3DownNation CFL picks straight-up & against the spread: Week 11

3DownNation

Week 11 in the Canadian Football League is officially upon us, which means there’s no point in wasting any time. Let’s get straight to the picks.

We have ten 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 13: B.C. Lions at Calgary Stampeders (-5.5) at 9:00 p.m. EDT

The Lions have made two changes on offence, as running back Zander Horvath will start over James Butler and Stanley Berryhill III has returned from injury to start at slotback. Meanwhile, Ajou Ajou will make his Stampeders debut after serving a six-game suspension for violating the CFL’s gender-based violence and harassment policy. These two teams met in Vancouver back in Week 4, where Calgary prevailed by a score of 41-33. The weather conditions will be a factor at McMahon Stadium as the forecast calls for 12 degrees and heavy rain.

ABBOTT: A short week for the Lions doesn’t bode well after their clunky offensive outing against Hamilton.

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

BALLANTINE: Vernon Adams Jr. had his bad week last week. B.C.’s defence is the tonic to get back to form.

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

BORDIGNON: Neither team looked good last week, but I trust the Lions a little more.

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

FILOSO: You have to think the Stamps will be better than last week, but I think the Lions are starting to figure things out and look ready to go streaking.

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

GASSON: I expect the Lions to be better with another week of Nathan Rourke but beating Hamilton isn’t all that impressive.

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

HERRERA-VERGARA: Vernon Adams Jr. will be ready for this one, especially after last week.

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

HODGE: In a rain-soaked affair, take the team with the best run offence and defence.

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

HOSKINS: Tough call on this one. Calgary will want to bounce back after a tough outing last week and B.C. wants to be better with their star back.

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

KLEIN: Nathan Rourke coming back covers a lot of warts for the Lions. That should be enough to keep it close, but not enough for them to beat the Stamps.

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

McINNIS: Nathan Rourke as an underdog? This is what value is. 

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

TOTALS STRAIGHT-UP: B.C. 5, Calgary 5.

TOTALS AGAINST THE SPREAD: B.C. 8, Calgary 1.

Friday, August 14: Ottawa Redblacks at Winnipeg Blue Bombers (-5.5) at 8:30 p.m. EDT

Ottawa has totally shaken up its defence this week, moving defensive linemen Bryce Carter and Michael Wakefield to the six-game injured list, releasing starting defensive backs Amari Henderson and Demerio Houston, and activating Nyles Morgan and Habakkuk Baldonado from injured reserve. Winnipeg is trending in the other direction as it appears Zach Collaros and Jarell Broxton will return to the starting lineup as they look to end a two-game losing skid. The Blue Bombers won last month’s matchup between these two teams in overtime.

ABBOTT: Damn it, Ryan. You’re going to make me throw it all away.

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

BALLANTINE: Contributors note: Last week, JC Abbott picked Ottawa and roasted me for calling him on it. I bet he doesn’t this week.

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

BORDIGNON: Death, taxes, and fading the Redblacks.

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

FILOSO: Another week of significant change in the nation’s capital, but I’m not sure it’ll be enough to move them into the win column.

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

GASSON: Zach Collaros won’t be enough to turn around Winnipeg’s fortunes.

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

HERRERA-VERGARA: The Blue Bombers cannot lose this one, especially with B.C.’s winning streak.

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

HODGE: If the Blue Bombers can’t win this one, the rest of the season is a write-off.

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

HOSKINS: Has Ottawa shuffled the deck enough? Call me crazy, but I’m going to say just.

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

KLEIN: The Blue Bombers should be improved off of their bye week, but that can only solve so many problems. Luckily, facing Ottawa solves the ones that remain.

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

McINNIS: Even against Ottawa, Winnipeg shouldn’t be laying a number like this.

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

TOTALS STRAIGHT-UP: Winnipeg 7, Ottawa 3.

TOTALS AGAINST THE SPREAD: Winnipeg 6, Ottawa 4.

