3DownNation CFL best bets: Week 8

Photo courtesy: Calgary Stampeders

We’re now a third of the way through the Canadian Football League season, and injuries continue to have a major impact across the league.

We had another 2-2 week last week, so let’s try to break out of this 50/50 run we’ve been having lately as we start with a massive game out west.

Eligible sports bettors in Ontario and Alberta can find relevant information for wagering on the games by clicking on their respective jurisdiction. Please bet responsibly.

Edmonton Elks at Saskatchewan Roughriders — Thursday, July 23 at 9:00 p.m. EDT

This is a battle for first in the West Division as the Edmonton Elks (5-1) take on the Saskatchewan Roughriders (4-1).

Edmonton continues to be one of the biggest stories in the league this year, thanks in large part to the play of Justin Rankin. He’s just two yards back of Dedrick Mills for the league lead in rushing after being bottled up by the Lions last week. This will be an interesting matchup against a Riders defence that thrived against the run in recent years, but is middle of the pack this year.

If Saskatchewan can replicate the success the Lions had against Rankin last week, they should roll in this game, but I see Rankin having a bounce-back performance. Saskatchewan is giving up over 100 yards per game on the ground, a total that Rankin has reached in every game this season except for when he’s faced the Lions.

Meanwhile, this is another spot for Cody Fajardo against his former team in Saskatchewan. The Riders’ pass defence has been stingy, giving up the fewest passing yards per game this year. Fajardo has put up some big numbers lately, but I think the Saskatchewan’s secondary can come up with another strong performance this week and limit the Elks through the air.

Ultimately, I see Saskatchewan winning this game, but I think the Elks keep it close. The Riders are 4-1 but with the exception of their last game against Hamilton, they aren’t really blowing teams out. They’ve won their three other games by a combined 12 points, so I think the defending champs win but do so in a hard-fought, tight affair.

Pick: Edmonton +4.5, Justin Rankin OVER 67.5 rushing, Cody Fajardo UNDER 270.5 passing yards

Calgary Stampeders at Winnipeg Blue Bombers — Friday, July 24 at 8:30 p.m. EDT

The Calgary Stampeders and Winnipeg Blue Bombers meet in a rematch from their Week 1 thriller on Friday Night Football.

I keep believing in the Stamps and they keep coming up a little bit short, but I still think this is a much better football team then they have shown. Meanwhile, the Bombers are 4-2 — two wins better than Calgary — but I’m still not buying them as much.

Since their Week 1 win over the Stamps, Winnipeg has beaten Hamilton, Toronto, and Ottawa, and the win over Hamilton was the game in which Bo Levi Mitchell left with an injury. Sure, they have a better record, but they have had an easier path through the first third of the season than Calgary.

The big key for the Bombers is to try to slow down the league’s leading rusher, Dedrick Mills. Winnipeg has given up the second-most rushing yards per game in the league this year. If Mills can get going, it makes this Calgary team very difficult to stop.

In the end, I believe the Stamps are a tough matchup for this Winnipeg side. Keep an eye out for a Mills rushing prop closer to kickoff, but for now we’ll happily roll with the underdog in this one.

Pick: Calgary +1.5