3DownNation CFL picks straight-up & against the spread: Week 10

Graphic: 3DownNation

Week 10 in the Canadian Football League is officially upon us, featuring a long-awaited homecoming, a winless team looking for an upset, a clash between division leaders, and the return of the biggest star in three-down football.

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

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.

Thursday, August 6: Calgary Stampeders at Toronto Argonauts (+2) at 7:30 p.m. EDT

The Toronto Argonauts will finally return home to BMO Field on Thursday, after enduring seven consecutive road games due to the FIFA World Cup. A strong crowd is expected to welcome the Boatmen back, but they remain underdogs to the Calgary Stampeders. Chad Kelly is good-to-go after an injury scare in B.C., and Cameron Judge and Dakoda Shepley are back in the lineup for the Argos after a bye last week. Meanwhile, the Stamps have no new injuries to report after spending the week in Southern Ontario and will roll with the exact same lineup they had in their victory over Hamilton. These two teams met in a barn burner in Week 5, which resulted in 94 total points scored.

ABBOTT: The Stampeders are the better team here and, shockingly, the healthier one, but this feels like a moment that Toronto can’t afford to squander.

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

BALLANTINE: The Stamps are healthier than they were when they stomped the Argos a few weeks ago. They keep the roll going. 

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

BORDIGNON: Calgary is on a roll, and even with the homecoming, I think the Argos fall.

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

FILOSO: Like Odysseus, the Argos return home from their long, wandering journey victorious

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

GASSON: The return to BMO is not friendly to the Argos. Calgary is rolling. 

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

HERRERA-VERGARA: VA has struggled multiple times in Toronto, but the Argos’ passing defence is way too generous.

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

HODGE: The Stampeders have fully hit their stride.

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

HOSKINS: Stamps are rolling. Toronto finally gets an actual home game but isn’t at Calgary’s level

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

KLEIN: Calgary is playing some great football right now, and they are just a bit better than the Argos all over the field. 

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

McINNIS: Calgary’s stock is at an all-time high; this is a perfect time to sell.

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

TOTALS STRAIGHT-UP: Calgary 7, Toronto 3.

TOTALS AGAINST THE SPREAD: Calgary 7, Toronto 3.

Friday, August 7: Ottawa Redblacks at Saskatchewan Roughriders (-8) at 9:00 p.m. EDT

The Saskatchewan Roughriders play host to the winless Ottawa Redblacks on Friday night in Regina, where they are heavy home favourites. Ottawa have made major changes this week, firing defensive coordinator Will Fields and replacing him with special teams coordinator Jeff Reinebold. The team also said goodbye to three-time All-CFL receiver Eugene Lewis, deeming him not a fit for their organization. The Redblacks will also be without the services of top offensive lineman Drew Desjarlais due to a foot injury, though Saskatchewan is far more banged up. Ratio-breaking Canadians Kian Schaffer-Baker and Tevaughn Campbell have been ruled out, Samuel Emilus is questionable for the second week in a row, and star defensive back Rolan Milligan Jr. might be done for the year.

ABBOTT: The Riders are at risk of an emotional letdown after two hard-fought games and are decimated by injuries. That feels like a recipe for an upset.

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

BALLANTINE: J.C. has zero interest in his season-long success at this. (Editor’s note: Abbott leads Ballantine by seven games straight-up and five games against-the-spread.)

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

BORDIGNON: Trap game? Not on Trevor’s watch.

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

FILOSO: The Redblacks have to win eventually, and the drastic changes they’ve made should have an impact.

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

GASSON: “Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, well, don’t fool me again.” – George W. Bush.

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

HERRERA-VERGARA: The Riders have the best team, but injuries should make this one close.

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

HODGE: The Redblacks will win at some point, but not this week.

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

HOSKINS: This has all the makings of a trap game, but I can’t see the Riders falling at home.

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

KLEIN: This should be an easy win for the Riders, but nothing is ever too easy with this group. 

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

McINNIS: Sask wins this, but they don’t do enough to buy this number. 

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

TOTALS STRAIGHT-UP: Saskatchewan 8, Ottawa 2.

TOTALS AGAINST THE SPREAD: Ottawa 7, Saskatchewan 3.

Saturday, August 8: Edmonton Elks at Montreal Alouettes (-4) at 3:00 p.m. EDT

The two division leaders are set to square off on Saturday afternoon, as the Montreal Alouettes are favourites over the Edmonton Elks, despite losing to them back in Week 3. The Green and Gold hit the road after a heartbreaking loss to Saskatchewan last week, and could be without Canadian linebacker Joel Dublanko, who didn’t practice on Tuesday. Meanwhile, the Als soared to victory over Ottawa, but have concerns on defence as starters Geoffrey Cantin-Arku, Mustafa Johnson, Najee Murray, Wesley Sutton, and Robert Kennedy III have all missed the first two practices of the week.

