Non-Division Total of the Month. My selection is on the 'under' between Hamilton and B.C. at 7 pm et on Saturday.

This total is being priced as if Lions QB Nathan Rourke is going to step right back in and get the offense humming again. I'm not sure it's so straight-forward. The Tiger-Cats are sure to be in a foul mood after getting drilled 44-20 at home against the Stampeders last week. I do think they're a much better defensive team than they showed in that contest. That was a letdown of sorts after they let one get away in Montreal less than a week earlier. While Hamilton did allow 31 points in that loss to the Alouettes it had everything to do with late offensive miscues rather than poor defensive play. The Lions will look to follow up on last week's 35-19 'upset' win in Winnipeg. The B.C. ground game went off for a ridiculous 377 rushing yards in that game - a performance it isn't going to duplicate here. I don't think we'll see the Lions firing on all cylinders offensively should Rourke return. Instead look for this to be more of a grind-it-out affair with the Ti-Cats taking an interest in shortening proceedings with their limited offense. Take the under (10*).

My selection is on Edmonton plus the points over Montreal at 3 pm et on Saturday.

The Alouettes have been the CFL's best team this season and enter this contest riding a four-game ATS winning streak. With that being said, their lone loss came against the same Elks they'll face on Saturday. While the 'revenge' angle is certainly at play, especially with this game being played at Montreal, I think it's been fully factored into the line. Edmonton enters this game off a home loss to the Roughriders last week. The Elks got nothing from their ground attack yet were still in that game right until the end, ultimately losing by just two points. The Als home field advantage hasn't been as pronounced as you might think this season. They're 4-0 at home but that includes a two-point win over the lowly Redblacks and their 31-18 victory over a banged-up Hamilton team two weeks ago was misleading as they took advantage of multiple Tiger-Cats miscues in the final minutes to pull away. I'm confident the Elks can take this one down to the wire at the very least. Take Edmonton (8*).

Non-Division Game of the Year. My selection is on Ottawa plus the points over Saskatchewan at 9 pm et on Friday.

Ottawa remains winless two months into the CFL season and rightfully finds itself in an underdog role as it travels to Regina to take on the 5-2 Roughriders on Friday. Saskatchewan is coming off a taxing home-and-home set against Edmonton, capped off by a 28-26 win on Saturday. Meanwhile, Ottawa limps on the road after a 34-13 drubbing at home against the Alouettes last Friday. I do think there's a path to keeping this game competitive for Ottawa. The Riders offense has been humming lately but explosiveness on that side of the football isn't really their M.O. The Redblacks offense is certainly better than it showed against an ascending Als defense last week. Keep in mind, they're just one game removed from scoring 34 points in a wild overtime loss at home against the Blue Bombers. This will actually mark the second and final regular season meeting between these two teams this season with the Riders winning by five points in an earlier matchup in Ottawa. I see this as a clear letdown spot for Saskatchewan while Ottawa perhaps looks at the start of this three-game road trip of a reset of sorts as it tries to end its streak of futility. Look for the Redblacks to take this one down to the wire at the very least. Take Ottawa (10*).

My selection is on Toronto plus the points over Calgary at 7:30 pm et on Thursday.

This line is a little baffling to me. Both teams check in 3-4 on the season but it's been an incredibly difficult road for Toronto as it will be playing its first true home game of the season on Thursday (it was displaced due to the World Cup being played in its home stadium, BMO Field). Calgary comes in satisfied having won consecutive road games in Winnipeg and Hamilton, scoring a whopping 96 points in the process. Toronto, meanwhile, comes off a much-needed bye week and figures to be feeling pretty good about itself after notching a 26-12 victory on the road against the Lions on July 25th. Of note, while Calgary did score 44 points against a banged-up Tiger-Cats squad on Saturday, it actually gained only 338 total yards. The Stampeders took full advantage of three Hamilton turnovers in that contest. In fact, Calgary has racked up a ridiculous seven turnovers over its last two games. If there's one thing Toronto generally doesn't do it's beat itself. The Argonauts have turned the football over just twice in their last three games combined. Take Toronto (8*).

West Division Total of the Year. My selection is on the 'under' between Saskatchewan and Edmonton at 7 pm et on Saturday.

Scoring has been trending down across the CFL following a red hot start to the season from most offenses. We're still seeing high posted totals, however, and this one will make sense to many casual bettors after these same two teams produced 70 points and nearly 900 passing yards just last week. The key here is both teams have now been preparing for the same opponent for the last two weeks and adjustments are sure to be made after last week's matador-like defensive effort from both sides. Of note, the Roughriders have become a little easier to prepare for with RB A.J. Ouelette sidelined. His absence forces them to be a little more one-dimensional, even if QB Trevor Harris is still capable of generating plenty of offense. The weather could ultimately play a factor on Saturday as well with the possibility of heavy showers developing throughout the evening in Edmonton. This total is banking on both offenses operating at peak efficiency for a second straight game against the same opponent and I think that's a bit of a stretch. Of note, the 'over' result last week only served to end two-game 'under' streaks for both teams so we do know the defenses are capable of bouncing back. Take the under (10*).

East Division Total of the Year. My selection is on the 'under' between Montreal and Ottawa at 7:30 pm et on Friday.

While I can understand the logic behind this total being set in the 60's - scoring has been way up across the CFL this season - I think it will prove too high. Ottawa checks in 0-6 on the season but does come off its bye week. With extra preparation time against a familiar divisional opponent and Montreal coming off a short week having played on Sunday, I do think there's a path for the Redblacks to keep the Alouettes offense in check, at least to a certain extent. Meanwhile, Montreal's defense turned in arguably its best performance of the season against Hamilton, particularly in the second half. All-Star corner Kabian Ento will return for Montreal this week and that bolsters an already terrific secondary that hasn't performed up to expectations this season but certainly showed positive signs last week. Ottawa already lost the first meeting between these two teams in a 37-35 shootout in Montreal on June 28th. I'm not sure either team is looking to get involved in another track meet here yet we're working with a considerably higher posted total. Keep in mind, we've seen the scoring begin to settle down in the CFL lately with three consecutive games totalling 54 points or less entering Friday's action. Take the under (10*).

My selection is on Ottawa plus the points over Montreal at 7:30 pm et on Friday.

The Alouettes haven't met a close game they didn't like this season. Entering last week's action all six of their games had been decided by a touchdown or less. While they did ultimately pull away for a 13-point victory over Hamilton last Sunday, that was a down to the wire affair before the Tiger-Cats melted down late. Ottawa has already pushed Montreal to the limit earlier this season, dropping a narrow two-point decision as a +9 point underdog on the road on June 28th. Here, the Redblacks remain winless and come off their bye week. Needless to say, it's desperation time and catching the Alouettes playing on a short week riding a season-high four-game winning streak including three consecutive ATS covers, I think backing the Redblacks plus the points is the way to go. Take Ottawa (8*).

My selection is on B.C. plus the points over Winnipeg at 8:30 pm et on Thursday.

It's getting close to desperation time for the 1-5 Lions as they head to Winnipeg to take on the Blue Bombers on Thursday. These two teams have both disappointed in the early going this season with injuries certainly playing a factor. B.C. is making a number of changes, including at quarterback where Kaidon Salter will make his first CFL start in place of an ineffective Chase Brice. I do think the dual-threat Salter can give the offense a spark here against a Bombers defense that just hasn't been good so far this season. Winnipeg is sticking with Dru Brown at quarterback in a bit of a perplexing move. I think the injury to Lions RB James Butler has been weighted a little too heavily here, noting that ground games have really lacked punch as a whole in the CFL this season. Both teams could really use a strong showing here and I think this will ultimately be a 'down to the wire' type of affair in what will be the first meeting between them this season. Take B.C. (8*).

East Division Game of the Month. My selection is on Montreal minus the points over Hamilton at 7 pm et on Sunday.

While Montreal is off to a red hot 5-1 start to the CFL season, all of its victories have been relatively tight (decided by seven points or less). I don't think that will be the case on Sunday, however. We've seen road teams dominate in CFL action this week, taking all three matchups so far. Look for a reversal here as Hamilton comes in feeling good about itself after earning its first victory in the wake of the Bo Levi Mitchell injury, 24-23 over the rival Argonauts last week. The first meeting between the Ti-Cats and Alouettes this season was as close as it gets with Montreal prevailing by a field goal. Keep in mind, Hamilton got a scintillating performance from Mitchell in that game, completing 34-of-39 passes for 307 yards. We've seen the Ti-Cats go to a more run-first offense in Mitchell's absence and while that can work at times, I don't think it will in a game they figure to be chasing against an elite Als team on Sunday. Montreal is firing on all cylinders offensively having scored 37 or more points in three straight games. The Als have rushed for over 100 yards and thrown for over 300 in four consecutive games as well. While the Ti-Cats have held up well defensively in recent weeks, they've also faced some manageable opponents in the Blue Bombers, Roughriders and Argos. I think they struggle stepping up in class on the road on Sunday. Take Montreal (10*).

Total of the Year. My selection is on the 'under' between Toronto and B.C. at 7 pm et on Saturday.

Overs have been almost automatic in the CFL this season as the oddsmakers struggle to catch up with rule changes that have produced much higher-scoring games than we've been accustomed to seeing in recent years. I think we're actually set up with value on the 'under' on Saturday, however, as the struggling Argonauts and Lions do battle in Vancouver. Note that B.C. is forced to move forward without QB Nathan Rourke due to injury at this point. Backup Chase Brice struggled mightily in his absence and I can't help but feel we'll see the Lions scale back the offense in an effort to get things turned around without Rourke this week. The Argos would probably welcome a more settled affair as they've struggled during a brutal stretch to open the season. They've yet to play a true home game due to the World Cup taking up residence in their home stadium in Toronto. Neither team has been able to get much going on the ground, and one-dimensional offenses don't tend to thrive in the CFL game. I think the Lions defense in particular can turn in a solid effort here but I have little faith in B.C.'s offense getting much going to help this total along. The knee-jerk reaction from most bettors will likely be to back the 'over' once again but I feel the number will prove too high. Take the under (10*).

West Division Game of the Week. My selection is on Calgary plus the points over Winnipeg at 8:30 pm et on Friday.

This is a rematch of a Week 1 game that saw Winnipeg go on the road and deliver a 30-28 win in Calgary. I look for the Stampeders to get their revenge on Thursday. The Blue Bombers haven't done anything overly impressive since that Week 1 victory. They're 3-2 SU and 2-3 ATS over their last five games, although they do enter this contest riding a three-game winning streak. All three of those wins came against East Division opponents and two of them came by two points or less. Calgary checks in 2-4 but has faced a considerably more difficult schedule than Winnipeg. The Stamps are coming off back-to-back losses in a home-and-home set against one of the best teams in the league in Montreal. The Stamps defense continues to struggle but again that's had a lot to do with the level of opposition they've faced. The Bombers have scored 30+ points in consecutive games but have also been held to fewer than 20 points on two different occasions this season and I look for them to take a step back here. Take Calgary (10*).

