Week 10 of the 2024 CFL regular season has arrived, which means it’s time for our contributors to make their picks straight-up and against the spread.
Santino Filoso and Ben Grant are tied atop both standings, leading the straight-up picks at 23-13 and against-the-spread picks at 22-13. This week features mostly tight spreads and the second half of two home-and-home series, which are typically tough to predict.
Without further ado, here are our picks for Week 10 in the CFL.
Thursday, Aug. 8: Saskatchewan Roughriders at Ottawa Redblacks (-2.5) — 7:30 p.m. EDT
Despite early week optimism from head coach Corey Mace, the Riders won’t have franchise quarterback Trevor Harris back in the lineup for this contest. Playing on just five days rest, they are also missing the likes of Anthony Lanier, Jameer Thurman, A.J. Ouellette, and Ryan Sceviour. Meanwhile, the Redblacks are riding a three-game winning streak coming out of a bye week, giving them the chance to get four straight wins in the same regular season for the first time since 2015.
ABBOTT: A hobbling team on a short week versus a healthy one off a bye should be an easy pick – last week notwithstanding.
Straight-up: Ottawa. Against the spread: Ottawa.
BALLANTINE: Sask is too beat up, but I said that about Winnipeg last week and we know what happened there.
Straight-up: Ottawa. Against the spread: Ottawa.
DURRELL: Riders are banged up making a long trip out East against a rested and talented Redblacks team.
Straight-up: Ottawa. Against the spread: Ottawa.
FILOSO: Saskatchewan’s last win at TD Place came back in 2017, and their injuries — coupled with the Redblacks getting a handful of key starters back after the bye — mean that streak continues.
Straight-up: Ottawa. Against the spread: Ottawa.
GASSON: The Riders are banged up, on a short week with travel facing a good team coming off the bye.
Straight-up: Ottawa. Against the spread: Ottawa.
GRANT: Ottawa keeps making me look foolish, but I’m not willing to give up just yet. The Riders are hurting right now, but they’re the better team… I think.
Straight-up: Saskatchewan. Against the spread: Saskatchewan.
HERRERA-VERGARA: Hard to go against the RedBlacks after their season start
Straight-up: Ottawa. Against the spread: Ottawa.
HODGE: The Riders are better than they showed last week but the Redblacks are for real.
Straight-up: Ottawa. Against the spread: Ottawa.
HOSKINS: The Redblacks continue to impress at home.
Straight-up: Ottawa. Against the spread: Ottawa.
KLEIN: Ottawa has been on a roll but, aside from Calgary, they haven’t faced the toughest opposition.
Straight-up: Saskatchewan. Against the spread: Saskatchewan.
TOTALS STRAIGHT-UP: Ottawa 8, Saskatchewan 2
TOTALS AGAINST THE SPREAD: Ottawa 8, Saskatchewan 2
Friday, Aug. 9: Calgary Stampeders (-0.5) at Toronto Argonauts — 7:30 p.m. EDT
Cameron Dukes ran all over the Stampeders last week, helping his team build a 16-point halftime lead they were unable to sustain in the final two quarters as Calgary came roaring back after being booed by their hometown fans. The Stampeders had the league’s worst pass rush after the first eight weeks of the season but exploded for six sacks against Toronto’s vaunted offensive line, a performance they’ll surely look to repeat at BMO Field.
ABBOTT: It’s tough to beat the same team twice. Toronto will find solutions to their second-half woes.
Straight-up: Toronto. Against the spread: Toronto.
BALLANTINE: Calgary figured out what worked in the second half last week. Is there such a thing as third-half adjustments?
Straight-up: Calgary. Against the spread: Calgary.
DURRELL: Toronto dominated the first half and let it slip away in the second. I think they rectify that this week.
Straight-up: Toronto. Against the spread: Toronto.
FILOSO: I just can’t see the Argos shooting themselves in the foot like they did last week.
Straight-up: Toronto. Against the spread: Toronto.
GASSON: The rollercoaster ride for both teams continues.
Straight-up: Toronto. Against the spread: Toronto.
GRANT: Just as I felt confident Calgary would win last week, I feel confident Toronto will take this one. They’re very good at home and Dinwiddie has proven himself in the second leg of back-to-back games.
Straight-up: Toronto. Against the spread: Toronto.
HERRERA-VERGARA: The Argos totally blew it last week, but Ryan Dinwiddie will make sure that doesn’t happen again.
Straight-up: Toronto. Against the spread: Toronto.
HODGE: The Argonauts should have had Calgary last week.
Straight-up: Toronto. Against the spread: Toronto.
HOSKINS: The Argos want to make up for a bad quarter. They’ll be much better at home and Calgary struggles on the road.
Straight-up: Toronto. Against the spread: Toronto
KLEIN: The Stamps have had trouble on the road and were outplayed in three quarters last week. I think Toronto figures out what went wrong late.
Straight-up: Toronto. Against the spread: Toronto.
