calgary 7, Montreal 3.
Sunday, July 7: B.C. Lions at Hamilton Tiger-Cats — 7:00 p.m. EDT
The Ticats made a coaching change this past week as Dennis McKnight took over from Paul Boudreau as special teams coordinator. If the team continues to lose, it seems reasonable to assume more changes will take place. Hamilton is coming off a walk-off loss to the Redblacks as they have consistently found ways to lose through four games. On the flip side, the Lions are riding a three-game winning streak, including wins over Calgary, Winnipeg, and Edmonton.
ABBOTT: B.C. needs to figure out how to consistently score majors. Facing the team with the most points allowed in the league will be a good start.
Straight-up: B.C. Against the spread: B.C.
BALLANTINE: Everything is going wrong for the Ticats this season. They lose again but keep it closer than this.
Straight-up: B.C. Against the spread: Hamilton.
DURRELL: The Lions are starting to find their groove, while Hamilton is finding ways to lose. I think B.C. can cover on the road.
Straight-up: B.C. Against the spread: B.C.
FILOSO: Things get worse before they get better in the Hammer.
Straight-up: B.C. Against the spread: B.C.
GASSON: This is a tough trip for West Division teams but I think the Lions will get it done.
Straight-up: B.C. Against the spread: B.C.
GRANT: B.C. is a better team, but this is a tough road trip and things are starting to feel very real in Tiger Town where jobs are being lost.
Straight-up: Hamilton. Against the spread: Hamilton.
HERRERA-VERGARA: B.C. needs to score more touchdowns and Hamilton’s defence shouldn’t offer a big resistance.
Straight-up: B.C. Against the spread: B.C.
HODGE: Who will the Tiger-Cats fire next?
Straight-up: B.C. Against the spread: B.C.
HOSKINS: The Ticats continue to squib-kick their way through the season.
Straight-up: B.C. Against the spread: B.C.
KLEIN: I still have questions about the Lions but I don’t think Hamilton is built to take advantage of any of those.
Straight-up: B.C. Against the spread: B.C.
TOTALS STRAIGHT-UP: B.C. 9, Hamilton 1.
TOTALS AGAINST THE SPREAD: B.C. 8, Hamilton 2.
Records to date (straight-up)
GRANT — 14-2
HERRERA-VERGARA — 13-3
DURRELL — 12-4
FILOSO — 12-4
HOSKINS — 12-4
KLEIN — 12-4
ABBOTT — 11-5
GASSON — 11-5
BALLANTINE — 9-7
HODGE — 8-8
Records to date (against the spread)
GRANT — 11-5
HOSKINS — 11-5
DURRELL — 10-6
FILOSO — 10-6
HERRERA-VERGARA — 10-6
KLEIN — 10-6
ABBOTT — 9-7
GASSON — 9-7
BALLANTINE — 7-9
HODGE — 6-10