My selection is on Edmonton plus the points over Saskatchewan at 9 pm et on Thursday.

You would have to go back six meetings between these two teams here in Regina, all the way to 2021, to find the last time the Roughriders defeated the Elks by more than four points. While Edmonton has won back-to-back games and is off to an impressive 5-1 start to the season, I don't think it came away all that happy after it had to hang on for a 19-17 home win over the Lions last week. Meanwhile, the Riders have had nearly two weeks to pat themselves on the back following their second straight victory - a 38-7 rout of Hamilton on July 12th. I simply feel this is more of a toss-up than is being priced in and look for the Elks to at the very least take this one down to the wire. Take Edmonton (8*).

My selection is on Calgary moneyline over Montreal at 4 pm et on Saturday.

These two teams just met last week and the result was never really in doubt as Montreal jumped ahead early and never looked back in a 37-30 victory at home. I expect the Stampeders to return the favor as the scene shifts to Calgary for Saturday's rematch. While Calgary is off to a somewhat disappointing 2-3 start to the season, there's no reason to push the panic button. The Stamps have faced a considerably more difficult schedule than the Alouettes so far this season, by most metrics. Their three losses have come by a combined 12 points so it's not as if they're been getting out-classed on a regular basis. Montreal is entering uncharted territory as it matched a season-high two-game winning streak with last week's victory. I look for the Als to take a brief step back here before a very manageable two-game stretch against the struggling Tiger-Cats and Redblacks. Take Calgary moneyline (8*).

My selection is on B.C. moneyline over Edmonton at 9 pm et on Friday.

I don't think anything has happened since these two teams last met two weeks ago (B.C. won 36-24) to result in such a generous price being offered on the Lions here. B.C. has been idle since that victory - its first of the season. Meanwhile, Edmonton successfully bounced back from that defeat with a rout of the hapless Redblacks - arguably the league's worst team - at home last week. The Elks are undoubtedly a team on the rise but I'm not sure they're deserving of the price tag here. B.C. actually boasts one of the most talented rosters in the CFL which is why its 0-3 start to the campaign was so alarming. I do think the bye week came at a good time as it allowed them to build from that first victory of the season and perhaps install some wrinkles ahead of this rematch with the Elks. I have no problem taking a flyer with B.C. at this price on Friday. Take B.C. moneyline (8*).

My selection is on Calgary moneyline over Montreal at 7 pm et on Saturday.

The Stampeders will be hard-pressed to replicate last week's 58-point outburst against the Argonauts but I do think they're well-positioned to put the Alouettes on 'upset' alert on Saturday in Montreal. Calgary has roared back following an 0-2 start to the campaign, delivering wins over the Lions and Argos in consecutive weeks and scoring a whopping 99 points in the process. Montreal will need to get going again from a standing start as it has been idle since hanging on for a 37-35 win at home against the Redblacks on June 28th. While the Als do own the better overall record so far this season, the Stamps have faced the more difficult schedule by most metrics. Off to a 2-0 start at home and feeling satisfied with a 3-1 overall record, I think the Als are ripe for the 'upset' on Saturday and we're being offered a generous price with the Stamps. Take Calgary moneyline (8*).

My selection is on Ottawa plus the points over Edmonton at 9 pm et on Thursday.

Ottawa fell just short in its upset bid at home against the Roughriders on Friday as it dropped to 0-4 on the campaign. It's not as if the Redblacks have been getting crushed, however. Their last two defeats have come by a combined seven points and that should give them some reason for optimism as they head to Edmonton to face the upstart Elks. The Elks are certainly more accustomed to an underdog role and dropped their first game of the season last weekend, on the road as a short favorite against the Lions. I think Edmonton will be feeling a bit of a pressure to respond back at home to kick off proceedings this week and I look for it to have its hands full against an Ottawa team that's desperate for its first victory and looking to avenge an earlier 'upset' loss at home against these same Elks. Take Ottawa (8*).

My selection is on Winnipeg moneyline over Hamilton at 7 pm et on Sunday.

These two teams certainly appear headed in opposite directions but I believe the case can be made for the wrong team being favored. Winnipeg has had a week-and-a-half to stew over a two-game losing streak and will be looking for revenge here after dropping a 37-27 decision at home against Hamilton on June 11th. The Tigers-Cats, meanwhile, have been idle since delivering their second straight victory, in blowout fashion over B.C. on June 19th. I think Hamilton might have a difficult time getting going again from a standing start and the price is right to back the revenge-minded Blue Bombers here. Take Winnipeg moneyline (8*).

West Division Game of the Month. My selection is on B.C. plus the points over Edmonton at 7 pm et on Saturday.

The Lions remain winless on the season and host the upstart Elks on Saturday in a second straight game played in Kelowna, B.C. as their home stadium is being used for the World Cup. We've won plenty with Edmonton in the early going this season and also faded the Lions in their loss to the Stampeders last Saturday. It's still early in the season so it's not time for the Lions to panic or for the Elks to start planning the parade. I can't help but feel this line represents an over-reaction to early season results and look for B.C. to finally get its first victory. Take B.C. (10*).

Non-Division Game of the Month. My selection is on Ottawa moneyline over Saskatchewan at 7:30 pm et on Friday.

The Redblacks have yet to pick up their first win of the season through three games but they came close on Sunday, falling by just two points on the road against a good Alouettes squad. I look for Ottawa to finally deliver that elusive first victory on Friday. Saskatchewan got off to a 2-0 start to the season before falling 40-34 against Toronto last week. The defending Grey Cup champions certainly figure to get every opponent's best punch this season and that's been the case so far with their two victories coming by just seven points combined. Ottawa has run into a difficult schedule through its first three games, facing the upstart Elks, Argonauts and aformentioned Alouettes. This is another tough matchup but I think the price is right to back the Redblacks at home. Take Ottawa moneyline (10*).

My selection is on Toronto moneyline over Calgary at 9 pm et on Thursday.

The Argonauts have settled in nicely to life on the road to start the season. They've of course been displaced due to the World Cup taking place at their home stadium in Toronto. The Argos check in off consecutive wins in Ottawa and Saskatchewan and I look for them to keep it going here. We won with the Stampeders in their 'upset' win over the Lions in Kelowna on Saturday. I'm not sure that was really an 'upset' at all as the Lions have been awful out of the gate this season. Keep in mind, prior to last week's victory, Calgary was off to an 0-2 start with both losses coming at home. In what projects as another high-scoring affair, I'm not convinced the Stamps can keep up for four quarters. Take Toronto moneyline (8*).

My selection is on Ottawa plus the points over Montreal at 7 pm et on Sunday.

We'll grab all the points we can get with the Redblacks and even sprinkle a little on the moneyline in this East Division showdown on Sunday. The Alouettes suffered their first loss of the season last week as they fell short in overtime against the Elks. While Montreal is a good team, I don't think it's elite and still think it can be had again this week, even in a heavily-favored role against Ottawa. The Redblacks figure to be in a foul mood after last week's 44-24 drubbing against Toronto. Ottawa will look to avoid starting 0-2 in its own division here and I fully expect it to take Montreal down to the wire at the very least. Take Ottawa (8*).

West Division Game of the Month. My selection is on Calgary moneyline over B.C. at 7 pm et on Saturday.

This game will be played in Kelowna, B.C. so it's still essentially a home game for the Lions even though it won't take place at their home stadium due to the World Cup taking up residence there. I like the Stampeders chances of again spoiling the Lions hopes of earning their first victory of the season. B.C. checks in 0-2 following an ugly 41-27 loss in Hamilton last week. I've seen nothing to indicate that the Lions have found their game this season following a disappointing stretch. The Stampeders are also 0-2 but there's no shame in losing by two points against Winnipeg and three against Saskatchewan (in overtime). I don't think Calgary will be intimidated by this matchup against a divisional opponent and I think the case can be made for the wrong team being favored. Take Calgary moneyline (10*).

My selection is on Toronto moneyline over Saskatchewan at 9 pm et on Friday.

This is technically a home game for the Argonauts as they play select early season contests in visiting stadiums with the World Cup taking place at their home stadium in Toronto. Regardless, I like Toronto's chances of staging the 'upset' on Friday night in Regina. The Argos are coming off a decisive 44-24 win in Ottawa last week, marking their first win of the young season. Saskatchewan checks into this matchup sporting a 2-0 record although nothing has come easy with those two previous wins combing by a combined seven points against B.C. and Calgary. Off those consecutive division victories, I can't help but feel the Roughriders are in for a letdown here. Veteran QB Trevor Harris effectively single-handedly willed the Riders to last week's overtime win but I think Argos QB Chad Kelly can match him here. The price is too generous to ignore in this spot. Take Toronto moneyline (8*).

Total of the Month. My selection is on the 'over' between Edmonton and Winnipeg at 8:30 pm et on Thursday.

There's a real temptation to buck the early season trends and back the 'under' as Week 3 of the CFL campaign kicks off in Winnipeg on Thursday. I would advise against it, however, as scoring is up across the league and I don't think it's time to reverse course just yet. Winnipeg is sure to be in a foul mood as it comes off a 37-27 'upset' loss at home against Hamilton last week. Gone are the days of the Blue Bombers sporting an elite defense. Remember, they barely held off the Stampeders, allowing 28 points in their season-opener the week previous. Edmonton undoubtedly poses a challenge with an offense led by the league's best rusher in Justin Rankin. The Elks defense does leave a lot to be desired, however. Edmonton got off to a fine start holding a punchless Redblacks offense to only 21 points in Week 1 but needed a furious rally to upend Montreal in 'upset' fashion in overtime, 32-29, last week. Expect some offensive fireworks to kick off Week 3 on Thursday. Take the over (10*).

Game of the Month. My selection is on Edmonton plus the points over Montreal at 4 pm et on Saturday.

We'll grab all the points we can get with the Elks on Saturday. Edmonton is off to a 1-0 start to the campaign after a Week 1 victory in Ottawa. The Elks were idle last week while the Alouettes moved to 2-0 with a win over the Argonauts. Edmonton made a lot of progress down the stretch last season, returning to respectability after years of futility as a franchise. This is an early season statement game against the defending East Division champions and I like the way it sets up for the underdog Elks as the Als are in for a letdown after defeating two division opponents to open the campaign. I think it is worth noting that Montreal's 37-point explosion last week was a little misleading. The Als scored a touchdown less than two minutes into the game but didn't reach the end zone again until more than three minutes into the fourth quarter. Their score was boosted by Argos turnovers, including a blocked punt return for a touchdown. I look for the Elks to turn in a cleaner performance than the Argos and take this one down to the wire at the very least. Take Edmonton (10*).