TOTALS STRAIGHT-UP: Toronto 9, Calgary 1
TOTALS AGAINST THE SPREAD: Toronto 9, Calgary 1
Saturday, Aug. 10: Hamilton Tiger-Cats at Montreal Alouettes (-7.5) — 7:00 p.m. EDT
The Alouettes lambasted the Tiger-Cats last week in Davis Alexander’s first career start at quarterback and will likely have to repeat the feat, as Cody Fajardo remains limited in practice. The Ticats are expected to be without top cornerback Jamal Peters for the rematch while leading receiver Shemar Bridges nurses an ankle injury. That is unlikely to help Bo Levi Mitchell avoid replicating his worst performance of the year.
ABBOTT: The Alouettes are just better than the Ticats regardless of QB, but the short turnaround should facilitate a cover.
Straight-up: Montreal. Against the spread: Hamilton.
BALLANTINE: The spread is way too big given how the Ticats have played recently and a shaky QB spot for the Alouettes.
Straight-up: Montreal. Against the spread: Hamilton.
DURRELL: Montreal went into Tim Hortons Field and soundly beat the Ticats at home. I think they will do it again on their home turf.
Straight-up: Montreal. Against the spread: Montreal.
FILOSO: The Alouettes will win, but I’d only pick them to cover if Fajardo returns.
Straight-up: Montreal. Against the spread: Hamilton.
GASSON: The Als are getting closer to putting this thing into cruise control.
Straight-up: Montreal. Against the spread: Montreal.
GRANT: Montreal is by far the better team, but this is a big number. I expect Hamilton to put up a fight.
Straight-up: Montreal. Against the spread: Hamilton.
HERRERA-VERGARA: The Als have the best team by far, but it’s gonna be a fight until the end.
Straight-up: Montreal. Against the spread: Hamilton.
HODGE: If Cody Fajardo is back, this game won’t be close. It probably won’t be anyway.
Straight-up: Montreal. Against the spread: Montreal.
HOSKINS: I don’t see Montreal slowing down.
Straight-up: Montreal. Against the spread: Montreal.
KLEIN: Montreal is just better.
Straight-up: Montreal. Against the spread: Montreal.
TOTALS STRAIGHT-UP: Montreal 10, Hamilton 0
TOTALS AGAINST THE SPREAD: Montreal 5, Hamilton 5
Sunday, Aug. 11: B.C. Lions at Edmonton Elks (-1.5) — 7:00 p.m. EDT
The Lions are looking to rebound from one of the worst offensive performances in league history without their franchise quarterback, as Vernon Adams Jr. will be out week-to-week with a knee injury. Backup Jake Dolega is expected to get the nod against an Elks team buzzing from their first victory. Mobile quarterback Tre Ford brings a different dimension to the offence, as does running back Javon Leake — fresh off becoming the fastest man in pro football.
ABBOTT: Protecting a six-foot-seven statue like Jake Dolegala is going to be impossible for B.C.’s offensive line.
Straight-up: Edmonton. Against the spread: Edmonton.
BALLANTINE: Vernon Adams Jr is the one reason the Lions were winning games. Their defence has been suspect and Dolegala is no Adams.
Straight-up: Edmonton. Against the spread: Edmonton.
DURRELL: Had Vernon Adams Jr. not gotten hurt last week, I would be swinging in B.C.’s direction but Tre Ford has once again provided Edmonton with a much-needed spark.
Straight-up: Edmonton. Against the spread: Edmonton.
FILOSO: The Tre Ford Effect continues. ‘Nuff said.
Straight-up: Edmonton. Against the spread: Edmonton.
GASSON: I don’t trust B.C. along the line of scrimmage on either side, and Edmonton has the better QB.
Straight-up: Edmonton. Against the spread: Edmonton.
GRANT: This will come down to whether or not B.C. can protect their QB. The Elks looked great last week, but I think B.C. will respond after last week’s embarrassment.
Straight-up: B.C. Against the spread: B.C.
HERRERA-VERGARA: I don’t trust Jake Dolagala to lead the Lions. Tre Ford will get the Elks another win.
Straight-up: Edmonton. Against the spread: Edmonton.
HODGE: The Tre Ford effect is real.
Straight-up: Edmonton. Against the spread: Edmonton.
HOSKINS: B.C. wants to be better than last week but Edmonton wants to build on their success. They’ll finally get a win for the home fans.
Straight-up: Edmonton. Against the spread: Edmonton.
KLEIN: Even with injury issues at QB, the Lions still have a lot of weapons for any QB to work with. I think that will be enough for them.
Straight-up: B.C. Against the spread: B.C.
TOTALS STRAIGHT-UP: Edmonton 8, B.C. 2
TOTALS AGAINST THE SPREAD: Edmonton 8, B.C. 2
Records to date (straight-up)
FILOSO — 23-13
GRANT — 23-13
ABBOTT — 22-14
GASSON — 22-14
HERRERA-VERGARA — 22-14
KLEIN — 20-16
DURRELL — 19-17
HODGE — 19-17
BALLANTINE — 18-18
HOSKINS — 18-18
Records to date (against the spread)
FILOSO — 22-14
GRANT — 22-14
GASSON — 19-17
DURRELL — 18-18
HERRERA-VERGARA — 18-18
HODGE — 18-18
BALLANTINE — 15-21
KLEIN — 15-21
HOSKINS — 14-22
ABBOTT — 12-24
