3DownNation CFL picks straight-up & against the spread: Week 6

3DownNation

Week 6 in the Canadian Football League is finally upon us, so let’s not waste any time and get right into the picks.

We have nine contributors making picks straight-up and against the spread, and they’ll do so all season long. Enjoy.

Check out our Ontario sportsbook page here.

Thursday, July 9: Ottawa Redblacks at Edmonton Elks (-6.5) at 9:00 p.m. EDT

The Redblacks will start Jeremy Lucien at boundary halfback in place of Bennett Williams, who suffered a torn Achilles last week, while the Elks will have first-round draft pick Dariel Djabome start a second-straight game at middle linebacker. Edmonton won the head-to-head meeting between these two teams in Week 1 at a rain-soaked TD Place Stadium by a score of 29-21. Over one month later, the Redblacks are still looking for their first win of the season.

ABBOTT: The Elks will be thrilled to know that they can touch their elbows down this week and still score, according to Ryan Dinwiddie.

Straight-up: Edmonton. Against the spread: Ottawa.

BALLANTINE: I’m not ready to jump off Edmonton’s bandwagon yet, though Ottawa has had a habit lately of getting points in garbage time to cover.

Straight-up: Edmonton. Against the spread: Ottawa.

BORDIGNON: I trust Edmonton after one bad game over Ottawa after four of them.

Straight-up: Edmonton. Against the spread: Edmonton.

FILOSO: Cody Fajardo loves playing against the Redblacks, as evidenced by his 10-1 career record against them. The Elks get the win, but Dinwiddie’s squad keeps things interesting

Straight-up: Edmonton. Against the spread: Ottawa.

GASSON: The Elks should rebound after suffering their first loss of the season but it’ll be close.

Straight-up: Edmonton. Against the spread: Ottawa.

HERRERA-VERGARA: Ryan Dinwiddie threw his team under the bus. It’s not gonna work all weeks, but I feel the Redblacks will win this one.

Straight-up: Ottawa. Against the spread: Ottawa.

HODGE: The Elks seem mad enough about last week’s loss to cover this spread.

Straight-up: Edmonton. Against the spread: Edmonton.

HOSKINS: This is the second home game for Elks. They’ll find a way despite some key injuries but it’ll be close.

Straight-up: Edmonton. Against the spread: Ottawa.

KLEIN: I trust Edmonton enough to win this game, but not by more than a TD.

Straight-up: Edmonton. Against the spread: Edmonton.

TOTALS STRAIGHT-UP: Edmonton 8, Ottawa 1.

TOTALS AGAINST THE SPREAD: Ottawa 6, Edmonton 3.

Friday, July 10: Toronto Argonauts at Winnipeg Blue Bombers (+2.5) at 8:30 p.m. EDT

Cameron Judge will not play for Toronto due to a head injury, while Winnipeg has listed Zach Collaros as questionable after he suffered a neck injury last week. It remains unclear who will start under centre for the Blue Bombers, but the better test may come on the other side of the ball as the Argonauts rank first in yards per play (7.9) and Winnipeg ranks first in yards per play allowed (6.7).

ABBOTT: Dru Brown has a history of putting up big yardage against Toronto, but he won’t outpace Chad Kelly.

Straight-up: Toronto. Against the spread: Toronto.

BALLANTINE: Chad Kelly has been very good this year at getting the ball to receivers downfield. Nothing Winnipeg has done makes me believe that will stop this week.

Straight-up: Toronto. Against the spread: Toronto.

BORDIGNON: Simply put, I trust the Argonauts offence to score more points than the Blue Bombers.

Straight-up: Toronto. Against the spread: Toronto.

FILOSO: With Zach Collaros likely to miss this contest, I think this boils down to Chad Kelly being better than Taylor Elgersma and/or Dru Brown.

Straight-up: Toronto. Against the spread: Toronto.

GASSON: The Argos have the better QB no matter who starts for Winnipeg.

Straight-up: Toronto. Against the spread: Toronto.

HERRERA-VERGARA: The Argos have the best quarterback and that’ll be enough.

Straight-up: Toronto. Against the spread: Toronto.

HODGE: It’s tough to overcome losing your starting QB on a short week.

Straight-up: Toronto. Against the spread: Toronto.

HOSKINS: Winnipeg is getting used to a new(er) quarterback, while Toronto is riding Kelly’s success.

Straight-up: Toronto. Against the spread: Toronto.

KLEIN: Whoever Winnipeg has at QB this week won’t be enough to keep up with the Argos.

Straight-up: Toronto. Against the spread: Toronto.

TOTALS STRAIGHT-UP: Toronto 9, Winnipeg 0.

TOTALS AGAINST THE SPREAD: Toronto 9, Winnipeg 0.