Total of the Month. My selection is on the 'under' between Hamilton and Winnipeg at 8:30 pm et on Thursday.

Both of these teams posted 'over' results to open the season last week. I'm expecting a different story to unfold as they match up in Winnipeg to kick off Week 2 on Thursday. Hamilton scored a touchdown less than five minutes into its eventual overtime loss to Montreal last week. While it did get off to a strong start in that contest, after scoring its third touchdown of the game just over halfway into the third quarter it failed to reach the end zone again the rest of the way. I was actually encouraged by the Tiger-Cats defensive performance against a good Alouettes offense. After giving up a touchdown through the air just over four minutes into the second quarter, the Ti-Cats yielded just one additional offensive touchdown the rest of the way (Montreal did return an interception for a touchdown). Winnipeg had an up-and-down season-opener, ultimately prevailing on a last-second field goal in Calgary. The Blue Bombers didn't allow a score until almost two minutes into the second quarter in that contest. They ended up giving up three touchdowns in that second quarter but only yielded one other score (a touchdown in the game's final two minutes) in the other three quarters. In this first non-division matchup for both teams this season, I think the total will prove too high. Take the under (10*).

My selection is on Ottawa plus the points over Montreal at 1 pm et on Monday.

It's been a trying season for the Redblacks as they check in sporting a 4-11 overall record. One thing we do know is that they tend to play competitive football on the road. Their largest margin of defeat away from home this season has been just 11 points. Off three straight losses SU and ATS, not to mention the fact that they're looking to avenge a 39-18 rout against the Alouettes at home earlier this season, I think Ottawa gets up for this matinee affair on Canadian Thanksgiving. The Als roll into this divisional showdown off three straight wins (2-1 ATS) but a five-game SU and ATS losing streak isn't all that far back in the rear-view mirror (from August 2nd to September 6th). Note that Montreal is just 3-9 ATS over its last 12 contests. Take Ottawa.

My selection is on the under between Saskatchewan and Ottawa at 7:30 pm et on Friday.

Both teams limp into this matchup on two-game losing streaks both straight-up and against the number, and while the side looks like a toss-up, I see clearer value in a lower-scoring outcome. Saskatchewan and Ottawa both coughed the ball up three times in their respective defeats last week, which could easily lead to a more cautious, possession-focused approach here.

Ottawa’s offense has cooled considerably since its mid-summer spark, being held to 27 points or fewer in four of its last five outings. Saskatchewan hasn’t been much sharper, with just two games above 25 points in its last five, and it only managed to win one of those two contests (that was at home). Neither offense looks particularly trustworthy right now, and with both sides likely to prioritize ball security after last week’s mistakes, I don’t expect this game to open up.

Take the under.

West Division Total of the Year. My selection is on the under between B.C. and Calgary at 9:30 pm et on Friday.

The Lions have been an ‘over’ machine of late, cashing seven straight after starting the year with four ‘unders’ in their first six contests. I expect that run to finally come to an end here in their first matchup of the season with division rival Calgary.

The Stampeders had their three-game winning streak snapped last time out, surrendering 30+ points for the first time in a month in a lopsided loss to Edmonton. Coming off their bye week, I’m confident we’ll see a more disciplined effort from Calgary’s defense.

Meanwhile, B.C. has certainly been rolling offensively, scoring 30+ points in six straight. But it’s worth noting that all of those outbursts came against East Division opponents. Against West rivals, the Lions are averaging just 23.7 points per game this season. Facing a rested Calgary stop unit, I don’t expect another offensive explosion.

With playoff positioning on the line and both sides familiar with one another, this feels like a game where defenses set the tone and points are harder to come by than the recent trends suggest.

Take the under.

Game of the Month. My selection is on Montreal plus the points over Saskatchewan at 7 pm et on Saturday.

The Alouettes have fallen on hard times this season, losers of five straight games both SU and ATS following a solid 5-2 SU and 4-3 ATS start. We'll back them on Saturday, however, as they look to avenge an earlier 34-6 home loss against the Roughriders that sent them on their spiral. Saskatchewan is in a fairly obvious letdown spot following consecutive wins over the division rival Blue Bombers, including an 'upset' victory in Winnipeg last week. Despite their recent success SU, the Riders are actually just 1-1-1 ATS over their last three contests and 1-2-1 ATS in their last four home games. Take Montreal (10*).

Non-Division Total of the Month. My selection is on the 'under' between Ottawa and B.C. at 10 pm et on Friday.

These two teams were involved in a wild, high-scoring affair last week as the Redblacks sent the Lions to their second straight loss. B.C. has allowed a ridiculous 86 points over its last two games. I certainly don't believe the Lions are as bad of a defensive team as they've shown and fully expect them to tighten things up in this quick rematch with the Redblacks. The 'over' has cashed in six straight games involving the Lions but that's a streak we want to bet against on Friday. The Redblacks' longest 'over' streak this season has lasted just two games as they've recorded an even 6-6 o/u mark. Take the under (10*).

My selection is on the 'under' between Saskatchewan and Winnipeg at 4 pm et on Saturday.

Scoring has been up across the CFL in recent weeks but I think the 'under' is the way to go in this rematch between West Division foes on Saturday. Last week, the Roughriders prevailed in a wild 34-30 affair at home against the Blue Bombers. That game saw five turnovers between the two teams. I expect a more measured approach from both squads in this important divisional clash on Saturday. Saskatchewan in particularly certainly isn't accustomed to getting rail-roaded defensively. Note that the Riders have allowed just north of 22 points per game this season. Winnipeg, meanwhile, has seen plenty of bumps in the road but is just one game removed from holding Montreal to just 13 points and I think the familiarity of facing the Riders for the second time in a week will help its cause. Take the under (8*).

My selection is on the 'under' between B.C. and Ottawa at 7:30 pm et on Friday.

The RedBlacks offense is moving in the wrong direction, dropping from 46 to 27 to 20 points over their last three games. I'm not convinced that the bye week will help their cause in that department and they draw a tough matchup on Friday with B.C. coming into town in a foul mood off a 52-34 beatdown in Toronto (and also off its bye week). The Lions are certainly a better defensive team than they showed in that loss to the Argonauts. They're just one game removed form holding Montreal to only 18 points in a lopsided victory. The Lions do enter this game on a five-game 'over' streak but I think that's being factored too heavily into this total, especially with this being the first meeting between these non-division foes this season. Take the under (8*).

LATE ADD for Monday: My selection is on Edmonton plus the points over Calgary at 6 pm et on Monday.

This is the first meeting between these provincial rivals this season and with that in mind, I don't think the oddsmakers have a great handle on where the number should be set. While the Stampeders own a three-game advantage on the Elks in the West Division standings, that's due to Edmonton getting off to a miserable start. It's been a different story lately as the Elks enter this contest on the heels of three straight wins SU and five in a row ATS. Calgary snapped its three-game ATS losing streak with a resounding 32-15 win over Saskatchewan at home last week. Here, the Stamps will look to conclude a perfect three-game homestand but I expect them to have their hands full. Note that Calgary is just an even 3-3 ATS at home this season including an 0-3 ATS mark when laying points. Take Edmonton.

My selection is on the 'under' between Toronto and Hamilton at 2:30 pm et on Monday.

This is one of the highest posted totals we've seen in CFL action this season and I believe it will prove too high. Toronto checks in off a wild 52-34 win over B.C. last week. That came at home, where the Argos have posted a 4-2 o/u record this season. It's been a different story on the road, where they've logged a 1-3-1 o/u mark. The Tiger-Cats have seen the 'under' go 4-2 in their last six games and enter rested off their bye week. The bye probably came at a good time as their defense had been struggling, allowing 33, 24, 41 and 29 points over their last four games. I think they can right the ship in this matchup as Toronto is in line for a big letdown offensively. Take the under.

West Division Total of the Month. My selection is on the 'over' between Saskatchewan and Calgary at 7 pm et on Saturday.

It's been an 'under' week in the CFL so far but I look for that to change on Saturday night as the Roughriders travel to face the Stampeders in what will be their second matchup of the season. The first went Calgary's way in 'upset' fashion by a 24-10 score on the road. Here, I look for the Riders to certainly respond offensively. They haven't had to keep their foot on the gas in recent games with their last two SU and ATS wins coming by 34-6 and 29-9 scores against Montreal and Hamilton. They do figure to get pushed by a Calgary team that has scored 24 points or more in six of nine games this season. Defensively, the Stamps have allowed 23, 31 and 27 points during their current three-game ATS slide. They haven't been forcing turnovers, with just two over their last three games. Without applying a great deal of pressure, the Stamps could be in tough against a Riders offense that has been near perfect during their four-game winning streak. This total is a shade lower than we saw in the first matchup and that has a lot to do with the Riders current form and the fact that the first meeting was low-scoring. I think it's the wrong move. Take the over (10*).

My selection is on Montreal plus the points over Winnipeg at 7:30 pm et on Thursday.

The Alouettes enter this game on the heels of three straight losses both SU and ATS including a lopsided defeat on the road against the Lions last week. I do think they can take the Blue Bombers down to the wire at the very least on Thursday. This will be the first meeting between these non-division opponents this season and I can't help but feel the line is out of whack. Winnipeg has done little to inspire confidence this season. It does come off a win at home against Ottawa last week but it failed to cover the spread in that contest, dropping to 2-4 ATS over its last six games. The last three times we've seen the Bombers on the road they've lost by three touchdowns at Calgary, lost by two touchdowns at Toronto and then lost by a point in a rematch in Calgary. Save for one ugly showing against the Roughriders earlier this month, the Als have been ultra-competitive at home this season, going 2-3 with two of the losses coming by a single point. Take Montreal (8*).

My selection is on Montreal plus the points over B.C. at 7 pm et on Saturday. 

The Alouettes enter this game off back-to-back losses both SU and ATS and have now dropped the cash in five of their last six games overall. I still don't feel this line makes a lot of sense, noting that Montreal took B.C. down to the wire in a narrow 21-20 home loss in the first meeting in July. B.C. can breathe a sigh of relief after snapping its two-game slide with a 41-38 'upset' win in Hamilton last week. The Lions are still just 1-2 ATS over their last three games and 3-5 ATS over their last eight contests. The Als have played some of their best football on the road this season where they've gone 3-1 SU and ATS. The lone loss came in a clear letdown spot in Hamilton after Montreal had gotten off to a perfect 3-0 start to the season. Take Montreal (8*).