ABBOTT: The West is better than the East, but there is no one better than Montreal.

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

BALLANTINE: Montreal just keeps on winning. Edmonton’s record is inflated by circumstance. 

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

BORDIGNON: I trust the Alouettes at home, but think the Elks keep this within a field goal.

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

FILOSO: The Elks are the second best team in the CFL. Tough thing for them is that this week, they’re playing the only team better than them.

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

GASSON: This should be a dandy. I’m gonna go with the home team. 

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

HERRERA-VERGARA: The game of the week by far. The Als are rolling right now, but their injuries on defence might complícate things.

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

HODGE: This might be the most intriguing game between these two teams since the Grey Cup in 2005.

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

HOSKINS: Another heavyweight bout for both teams. Edmonton bounces back after last week and finds a way.

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

KLEIN: Not much separates these two in the standings, and I don’t expect much will separate them on the field either. Als take a close one. 

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

McINNIS: This is a game I want the dog in; this should come down to a field goal 

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

TOTALS STRAIGHT-UP: Montreal 8, Edmonton 2.

TOTALS AGAINST THE SPREAD: Edmonton 9, Montreal 1.

Saturday, August 8: Hamilton Tiger-Cats at B.C. Lions (-7.5) at 7:00 p.m. EDT

The B.C. Lions are heavy home favourites against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats on Saturday night, as the spread has ballooned since reigning CFL Most Outstanding Player Nathan Rourke returned to practice on Tuesday. He appears on track to make his return from a left-shoulder injury, and the Lions could regain some other offensive weapons including James Butler, Jevon Cottoy, and Stanley Berryhill. By contrast, the Ticats still don’t seem to know who their starting quarterback is after Tre Ford was benched last week in favour of Harrison Frost. Scott Milanovich has not yet indicated which way he is leaning, choosing not to share the information publicly until Thursday at the earliest.

ABBOTT: Nathan Rourke versus who? Easiest pick of the year.

Straight-up: B.C. Against the spread: B.C.

BALLANTINE: Rourke is back, but his first game is against one of the best defences in the league. Things may not yet be right enough for this kind of spread. 

Straight-up: B.C. Against the spread: Hamilton.

BORDIGNON: Leos win, and Cats cover the number. Easy, right?

Straight-up: B.C. Against the spread: Hamilton.

FILOSO: An Eastern team travelling west AND Nathan Rourke’s back? I would’ve picked the Lions even if the spread was double digits.

Straight-up: B.C. Against the spread: B.C.

GASSON: This could be a Frosty one for the Tabbies. 

Straight-up: B.C. Against the spread: B.C.

HERRERA-VERGARA: The Lions found the spark they needed last week. They will keep rolling against a Hamilton team that is still looking for an answer at QB.

Straight-up: B.C. Against the spread: B.C.

HODGE: Nathan Rourke’s back? Pray for the Tiger-Cats.

Straight-up: B.C. Against the spread: B.C.

HOSKINS: Kitty Bowl goes to the home team easily.

Straight-up: B.C. Against the spread: B.C.

KLEIN: One team is struggling to score points, the other is getting Nathan Rourke back. My work is done here.

Straight-up: B.C. Against the spread: B.C.

McINNIS: The overreaction to Rourke returning is far too much; give me the dog to cover.

Straight-up: B.C. Against the spread: Hamilton

TOTALS STRAIGHT-UP: B.C. 10, Hamilton 0.

TOTALS AGAINST THE SPREAD: B.C. 7, Hamilton 3.

2026 records (straight-up)

ABBOTT — 27-7
HERRERA-VERGARA — 24-10
HODGE — 23-11
HOSKINS — 21-13
BALLANTINE — 20-14
GASSON — 19-15
KLEIN — 19-15
FILOSO — 18-16
BORDIGNON — 17-17
McINNIS* — 3-1

2026 records (against the spread)

ABBOTT — 21-13
HODGE — 20-14
HERRERA-VERGARA — 20-14
KLEIN — 18-16
GASSON — 17-17
FILOSO — 16-18
BALLANTINE — 16-18
BORDIGNON — 14-20
HOSKINS — 13-21
McINNIS* — 1-3

Editor’s note: Andrew McInnis began picking in Week 9.