Saturday, August 15: Toronto Argonauts at Edmonton Elks (-3.5) at 3:00 p.m. EDT

The Argonauts overcame four interceptions from Chad Kelly to beat the Stampeders last week, thanks in part to a brilliant third-down stuff from safety Bubba Bolden. Former All-CFL guard Ryan Hunter has been limited in practice this week with a knee injury, which may force the Boatmen to make a change up front. The Elks are riding a two-game losing skid, and have spent the past week licking their wounds following a 48-30 loss to the Montreal Alouettes. Kenneth Logan, the team’s standout strong-side linebacker, appears unlikely to play due to a knee injury.

ABBOTT: The Elks should have a thorn in their hoof.

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

BALLANTINE: The Elks seem to be coming back to earth a little, but do they still have enough to beat Chad Kelly? I’m saying no.

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

BORDIGNON: I think the Argonauts are showing us that they belong in the playoff conversation.

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

FILOSO: This has all the makings of a sneaky good game. I think last possession wins, so give me the home team.

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

GASSON: Good teams get themselves out of a rough patch.

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

HERRERA-VERGARA: This should be a tight game but I feel the Elks are better.

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

HODGE: If the Elks are for real, they’ll end their two-game skid.

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

HOSKINS: The Elks bounce back at home against a team that isn’t top-three in the league.

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

KLEIN: This is a really interesting matchup to see where both these teams are at. I like the Elks just a little better than the Argos right now.

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

McINNIS: The Argos are under appreciated and the Elks are sliding. This is a statement game for Toronto. 

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

TOTALS STRAIGHT-UP: Edmonton 7, Toronto 3.

TOTALS AGAINST THE SPREAD: Edmonton 6, Toronto 4.

Saturday, August 15: Saskatchewan Roughriders at Hamilton Tiger-Cats (+5.5) at 7:00 p.m. EDT

The Riders are coming off an impressive win over the Ottawa Redblacks that came without offensive stars Samuel Emilius, Kian Schaffer-Baker, A.J. Ouellette, none of whom are expected to return this week. On the flip side, the Hamilton Tiger-Cats seem to have found their quarterback as Harrison Frost threw for 237 yards, one touchdown, and one interception in last week’s loss to the B.C. Lions, and garnered a vote of confidence from head coach Scott Milanovich.

ABBOTT: Frost doesn’t scare anyone from Saskatchewan.

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

BALLANTINE: Sadly, what should have been a season to believe in Tiger Town is done and dusted.

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

BORDIGNON: They covered against Hamilton once already, so the Roughriders will do it again.

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

FILOSO: This shouldn’t be close.

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

GASSON: Weird things happen to the Riders in Hamilton but they’ll find a way.

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

HERRERA-VERGARA: Frost has breathed some life into the Tiger-Cats, but not that much life.

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

HODGE: The Roughriders grind out a crafty win on the road.

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

HOSKINS: Frost looked decent in his first start, but that doesn’t really help against the reigning champs.

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

KLEIN: The Riders have only blown out a couple of teams, and the Tiger-Cats sans Bo Levi Mitchell were one of those teams.

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

McINNIS: The only home dog this week? Hamilton does enough to keep it close but falls short.

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

TOTALS STRAIGHT-UP: Saskatchewan 10, Hamilton 0.

TOTALS AGAINST THE SPREAD: Saskatchewan 5, Hamilton 5.

2026 records (straight-up)

ABBOTT — 30-8
HERRERA-VERGARA — 27-11
HODGE — 26-12
BALLANTINE — 23-15
HOSKINS — 23-15
GASSON — 22-16
KLEIN — 22-16
FILOSO — 21-17
BORDIGNON — 20-18
McINNIS* — 6-2

2026 records (against the spread)

ABBOTT — 22-16
HERRERA-VERGARA — 20-18
HODGE — 20-18
BALLANTINE — 19-19
KLEIN — 18-20
FILOSO — 17-21
GASSON — 17-21
BORDIGNON — 16-22
HOSKINS — 14-24
McINNIS* — 3-5

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