My selection is on the 'under' between Hamilton and Saskatchewan at 3 pm et on Saturday.

The Tiger-Cats are coming off a wild 41-38 loss at home against the Lions to snap their six-game winning streak. I think they're a far better defensive team than they've shown lately, allowing 33 points or more in two of their last three contests. Note that both of those performances came against B.C. and they turned the football over a combined five times. Turnovers aren't really something that's predictable although it is worth noting that the Roughriders have forced two or less in six of their eight games this season and one or less in five of those contests. Saskatchewan ranks as one of the league's best defensive teams having allowed 24 points or less in four of is last five games. This will be the second matchup between these two teams this season after the Riders travelled to Hamilton and delivered a 28-23 win in mid-June. Take the under (8*).

My selection is on the 'under' between Toronto and Edmonton at 9 pm et on Friday.

We've seen some wild finishes in the CFL this season with a number of those games finding their way 'over' the total, including last night's 30-27 Blue Bombers victory over the Redblacks. We came out on the wrong side of that total but won't hesitate to go back to the well with the 'under' again on Friday as the Argonauts and Elks match up in Edmonton. The Argos gave up 46 points in last week's four-point loss at home against Ottawa - marking their second straight defeat both SU and ATS. We'll call for them to rebound defensively on Friday as they take on one of the league's weakest offenses in Edmonton. The Elks have scored 24 points or less in four straight and six of eight contests this season. The good news for Edmonton is that it has reeled off three straight ATS wins thanks in large part to improved defensively play. The Elks gave up more than 30 points in each of their first five games this season but have now limited their last three foes to 21, 28 and 22 points. Toronto's offense is surely in for a letdown after producing a whopping 31+ points in three straight games. With this being the first meeting between these non-division foes this season, I think the oddsmakers have gone too high with this total. Take the under (8*).

Total of the Week. My selection is on the 'under' between Ottawa and Winnipeg at 8:30 pm et on Thursday.

This will be the first meeting between these non-division foes this season and I think the oddsmakers are missing the mark with the total. Ottawa scored a whopping 46 points in last week's wild four-point victory in Toronto. Offensive performances like that certainly haven't been commonplace for the Redblacks this season and I think we're seeing an overreaction in the total in this contest as a result. In fact, Ottawa has been held to 20 points or less in five of nine games so far this season. It will run into a Winnipeg squad that is sure to be in a foul mood after coughing up a big lead in an eventual 28-27 loss in Calgary last week - its fourth defeat in its last five games. I do think the Blue Bombers defense is trending in the right direction still. Keep in mind, last week's contest stopped a streak of four straight games in which the Bombers had given up 30+ points. Their recent string of 'over' results had a lot to do with their sloppy play on offense as strange as that sounds. Winnipeg had turned the football over 13 times over a four-game stretch before turning in a clean offensive performance last week. Look for this game to be lower-scoring than most expect. Take the under (10*).

West Division Game of the Month. My selection is on Winnipeg plus the points over Calgary at 7 pm et on Saturday.

I can't help but feel this is a 'wrong team favored' situation as the Blue Bombers head to Calgary to face the reeling Stampeders on Saturday. The Stamps sit half a game ahead of the Bombers in the West Division standings but check in off back-to-back losses both SU and ATS. Meanwhile, Winnipeg finally brought its three-game SU and ATS slide to an end with a convincing 40-31 win in Toronto last week. I think the Bombers are a better team than their modest 4-3 record indicates and we'll back them in this double-revenge spot after they dropped a pair of blowout decisions against the Stamps back in July. Calgary was thought to be one of the more talent-depleted teams in the league entering this season and I think its regression to the mean continues this week. Take Winnipeg (10*).

My selection is on the 'under' between Edmonton and Montreal at 7:30 pm et on Friday.

These two teams met early in the season with the Alouettes prevailing by a score of 38-28 in Edmonton. I expect a lower-scoring rematch on Friday. The Elks offense remains very limited. They've scored 14, 18 and 24 points during their current three-game losing streak. If they want to steal a victory in Montreal they're likely going to have to 'ugly it up' on Friday night. Montreal figures to be determined to bounce back defensively after a miserable showing at home against Saskatchewan last week. The Als uncharacteristically gave up 34 points in that lopsided defeat. Prior to that, Montreal had held three straight foes to 25 points or less. Take the under (8*).

Non-Division Game of the Month. My selection is on B.C. plus the points over Hamilton at 7:30 pm et on Thursday.

Hamilton has gone a perfect 6-0 since starting the season 0-2 and that includes a come-from-behind 37-33 'upset' win over the Lions in B.C. two weeks ago. The Tiger-Cats followed up that victory with a 28-24 win in Edmonton last week. Meanwhile, B.C. is coming off its bye week and will certainly be up for this 'revenge' spot as it looks to snap its two-game SU and ATS losing skid. That loss to the Ti-Cats was a wild affair that certainly could have gone either way. Last week, Hamilton turned in a near-perfect road effort (no turnovers and over 400 total yards of offense). I think the Ti-Cats will be hard-pressed to get right back up to that level against a rested and hungry Lions squad on Thursday. Take B.C. (10*).

My selection is on the 'under' between B.C. and Hamilton at 7:30 pm et on Thursday.

These two teams were involved in a wild, high-scoring barn-burner in B.C. two weeks ago as the Tiger-Cats rallied late for a 37-33 victory. I expect a much different type of game to unfold on Thursday. The Ti-Cats will be playing on a short week after posting their sixth straight win on Saturday in Edmonton. Meanwhile, B.C. comes off its bye week following that bitter defeat against the Ti-Cats. The week off was necessary for the Lions to make some adjustments defensively. The Ti-Cats are rolling along, certainly on the defensive side of the football where they've held four straight and seven of eight opponents to fewer than 300 yards passing this season. Take the under (8*).

Non-Division Total of the Month. My selection is on the 'under' between Hamilton and Edmonton at 3 pm et on Saturday.

Hamilton enters this game off a wild, come-from-behind 37-33 win in B.C. last week. The Tiger-Cats have reeled off five straight wins, scoring 30+ points in four of those games. I'm not convinced their offense will avoid a letdown here, however, as they stay on the road to face the 1-5 Elks. Edmonton's offense is arguably the weakest in the league and checks in off consecutive games scoring 18 points or less. While Hamilton did allow 33 points in last week's win, that had a lot to do with the Ti-Cats turning the football over three times. The Elks aren't as likely to force the Ti-Cats hand here, noting that Edmonton has forced just three turnovers through six games. Hamilton has held three of its last five opponents to 20 points or less. The 'under' is 2-0 in games after the Ti-Cats give up 30+ points this season, as is the case here. Take the under (10*).

My selection is on Edmonton plus the points over Hamilton at 3 pm et on Saturday.

We'll fade the red hot Tiger-Cats on Saturday afternoon as they go for their sixth straight victory. Long winning streaks aren't all that commonplace in the CFL. Here we find Hamilton not only going for its sixth straight SU victory but also its third ATS win in a row. Note that the only other time the Ti-Cats attempted that feat they failed to cover at home against Ottawa on July 12th. Edmonton has lost back-to-back games and sits at 1-5 on the season. However, the Elks have been playing better lately having gone 2-1 ATS over their last three contests. They got just 25 rushing yards in last week's contest yet still lost by only three points on the road against a good Roughriders team. Take Edmonton (8*).

My selection is on Winnipeg minus the points over Toronto at 8:30 pm et on Friday.

We'll lay the points with the Blue Bombers on Friday as they look to avenge last week's 31-17 loss to the Argonauts. Winnipeg turned the football over four times in that contest - matching its season-high which was set the week previous. There's obviously a lot for the Blue Bombers to clean up ahead of this contest but we know they're capable of bouncing back as they started the season 3-0 SU and ATS before their current three-game SU and ATS slide. Toronto has reeled off consecutive wins ATS. I simply feel this is a difficult spot travelling on a short week against a revenge-fuelled opponent. Take Winnipeg (8*).

Non-Division Game of the Year. My selection is on B.C. minus the points over Hamilton at 7 pm et on Sunday.

The Lions entered the season with a lot of optimism but have fizzled since a 31-14 win over Edmonton in Week 1, ultimately settling at 3-4 through seven games. It's easy to forget that B.C. had won back-to-back games both SU and ATS prior to last Saturday's 'upset' loss at home against Saskatchewan. I think this matchup sets up a lot better for the Lions as they look to improve to 2-0 SU and ATS against the East Division this season. Hamilton got off to an 0-2 start to the campaign but has gone 4-0 SU and 3-1 ATS since. Keep in mind, all four of those games came against East Division opponents. This contest opens a stretch of four straight games against West Division foes with the Tiger-Cats 0-2 SU and ATS against non-division opponents this season. Hamilton has been living off of turnovers lately, collecting a whopping six over its last two games. That's helped mask some defensive issues against the pass and also the fact that the Ti-Cats, despite nursing leads most weeks, having been able to consistently run the football. On the flip side, the Lions have been vulnerable at times against the run but have stamped out opposing passing games, allowing more than 18 completions only once and 250+ yards through the air on just one occasion as well. I think this is a manageable bounce-back spot for B.C. at home ahead of its bye week and then a rematch with the Ti-Cats in Hamilton on August 7th. Take B.C. (10*).

My selection is on the 'under' between Hamilton and B.C. at 7 pm et on Sunday.

As I noted in my analysis of last night's play on the 'under', scoring is down across the CFL lately with the 'under' now a healthy 7-2-1 in the last 10 games overall. While that may have little bearing on the outcome of tonight's game between the Tiger-Cats and Lions, I do think we're once again looking at an inflated total. The Lions gave up 33 points in last week's home loss against the Roughriders. They've allowed 30+ points on two previous occasions this season and in both cases they followed it up with an 'under' result. In fact, B.C. has yet to post consecutive 'over' results this season. The Tiger-Cats have given up just 35 points in two games since allowing 38 points against Toronto on July 4th. The Lions offense entered the season with high expectations and go off to a nice start scoring 31 points in a Week 1 victory but they've topped 27 points only once in six games since. Take the under (8*).

My selection is on the 'under' between Winnipeg and Toronto at 7 pm et on Saturday.