Saturday, July 11: Calgary Stampeders at Montreal Alouettes (-3.5) at 7:00 p.m. EDT

The Stampeders are coming off an incredible offensive outpouring, which saw Vernon Adams Jr. put up seven touchdowns in a 58-36 romp over the Argonauts. The Alouettes spent last week on bye, though Tyson Philpot is off to the best start by any receiver in CFL history through four games. His twin brother, Jalen, will be on the opposite bench in this game as they go head-to-head for just the third time in their CFL careers.

ABBOTT: The better Philpot prevails after a bye week.

Straight-up: Montreal. Against the spread: Montreal.

BALLANTINE: Last week’s 58 skews the stat, but the Stamps are averaging 41 points per game as an offence. Give me a rare Calgary win in La Belle Province.

Straight-up: Calgary. Against the spread: Calgary.

BORDIGNON: Calgary will come back to earth after last week but I expect them to keep things close.

Straight-up: Montreal. Against the spread: Calgary.

FILOSO: The Stampeders are a very good team and will keep things close, but I don’t think they’re good enough to stroll into Montreal and get the win.

Straight-up: Montreal. Against the spread: Calgary.

GASSON: Calgary might have a bit of an emotional let down after a big win last week.

Straight-up: Montreal. Against the spread: Montreal.

HERRERA-VERGARA: Calgary is rolling right now. The Als have had issues against Vernon Adams Jr. but I think the Stamps take this one.

Straight-up: Calgary. Against the spread: Calgary.

HODGE: The Stampeders look great but the Alouettes are a little better.

Straight-up: Montreal. Against the spread: Calgary.

HOSKINS: This should be a great shootout. Montreal’s defence better overall, though.

Straight-up: Montreal. Against the spread: Calgary.

KLEIN: Things are really starting to come together for Calgary, so give me the Stamps in an upset.

Straight-up: Calgary. Against the spread: Calgary.

TOTALS STRAIGHT-UP: Montreal 6, Calgary 3.

TOTALS AGAINST THE SPREAD: Calgary 7, Montreal 2.

Sunday, July 12: Hamilton Tiger-Cats at Saskatchewan Roughriders (-8.5) at 7:00 p.m. EDT

Bo Levi Mitchell underwent ankle surgery earlier this week, leaving Jake Dolegala, Tre Ford, and the newly-signed Jarret Doege as the quarterbacks in Steeltown for the foreseeable future. The Roughriders improved to 3-1 with a win over Ottawa last week, as KeeSean Johnson caught nine passes for 137 yards and a touchdown.

ABBOTT: Pray for the Ticats.

Straight-up: Saskatchewan. Against the spread: Saskatchewan.

BALLANTINE: This spread is probably accurate. It’s a shame about the injuries that took what could have been a classic away from us.

Straight-up: Saskatchewan. Against the spread: Saskatchewan.

BORDIGNON: Wild stallions are hard to tame.

Straight-up: Saskatchewan. Against the spread: Saskatchewan.

FILOSO: They could’ve doubled the spread and I would still be taking the Riders.

Straight-up: Saskatchewan. Against the spread: Saskatchewan.

GASSON: The Riders have the better quarterback but they don’t blow teams out.

Straight-up: Saskatchewan. Against the spread: Hamilton.

HERRERA-VERGARA: I don’t see how the Tiger-Cats can put up a strong fight.

Straight-up: Saskatchewan. Against the spread: Saskatchewan.

HODGE: Based on how Bo Levi Mitchell’s replacements looked last week, this spread isn’t wide enough.

Straight-up: Saskatchewan. Against the spread: Saskatchewan.

HOSKINS: I can hear the loud, “Ouch!” from out east.

Straight-up: Saskatchewan. Against the spread: Saskatchewan.

KLEIN: This went from a potential game of the year to one of the widest spreads of the year. There’s a reason for that.

Straight-up: Saskatchewan. Against the spread: Saskatchewan.

TOTALS STRAIGHT-UP: Saskatchewan 9, Hamilton 0.

TOTALS AGAINST THE SPREAD: Saskatchewan 8, Hamilton 1.

2026 records (straight-up)

ABBOTT — 15-3
HERRERA-VERGARA — 14-4
HODGE — 12-6
GASSON — 11-7
BALLANTINE — 9-9
HOSKINS — 9-9
KLEIN — 9-9
BORDIGNON — 7-11
FILOSO — 7-11

2026 records (against the spread)

HERRERA-VERGARA — 13-5
ABBOTT — 12-6
GASSON — 12-6
HODGE — 11-7
BALLANTINE — 8-10
BORDIGNON — 8-10
FILOSO — 7-11
KLEIN — 7-11
HOSKINS — 6-12