Scoring is down considerably in the CFL over the last couple of weeks with the 'under' cashing at a 6-2-1 clip in the last nine games. We'll call for that trend to continue on Saturday as the Blue Bombers head to Toronto to take on the Argonauts. This will be Winnipeg's first time venturing outside of the West Division this season. The Bombers enter this contest off consecutive losses both SU and ATS against Calgary with both of those games going 'over' the total. In fact, each of Winnipeg's last three contests have gone 'over'. It might be time for the Bombers to scale back the offensive playbook a little bit as turnovers have become a major issue over the last couple of games. They've coughed the football up six times during their two-game slide. Here, they'll face a struggling Argos team that still won't have QB Chad Kelly back in the fold. Toronto's main focus right now is on steadying an offense that hasn't been able to get anything going on the ground, topping out at 67 rushing yards in a game this season. The Argos defense did turn in one of its best performances of the season last week in Montreal, ultimately falling short by a single point, 26-25. Winnipeg is certainly a better defensive team that it showed in its last two games as it was torched for 78 points in consecutive defeats against Calgary. Prior to that, the Bombers had held their first three opponents to a grand total of 57 points. Note that Winnipeg has done a terrific job of keeping the lid on opposing passing games this season, holding four of five opponents to fewer than 20 completions. Take the under (8*).

My selection is on Montreal plus the points over Calgary at 9 pm et on Thursday.

The Stampeders early season success has certainly been priced into this pointspread with the Alouettes entering as considerable underdogs ahead of Thursday's clash at McMahon Stadium. Montreal checks in off a narrow win but non-cover against Toronto last week. That marked the Als third straight ATS defeat following a perfect 3-0 SU and ATS start to the season. I'm confident we'll see the Als at the very least take this game down to the wire but I think they'll have a good shot at the outright 'upset' as well. Calgary is off to a stellar 5-1 SU and ATS start to the season including three straight 'upset' victories - two against the Blue Bombers and one against the Roughriders. Keep in mind, the Stamps lone defeat this season did come at home against another East Division team in the Redblacks. Despite its winning ways, Calgary has been sloppy at times, turning the football over seven times over its last four contests. Montreal has forced at least a turnover in all six games this season with 12 overall. As I've alluded to many times before, turnovers are unpredictable but I still think those numbers are worth noting with the Als listed as sizeable underdogs on Thursday. Take Montreal (8*).

My selection is on Ottawa plus the points over Hamilton at 7 pm et on Sunday.

The Tiger-Cats have reeled off three straight wins including a narrow 23-20 victory over the Redblacks last week. I'm not convinced they'll make it four in a row as they head to Ottawa for a quick rematch on Sunday. Hamilton has enjoyed success thanks to playing it smart, taking care of the football with just two turnovers in five games this season. Of note, the Ti-Cats have yet to rush for more than 100 yards as a team. That's not a recipe for prolonged success in the CFL as far as I'm concerned. The Redblacks have been right there in the majority of their five losses this season but here they are with just one victory through six games. That makes this a critical divisional affair before they play seven of their next eight games against non-division opponents. The Redblacks forced eight turnovers through their first four games this season but haven't produced any in their last two games. As we know, turnovers can be based on luck as much as anything else. We'll take a flyer on Ottawa as it looks to clean things up and get back in the win column at home on Sunday. Take Ottawa (8*).

West Division Game of the Year. My selection is on B.C. minus the points over Saskatchewan at 7 pm et on Saturday.

The Lions have looked like a different team since suffering a lopsided 37-18 loss in Saskatchewan back on June 28th. Since then, they've reeled off consecutive wins including a 32-14 rout of the Elks in Edmonton last week. QB Nathan Rourke has only gotten stronger since returning from injury and comes off a near perfect 26-for-30 passing performance last week. He wasn't available the last time these two teams met and can certainly be a difference-maker in this rematch. The Roughriders will have Trevor Harris back under center after he missed the last matchup between these two teams. Harris has been playing well but isn't all that difficult to prepare for as he is as one-dimensional of a quarterback as you'll find in today's CFL. At 3-3 on the season, the Lions still have their work cut out for them but are certainly trending in the right direction. Look for them to get their revenge against a Riders team that will be facing a West Division opponent on the road for the first time this season. Take B.C. (10*).

My selection is on Toronto plus the points over Montreal at 7:30 pm et on Thursday.

This will be the second matchup between these two teams this season after the Alouettes opened the season with a 28-10 rout of the Argonauts on June 6th. Note that Toronto has more than held its own against Montreal in recent years. The two teams have met in the playoffs in each of the last three years with the Argos winning two of those three contests. Meanwhile, the Als haven't delivered consecutive victories over the Argos in the regular season since 2019 and prior to that it last accomplished that feat in 2014. Here, we're not asking for an outright Toronto win but only for the Argos to keep things competitive. Note that Toronto turned the football over five times in its first two games this season including three turnovers against Montreal. Since then, it has turned it over just three times in its last three games. Montreal forced a whopping eight turnovers in its first three games, getting off to a 3-0 start. It has forced just two turnovers in its last two contests, however, both resulting in losses. Also of note, Montreal WR Tyson Philpot missed the team's most recent practice after being limited with a knee injury earlier in the week. Getting QB Davis Alexander back is obviously key but Philpot's absence would leave a void in the offense. He has already hauled in three touchdown catches this season. We'll grab all the points we can get with the underdog Argos in this divisional matchup. Take Toronto (8*).

My selection is on the 'under' between B.C. and Edmonton at 7 pm et on Sunday.

The Lions have a far better defense than they showed during their three-game losing streak that ended last week in Montreal. In that win over the Alouettes, B.C. gave up just 20 points and I expect it to build off of that performance here. Edmonton scored 39 points in a wild victory over the Redblacks last week. Keep in mind, that was just its first victory of the season. Earlier, in the Elks season-opener, they managed only 14 points in a lopsided defeat in B.C. (that game stayed 'under' the total). This is an important spot for the Elks defense as they desperately need a better showing after allowing more than 30 points in all four of their games so far this season. The good news is, the Lions offense has been sputtering, producing 21 points or fewer in four straight games. As has been the theme in the CFL so far this week, I'm not anticipating a ton of offensive fireworks in this divisional matchup. Take the under (8*).

My selection is on the 'under' between Ottawa and Hamilton at 7 pm et on Saturday.

The Tigers-Cats return home riding high off a win and cover in Toronto last week - their second straight victory after starting the season 0-2. After scoring a whopping 51 points in that win in Toronto, I can't help but feel they're in for a letdown here as they return home to face a Redblacks team that will be eager to turn things around off consecutive losses. Ottawa also thrived offensively last week, scoring 33 points in a failed comeback attempt in Edmonton. Keep in mind, prior to that, the Redblacks had scored 26, 18, 20 and 16 points in their first four contests. I don't think they'll have much interest in getting involved in another track meet on Saturday. In this tough divisional matchup, look for points to come at a premium. Take the under (8*).

East Division Game of the Month. My selection is on Ottawa plus the points over Hamilton at 7 pm et on Saturday.

The Redblacks enter this game off consecutive 'upset' losses including a 39-33 setback in Edmonton last week. While they do play this game on a short week, I like their chances of hanging tough with the division rival Tiger-Cats, who check in off a win and cover in Toronto, marking their second straight victory following an 0-2 start. Familiarity between opponents tends to lend itself to tightly-contested affairs in the CFL and this should be no exception. The Redblacks entered the campaign with fairly high expectations but have faced a difficult early schedule, leading to a 1-4 start. They have certainly been competitive on the road, where they've lost only one game by more than five points, that coming in last week's defeat against the Elks. Hamilton has produced a whopping 86 points over its last two games but I certainly don't think that type of offensive production is sustainable. Look for the Redblacks to at least take this one down to the wire. Take Ottawa (10*).

West Division Total of the Month. My selection is on the 'under' between Calgary and Saskatchewan at 9 pm et on Friday.

We've seen a scoring explosion in the CFL over the last couple of weeks but I look for a lower-scoring affair as the Stampeders and Roughriders meet for the first time this season on Friday. Calgary scored 37 points in a stunning 'upset' win over the previously undefeated Blue Bombers at home last week. Keep in mind, the Stamps are just one game removed from being held to 12 points against the Redblacks. Also of note, the Stamps have been getting the job done on the ground rather than through the air. They've completed fewer than 20 passes in all four games this season and that should make them a little easier for the Roughriders defense to gameplan for. Saskatchewan checks in off its bye week after a dominant 37-18 home win over B.C. on June 28th. The Riders offense, like the Stamps, has been better than expected this season but I do wonder whether they can keep it up. At a perfect 4-0 SU and ATS this season you have to figure a letdown is coming from Saskatchewan at some point and it will face some resistance from a Calgary defense that has allowed 20 points or less in three straight games. Take the under (10*).

My selection is on the 'under' between Ottawa and Edmonton at 7 pm et on Sunday.

This game features two of the league's worst teams so far this season and while the total indicates a potential shootout, I don't see that developing on Sunday in Edmonton. The Redblacks offense hasn't been able to find any sort of rhythm this season, producing just 18, 20 and 16 points in their first three games. This matchup may look favorable on paper as the Elks have given up 38 and 36 points in their last two games but Edmonton figures to be locked in for this one as it returns home still looking for its first victory of the season. Offensively, the Elks did score 28 points against a terrific Montreal defense two games back but most of those (22) came in the fourth quarter when the game was all but decided. The Elks best path toward a victory here is by keeping the Redblacks lukewarm offense in check rather than opening things up in a back-and-forth affair. Going back to the start of the 2022 season, only one of six matchups in this series has gone over 50 total points. Take the under (8*).

Non-Division Total of the Year. My selection is on the 'under' between B.C. and Montreal at 7 pm et on Saturday.

It's an interesting contrast as the Alouettes are considered to be one of the league's elite defensive teams yet they enter this game riding a three-game 'over' streak. I look for that to change on Saturday as they host the reeling Lions. B.C. allowed 37 points in last week's rout in Regina. They're a far better defensive team than they've shown in their two road games this season (they previously gave up 34 points in a loss in Winnipeg). The good news is, Montreal comes off its worst offensive showing of the season and could be a little tentative after turning the football over three times in last week's defeat. Keep in mind, Montreal's only previous home game this season saw it allow just 10 points in a game that reached only 38 total points. With the Lions offense sputtering having scored just 20, 14 and 18 points over their last three games, I expect Saturday's contest to take on a defensive tone. Take the under (10*).

My selection is on the 'under' between Hamilton and Toronto at 7:30 pm et on Friday.

While the CFL season is off to a high-scoring start through 4+ weeks, the Argonauts actually check in sporting a 1-3 o/u record. I think we're in for another relatively low-scoring contest featuring Toronto on Friday as it hosts provincial rival Hamilton. Neither team has gotten anything going on the ground this season. Any offensive success the Argos and Tiger-Cats have had has come through the air, and thanks to their respective defenses forcing turnovers. On a positive note, both offenses have taken care of the football lately. The Ti-Cats have turned the ball over just twice in three games while the Argos, after committing five turnovers in their first two contests, have turned it over only twice in their last two games. The pointspread indicates a tightly-contested affair and with that in mind, I don't see a shootout developing between these two teams. Take the under (8*).

My selection is on the 'under' between Winnipeg and Calgary at 9 pm et on Thursday.

The Blue Bombers have exploded out of the gates this season, reeling off three straight wins while scoring a whopping 97 points. I do think expectations should be tempered moving forward and believe Calgary is well-positioned to keep the Bombers red hot offense in check, at least to a certain extent, on Thursday night. The Stampeders come off their bye week and enter having seen their last two games stay 'under' the total. Calgary put up 38 points in an 'upset' win over Hamilton back in Week 1 but has cooled off since, scoring only 12 points in its most recent contest - a 20-12 home defeat against Ottawa two weeks ago. With an extra week to prepare for a familiar divisional opponent, I think the Stamps defense does slow Winnipeg here. However, I question whether the Stamps offense can get going again from a standing start against a Bombers defense that has been rock solid in the early going this season, giving up just 57 points through three games. The most recent meeting between these teams totalled 78 points but that was in Winnipeg. Their last three matchups here in Calgary have all totalled fewer than 50 points. Take the under (8*).

East Division Total of the Month. My selection is on the 'under' between Montreal and Hamilton at 7:30 pm et on Friday.

The Alouettes have jumped out to a 3-0 start and will play their third straight road game on Friday in Hamilton. I think we can count on some regression from the Als offense in this one after they scored 39 and 38 points in their last two games. Note that the Tiger-Cats have had an extra week to prepare for this contest thanks to an early season bye week. Hamilton is off to an 0-2 start so it will be desperately trying to turn things around here. I don't have a great deal of confidence in the Ti-Cats offense against what has been a terrific Als defense. Montreal did allow 22 points in the fourth quarter against Edmonton last week, although two touchdowns came after the game was all but out of reach. Take the under (10*).

West Division Game of the Month. My selection is on Edmonton plus the points over Winnipeg at 8:30 pm et on Thursday.

We'll grab the generous helping of points with the Elks as they look to turn things around against the undefeated Blue Bombers on Thursday. Edmonton is off to an 0-2 start but has faced a tough schedule, travelling to face B.C. in its season-opener before hosting undefeated Montreal last week. Winnipeg was expected to take a bit of a step back this season following an incredible run of dominance in the West. Instead, the Bombers are off to a perfect 2-0 start. While they're well-positioned to improve to 3-0 here, I'm not convinced we'll see them win by margin. The Elks showed plenty of fight in the second half last week against the Alouettes, scoring 22 points in the fourth quarter alone. This is a team that I still believe has a lot of upside after a strong finish last season. For the Bombers, this sets up as a letdown spot off last Saturday's lopsided victory in B.C. We'll grab the points. Take Edmonton (10*).

My selection is on the 'under' between Winnipeg and B.C. at 7 pm et on Saturday.

We saw 54 total points in this same matchup last week as the Blue Bombers offense thrived in a blowout win over the Lions. B.C. will be forced to hand the keys to the offense over to QB Jeremiah Masoli after Nathan Rourke suffered an injury. I fully expect the Lions to scale back their offensive playbook as a result and perhaps lean on their defense to keep this game competitive on Saturday. Having seen the Bombers offense led by Chris Streveler just last week, the Lions will need to make defensive adjustments here. Whether it is enough to secure a bounce-back win remains to be seen, but I do think we'll see a lower-scoring affair than we witnessed last week. Take the under (8*).

My selection is on the 'under' between Ottawa and Calgary at 4 pm et on Saturday.

These two teams are headed in opposite directions right now with the Redblacks sitting at 0-2 and the Stampeders at 2-0. Optimism was running high in Ottawa ahead of the 2025 campaign with QB Dru Brown set to lead the offense to new heights. So far, not so good as Brown is hurt (Dustin Crum will start on Saturday) and the offense could muster only 18 points in last week's blowout loss to Montreal in its home opener. Calgary was projected by most to pull up the rear in the CFL and while that could still turn out to be the case, there's no denying the Stampeders have looked good on both sides of the football through two weeks of the season. Calgary went on the road and held the defending champion Argonauts to just 19 points in last week's victory. That performance looks even better after Toronto put up 32 points in last night's narrow defeat against Saskatchewan. The last meeting between these teams produced 60 points last August but I expect nothing of the sort on Saturday at McMahon Stadium. Take the under (8*).

My selection is on Toronto plus the points over Saskatchewan at 7:30 pm et on Friday.

The Roughriders will try to improve to 3-0 on the season as they head to Toronto to take on the winless Argonauts on Friday. I like Toronto's chances of avoiding an 0-3 hole as it stays home for a second straight week. Winning consecutive games on the road in the CFL isn't easy, especially for what I consider to be a middle-of-the-pack Roughriders squad playing on a short week (off a win in Hamilton on Saturday). Toronto did show some positive signs offensively in last week's loss to Calgary. The defense is sure to enter this game with a chip on its shoulder against revenge-minded Saskatchewan RB and former Argos teammate Ka'Deem Carey. He felt he was wrongly cut by the team in the offseason and has been vocal about it leading up to this game. I look for the Argos defense to come up with a statement performance here as they bounce back before a long week ahead of next Sunday's stop in Ottawa. Take Toronto (8*).

My selection is on Edmonton plus the points over Montreal at 9 pm et on Thursday.

We'll grab the points with the Elks as they look to bounce back from a season-opening loss in B.C. Edmonton is coming off its bye week, obviously not an ideal point of the season to get a week off but perhaps it helped work out some kinks from that setback in Week 1. Keep in mind, the Elks were in control of that season-opener in B.C. until the Lions took over in the second half. Montreal delivered its second straight SU and ATS victory to open the campaign, rolling to a 39-18 win in Ottawa last week. I expect the Alouettes to have a tough time matching the Elks intensity level here as Edmonton knows that it needs a victory to avoid a possible 0-3 start with a difficult trip to Winnipeg on deck next week. These two teams met twice last season with both of those games being decided by four points or less and neither team scoring more than 23 points in either contest. Expect a similar 'down-to-the-wire' affair on Thursday. Take Edmonton (8*).

My selection is on Ottawa plus the points over Montreal at 7:30 pm et on Friday.

These two teams are headed in opposite directions out of the gate this season as the Alouettes rolled to a 28-10 home win over the Argonauts last week while the Redblacks dropped a hard-fought 31-26 decision against the Roughriders in Saskatchewan. Ottawa entered the campaign with high hopes after sneaking into the postseason last year. There's reason to believe the Redblacks can be a thorn in the side of upper-echelon teams like the Als and this is an early opportunity to make a statement at home. Note that Montreal benefited from three Toronto turnovers in last week's rout. The Redblacks didn't turn the football over once in their narrow defeat in Regina. In what projects as a relatively low-scoring divisional affair (the total sits in the mid-40's), we'll grab all the points we can get with Ottawa at home on Friday. Take Ottawa (8*).

My selection is on Winnipeg plus the points over B.C. at 8:30 pm et on Thursday.

Following five straight Grey Cup appearances, most are anticipating a fall-off from the Blue Bombers this season. Meanwhile, the Lions are expected to win the West Division and supported that notion with a win-and-cover thanks to a second half explosion against the Elks last week (we won with the Lions in that game). I think the case can be made that the wrong team is being favored as the Bombers open their 2025 campaign at home on Thursday, however. The Elks had the Lions back on their heels in B.C.'s home opener last week but simply couldn't capitalize and create enough distance on the scoreboard. In the second half, the Lions talent gap simply won out. I don't believe there's as much of a talent gap in play in this particular matchup and look for Winnipeg to get off to a strong start in front of its home fans. Take Winnipeg (8*).

My selection is on B.C. minus the points over Edmonton at 10 pm et on Saturday.

The Lions welcomed back QB Nathan Rourke with open arms following his stint in the NFL last year. He wasn't able to successfully re-acclimate himself to the Canadian game but I expect that to change following a full training camp this year. In limited preseason looks, Rourke completed all nine of his pass attempts for just shy of 100 yards. I get the feeling facing CFL defenses could be like 'child's play' for Rourke in the early going this year. The Elks bring some hope into the new campaign after finishing with a 7-4 record over their last 11 games last year. They won't have the same element of surprise this season, however, and I look for the Lions to come storming out of the gates at home here in Week 1. Take B.C. (8*).

My selection is on the 'under' between Toronto and Montreal at 7:30 pm et on Friday.

We saw a high-scoring affair between the RedBlacks and Roughriders to open the 2025 CFL season last night and while that result has no bearing on the outcome of Friday's matchup, I do expect a different story to unfold in Montreal. The Alouettes remain loaded defensively and job number one will be taking down the defending Grey Cup champion Argonauts at home on Friday night. Toronto lost a number of key pieces from the defense that led it to last year's championship. With that being said, the cupboard is by no means bare and I'm not quite as sold on the Als offense as some. Montreal moved on from veteran QB Cody Fajardo in the offseason, handing over the reins to Davis Alexander. I do expect some growing pains from the Montreal offense in the early going this season. Meanwhile, the Argos will need to tread water until QB Chad Kelly can return. Count on them to do all they can to grind it out on offense and stage an 'upset' victory here in Week 1. Take the under (8*).

CFL Playoff Game of the Year. My selection is on Saskatchewan plus the points over Winnipeg at 6:30 PM ET on Saturday.

While Winnipeg enters as the higher seed with an 11-7 record, Saskatchewan has proven to be a tough, battle-tested team throughout the season, and they’ve shown the ability to rise to the occasion in big games. The Roughriders are a team built for playoff football—physical on both sides of the ball, and with a defense that can disrupt even the most potent offenses. They’ve had a knack for keeping games close, even against teams as talented as Winnipeg. While the Blue Bombers have been strong all year, particularly with their explosive offense and veteran leadership, Saskatchewan’s ability to play gritty, disciplined football in high-pressure situations should allow them to keep this game within reach.

Winnipeg has been dominant at times this season, but they've also shown vulnerabilities, particularly when facing pressure. Saskatchewan's defense, led by a strong front seven, can get after Winnipeg’s quarterback, and their secondary has been opportunistic at forcing turnovers. Offensively, the Roughriders have a solid mix of run and pass plays that can exploit any weaknesses in the Winnipeg defense. Given the magnitude of the game, expect a close, hard-fought battle with Saskatchewan making it tough for the Blue Bombers to pull away. Take Saskatchewan (10*).

Total of the Month. My selection is on the 'under' between Winnipeg and Hamilton at 7 pm et on Friday.

Winnipeg exploded for 55 points in last week's rout of the Elks at home. I expect it to find the going much tougher as it hits the road to face an upstart Tiger-Cats team on Friday in Hamilton. While the Ti-Cats are coming off a high-scoring game of their own, it's worth noting that 32-29 win in B.C. was boosted by nine overtime points. Credit Hamilton's defense for standing up once again, limiting the Lions to just 26 points in regulation time and only two offensive touchdowns. The Ti-Cats are three points clear of the Stampeders for the eighth and final playoff spot but they need to keep pushing over the course of their final three regular season games. Winnipeg continues to play well defensively, even if that side of the football was overshadowed by its offensive prowess last week. The Blue Bombers have allowed just 21, 14 and 27 points over their last three games and have yielded 23 or fewer points on five different occasions over the course of their current seven-game winning streak. The last time these two teams met back on August 23rd they combined to score 49 points and that game featured just three offensive touchdowns. Take the under (10*).

Total of the Week. My selection is on the 'under' between Hamilton and B.C. at 10:30 pm et on Friday.

We'll fade the Tiger-Cats offense as they head west to face the Lions in Vancouver on Friday. Hamilton has put up 30+ points in three straight games - all victories - and is fresh off an upset win in Toronto last Friday. While the Ti-Cats offensive surge has been impressive, I think it grinds to a halt here as B.C. comes off its bye week, which came on the heels of an ugly 33-17 home loss against the Argos. The first meeting between these two teams this season saw a whopping 72 points scored as the Lions rolled to a 44-28 victory. That came at a time when the Ti-Cats defense was non-existent. I'm anticipating a more tightly-contested affair in the rematch and believe this total has been set too high. Take the under (10*).

East Division Total of the Year. My selection is on the 'under' between Hamilton and Toronto at 7 pm et on Friday.

These two rivals last met in their annual Labor Day showdown on September 2nd and the result was higher-scoring than expected with the Tiger-Cats springing a 31-28 upset win in Hamilton. I look for a much different story to unfold in Friday's rematch in Toronto.

Both the Ti-Cats and the Argonauts turned in terrific defensive efforts last week. Toronto held B.C. to just 17 points in a much-needed road win while Hamilton gave up 21 points against Ottawa but 15 of those came after the game was well in hand, leading 29-6 in the fourth quarter. In fact, the Ti-Cats held the RedBlacks out of the end zone until the fourth quarter in that contest.

We've seen Hamilton play a much more cohesive brand of defensive football since getting its doors blown off in an embarrassing 47-22 home oss to Edmonton back on August 17th.

I expect a similar turnaround from the Argos defense moving forward, noting that just two weeks ago they gave up 41 points in an ugly defeat in Ottawa.

While the two offenses have been performing well, the defenses know what to expect given the history between these two teams, not to mention the fact that they just matched up a few weeks ago. There's added importance at this point of the season as well as the Argos look to move up in the East Division standings and the Ti-Cats fight to earn the final playoff spot. That lends itself to a tightly-contested affair. Take the under (10*).

Non-Division Total of the Month. My selection is on the 'under' between Toronto and B.C. at 10 pm et on Friday.

The first meeting between these two teams this season produced 62 total points. Both teams had different starting quarterbacks than we'll see in the rematch on Friday. That prevoius matchup also saw a whopping 30 points scored in a wild second quarter - the likes of which we aren't likely to see again on Friday.

With quarterbacks Chad Kelly of the Argos and Nathan Rourke of the Lions settling in and slinging it all over the field over the last couple of games, most bettors will likely be taking a long, hard look at the 'over' in this one. I'm not so easily convinced. I think we'll see a scenario play out where both teams march up and down the field but fail to cash in more often than not.

Toronto has fallen to 6-6 on the season thanks to consecutive losses. In those two games it allowed a whopping 72 points. Needless to say the focus will be on cleaning things up defensively on Friday. Meanwhile, B.C. has climbed above the .500 mark thanks to back-to-back wins over the RedBlacks and Alouettes. The Lions defense fuelled those two victories, giving up a grand total of 35 points and three touchdowns. B.C. has allowed more than 20 points just once in five home games this season and that came in a 24-21 win over Edmonton back in June that stayed 'under' the total. Take the under (10*).

West Division Total of the Year. My selection is on the 'under' between Edmonton and Calgary at 6 pm et on Monday.

When we last saw the Stampeders they suffered a wild 31-29 home loss against the RedBlacks back on August 15th. I expect them to regroup defensively in this game having had well over two weeks to prepare for the rival Elks.

Note that this total has gotten a bump thanks to the news that Elks QB Tre Ford will dress as the backup on Monday. McLeod Bethel-Thompson gets the start but we'll see how long he remains in the game. Regardless, the Stamps are familiar with what Ford can do and I don't expect them to get blindsided. He'll undoubtedly see game action on Monday.

Despite the high-scoring affair against Ottawa, there was a stretch where Calgary didn't find the end zone from just over three minutes remaining in the first quarter until a little over 10 minutes were left in the game. It's been that type of season for the Stamps offense, riddled with inconsistency.

Edmonton has quietly been one of the league's best defensive teams lately, holding three straight opponents to 22 points or less. Take the under (10*).

My selection is on the 'under' between Ottawa and B.C. at 7 pm et on Saturday.

These two teams were involved in a high-scoring affair last week as Ottawa rallied for a 34-27 victory. I look for a different story to unfold in Victoria on Saturday as B.C. looks to snap its five-game skid and that should come by tightening things up on defense.

The Lions offense has looked out of sync lately and you can be sure Ottawa isn't going to simply roll over on Saturday. I do think the RedBlacks recent offensive production (30+ points in consecutive games) is unsustainable, however. Take the under (8*).

CFL Total of the Week. My selection is on the 'under' between Edmonton and Montreal at 7 pm et on Sunday.

The Alouettes are an elite defensive team. They've yet to give up more than 26 points in a game on their way to a 9-1 record so far this season.

While Edmonton did put up 47 points in last week's rout of the Tiger-Cats that had more to do with a weak Hamilton defense than anything else. The Elks are expected to be without dual-threat QB Tre Ford again this week, meaning McLeod Bethel-Thompson will once again be under center. Even in last week's offensive explosion, Bethel-Thompson completed just 15 passes for 234 yards. Given how turnover-prone MBT has been, combined with the difficulty of this matchup, I would anticipate Edmonton scaling back the offensive playbook a little in this one.

The Elks have quietly turned things around defensively during their three-game winning streak. This isn't a bad matchup for them, noting that they did hold the Alouettes to just 23 points in a home defeat back in Week 2. Take the under (10*).

My selection is on B.C. over Ottawa at 7 pm et on Saturday.

The Lions are inexplicably coming off four straight losses having scored a grand total of just 27 points over their last three games. They welcomed quarterback Nathan Rourke back to the fold after his NFL career failed to pan out and as expected, he was rusty in last week's game against Winnipeg. I do think this Lions will return to being dynamic with Rourke under center - he's proven he can dominate at the CFL level before. We did see flashes of that dual-threat ability from Rourke last week as while his timing was off throwing the football, he did run it four times for just shy of 30 yards.

Ottawa has been living a rather charmed life. After getting rescued by the officials in a stunning tie against Saskatchewan two weeks ago, it won on a last-second field goal in Calgary last week. I'm not convinced the RedBlacks are as good as their 6-2-1 record indicates, however. The schedule is about to get a whole lot tougher, starting with this home-and-home series against the Lions. Look for B.C. to prevail on Saturday. Take B.C. (8*).

My selection is on Hamilton plus the points over Winnipeg at 8:30 pm et on Friday.

Outside of the Montreal Alouettes there really aren't any truly elite teams in the CFL this season. To see the 4-6 Blue Bombers laying double-digits against anyone is a little perplexing.

Yes, the Tiger-Cats are down-trodden and arguably the league's biggest disappointment so far this season. With that being said, they've only lost three games by double-digits this season (including last week against Edmonton) and on the two previous occasions they bounced back with strong efforts in their next contest (two-point loss in Ottawa and three-point win at home against Toronto).

Winnipeg checks in off consecutive wins - the first time it has notched back-to-back victories all season. Both wins came against a slumping Lions squad. With a home-and-home rivalry series against Saskatchewan on deck, it might be a little difficult for the Bombers to take the lowly Ti-Cats seriously in this game. We'll grab all the points we can get. Take Hamilton (8*).

CFL Game of the Month. My selection is on Saskatchewan plus the points over Toronto at 7:30 pm et on Thursday.

The Roughriders let the defending champion Alouettes off the hook last week, it really is as simple as that. They settled for too many field goal attempts (that kicker Brett Lauther inexplicably missed) and ultimately lost by the narrowest of margins. Here, I look for Saskatchewan to bounce back as it heads on the road to face what has been an up-and-down Argos squad this season.

In a swirl of controversy, Toronto has brought QB Chad Kelly back into the fold. It remains to be seen whether he'll be fully acclimated with the offense having not played for so long. I like the opportunistic nature of the Riders defense and think they can take advantage of a potentially rusty Kelly on Thursday night.

Saskatchewan checks into this game having gone 0-3-1 over its last four contests but remains atop the West Division standings. The Riders have a massive opportunity in front of them with this game followed by the Labor Day Weekend Classic at home against the Blue Bombers next week. I look for Corey Mace's squad to turn the tide on Thursday in Toronto. Take Saskatchewan (10*).

My selection is on the 'under' between Ottawa and Calgary at 9 pm et on Thursday.

Ottawa's game against Saskatchewan last Thursday had no business approaching the total but ended up barely staying 'under' thanks to double-overtime (and four OT scores). While the RedBlacks will welcome Jeremiah Masoli back from a long-term injury, he won't have the team's most explosive receiver in Kalil Pimpleton (out with a hand injury). I think we'll see the RedBlacks ease Masoli back into the fold against a Calgary squad that is sure to be in a foul mood following last week's 39-25 loss in Toronto.

The Stampeders offense has been good but only in short bursts this season. Last week, Calgary went scoreless for the entire third quarter and couldn't accomplish anything after an early fourth quarter score had given it the lead. Two games back the Stamps didn't reach the end zone until the fourth quarter at home against the same Argos (they did rally to win that game on 21 unanswered fourth quarter points.). Of note, Calgary's defense has performed considerably better at home compared to on the road this season, allowing 24 points or less in all four previous contests at McMahon Stadium. Take the under (8*).

Non-Division Total of the Month. My selection is on the 'under' between Saskatchewan and Ottawa at 7:30 pm et on Thursday.

This is an extremely tough spot for the banged-up Roughriders as they look to rebound following a double-digit home loss against the then-winless Elks last week. The RedBlacks have the rest advantage as they come off their bye week. I fully expect to see the Riders do all they can to 'ugly it up' on Thursday in Ottawa.

Saskatchewan's defense was putrid against Tre Ford and the Elks offense last week. It will face a much different challenge against less of a dual-threat passer in Dru Brown of the RedBlacks. Ottawa is off to a 5-2 start and while its offense has been good, it has been fuelled by its defense more recently, allowing just 20 points over its last two contests.

While the Riders did score 31 points against Edmonton, 14 of those came off a game-opening kickoff return for a touchdown and a meaningless score on the last play of the game. Opposing defenses seem to have the book on backup Riders QB Shea Patterson at this point. He'll get at least one more start before veteran Trevor Harris returns. Take the under (10*).

West Division Game of the Month. My selection is on Edmonton plus the points over Saskatchewan at 7 pm et on Saturday.

Maybe I should have given up on the Elks long ago but I still feel they do have some redeeming qualities, even at 0-7 on the season.

This is undoubtedly a game Edmonton has had circled on its calendar since dropping its season-opener 29-21 at home against Saskatchewan. Keep in mind, the Elks led that game 18-8 entering the fourth quarter before the Roughriders rallied around QB Trevor Harris. Harris isn't in the picture now as he remains sidelined due to injury.

The Riders are 5-2 on the season - one of the league's surprise teams in the early going. With that being said, their two losses have come in their last three games. They've been held to 20 points or fewer in three straight contests, perhaps opening the door for the Elks to finally steal their first victory of the campaign on Saturday. Take Edmonton (10*).

Total of the Month. My selection is on the 'over' between B.C. and Winnipeg at 8:30 pm et on Thursday.

This game means a lot to the Blue Bombers as it kicks off a home-and-home set against the West Division-leading Lions - a two-game stretch that could bring Winnipeg back within striking distance at the top of the division, believe it or not, if it were to win both games. I do think the Blue Bombers are a much better offensive team than they've shown - we've certainly seen positive flashes from this offense. The Lions, while an elite team, have proven to be anything but invincible defensively.

Note that the Lions have given up more than 20 points in five of seven games so far this season.

We know that B.C. is a handful on offense and it enters this game rested and ready coming off its bye week. The Lions can beat you in so many ways offensively and this year's Blue Bombers squad simply isn't the same dominant defensive bunch that we've seen in years' past.

Winnipeg checks in having allowed 27, 26, 16 and 37 points in its four home games this season, including a 26-24 loss to these same Lions back on June 21st.

We've certainly seen our share of low-scoring games in CFL action in recent weeks. Teams have been marching up and down the field but have either been turning the football over or settling for field goals more often than not. I do think we see that trend begin to reverse this week. This is a contest where we can anticipate terrific quarterback play with Vernon Adams of the Lions and Zach Collaros of the Blue Bombers. Look for their supporting casts to step up in this matchup as well. Take the over (10*).

Non-Division Game of the Week. My selection is on Calgary minus the points over Ottawa at 7:30 pm et on Friday.

The RedBlacks are what I consider to be a 'paper tiger' as we wind down the month of July. Ottawa is off to a 4-2 start and sits just two points behind the first-place Alouettes in the East Division. With that being said, the RedBlacks four victories have come against the Blue Bombers, Tiger-Cats and Elks (two wins). By most metrics, those are the league's three worst teams so far this season. Also keep in mind, after scoring a touchdown less than four minutes into their game against the lowly Elks last week, they never reached the end zone again the rest of the way, narrowly hanging on for a 20-14 win (they beat the Elks by a field goal the week previous).

It's a much different story for the Stampeders. They've battle hard on their way to a 3-3 record with all three of their losses coming by single-digit margins. Last Sunday they hung on for an impressive 25-24 win over the first-place Lions.

While I've been among Calgary QB Jake Maier's critics at times, there's no denying he's playing the best football of his CFL career right now. On Sunday he took on a fierce B.C. defense and threw for over 300 yards and three touchdowns (perhaps more importantly no interceptions). Calgary is a well-coached team with a number of players that are really starting to round into form. I'm sure they see this as a tremendous opportunity to get over the hump and keep within striking distance of the Lions and Roughriders at the top of the West Division. Take Calgary (10*).

Total of the Year. My selection is on the 'under' between Saskatchewan and Montreal at 7:30 pm et on Thursday.

The Roughriders long 'over' streak came to an end last week as they secured a 19-9 win at home against the Blue Bombers. I look for another relatively low-scoring affair as Saskatchewan heads to Montreal to challenge the Alouettes on a short week on Thursday.

Montreal is coming off its bye week which came on the heels of a blowout home loss against the Argos. The Als not only lost that game but also lost QB Cody Fajardo to a hamstring injury. He isn't expected to play on Thursday. Caleb Evans is expected to start in his place. With Evans running the offense, I expect to see a scaled-back version of the Als playbook. Note that in his CFL career, Evans has thrown 15 touchdowns compared to 22 interceptions. There's little reason to anticipate Montreal having Evans drop back and let it fly too much in this game (especially given what a running threat he is).

Riders QB Shea Patterson has performed admirably in place of Trevor Harris. He won't have a couple of key weapons this week, however, with RB A.J. Ouellette and WR Kian Schaffer-Baker sidelined due to injury. Saskatchewan is likely to scale back its offense against a ball-hawking Montreal defense in this difficult road test.

Finally, we'll note that these are the two best defenses in the CFL as far as fewest points allowed this season goes. Take the under (10*).

My selection is on Calgary plus the points over B.C. at 7 pm et on Sunday.

The Stampeders have been right there over their last two games - two difficult tests on the road against Montreal and Winnipeg - but fell just short on both occasions. Unlike in their contest against the Alouettes, the Stamps didn't fold in the second half last week against Winnipeg, ultimately dropping a 41-37 decision. Those two games can serve as building blocks for 2-3 Calgary as it returns home to host B.C. in a revenge game on Sunday.

The Lions prevailed by a score of 26-17 at home against the Stamps earlier this season. That game certainly could have gone either way and the Lions only earned the cover thanks to a late field goal. B.C. enters this game on the heels of five straight wins but I suspect it will be in tough trying for a sixth in Calgary on Sunday. Take Calgary (8*).

My selection is on Hamilton plus the points over Toronto at 7 pm et on Saturday.

The Tiger-Cats are desperately searching for their first win of the season and if they want to get it on Saturday, they'll have to defeat the rival Argonauts at Tim Hortons Field. I like their chances of staging the upset.

Toronto is riding high off an upset win of its own last week as it downed the Alouettes in a blowout in Montreal. Of course, the Argos benefited from the Als losing QB Cody Fajardo to injury early in that contest. At 3-2 on the season, Toronto hasn't been the juggernaut we saw last year, when it lost just two games all season. The jury is still out on first-year QB Cameron Judge, who has gotten off to an up-and-down start to his CFL career.

Off a bye week, at home (following a blowout loss to the Lions on this same field), there's no better spot for the Ti-Cats to finally earn their first victory. We'll grab the points, but likely won't need them on Saturday. Take Hamilton (8*).

Game of the Week. My selection is on Edmonton plus the points over Ottawa at 7 pm et on Friday.

The spot doesn't get much stronger for the winless (0-5) Elks on Friday as they get a quick revenge opportunity after letting one get away against these same RedBlacks last Sunday. The big news out of Edmonton on Monday was the firing of head coach and general manager Chris Jones. Consider it addition by subtraction as Jones' days in Edmonton were numbered and the move likely came a week or two too late.

I do think the Elks get an immediate lift from interim head coach Jarious Jackson. A former quarterback in the league, Jackson will bring accountability back to the team - something that had been sorely missing under Jones.

The fact is, Edmonton has been right there in the majority of its five losses this season. Keep in mind, as bad as the Elks defense has been from a statistical standpoint, it is just one game removed from holding the mighty Lions offense to only 24 points in a three-point loss, on the road no less.

Ottawa is off to a 3-2 start but talent-wise, I consider the RedBlacks to be one of the league's weaker teams. They gave the Blue Bombers their first victory of the season two weeks ago and I believe they're in for a similar fate here against the desperate Elks. Credit Ottawa for rallying for the victory in Edmonton last weekend but I expect it to fall short on Friday. Take Edmonton (10*).

My selection is on Saskatchewan plus the points over B.C. at 7 pm et on Saturday.

The Roughriders will have a significant rest advantage entering Saturday's showdown with the Lions in Vancouver. Saskatchewan hasn't played since securing a 30-23 win over Toronto last Thursday while B.C. defeated Hamilton on the road this past Sunday.

The Riders have arguably been the story of the league so far this season, jumping out to a perfect 4-0 start under the guidance of first-year head coach Corey Mase. I don't think their success is any fluke and this will serve as an excellent measuring stick game against what many to believe the league's best team in the Lions.

B.C. has played two previous home games and both were close. It won by nine points at home against Calgary in Week 2 but that was a game that went right down to the wire as the Lions scored 12 unanswered points late to prevail. In their other home affair, the Lions eked out a three-point victory over the lowly Edmonton Elks.

While the Riders will once again be without QB Trevor Harris, backup Shea Patterson stepped up and did an admirable job last week and should be able to build on that performance here. Look for Saskatchewan to open up the playbook a little more this week even if RB A.J. Ouellette remains the focal point of the offense. Take Saskatchewan (8*).

West Division Game of the Year. My selection is on Winnipeg minus the points over Calgary at 8:30 pm et on Friday.

Calgary left it all on the field but ultimately came up just short in its upset bid in Montreal last Saturday. I say the Stampeders left it all on the field but the fact was they didn't really show up in the second half, letting the discombobulated Alouettes off the hook. While Calgary sits in third place in the five-team West Division, two spots ahead of the Blue Bombers, I expect it to have its hands full with revenge-minded Winnipeg on Friday.

The Bombers continue to deal with a rash of injuries on the offensive side of the football but they have to feel pretty good about themselves after finally earning a victory last week against Ottawa. We wanted to see a response from Winnipeg in that game and we got it as it delivered a 25-16 home victory. Now it gets the chance to stay home and start building some positive momentum with this matchup against Calgary.

Talent-wise, you could make the argument that the Stamps are in the league's bottom-tier. Yes, they're 2-2 on the campaign but there have been issues. Namely their run defense and their unsteady quarterback play out of Jake Maier. They can be exposed in both departments by a Bombers squad that is showing signs of coming together. Just two weeks ago, Winnipeg went into Calgary and dropped a 22-19 overtime decision. Revenge is an angle that works well in the nine-team CFL, particularly from a divisional perspective (just look at the Argos upset win over the Als last night). Take Winnipeg (10*).

East Division Game of the Month. My selection is on Toronto plus the points over Montreal at 7:30 pm et on Thursday.

Maybe we're getting baited with this line now that it has moved past a touchdown to +7.5 but I'm willing to risk 'taking the bait' as I simply feel the Argos are catching too many points in this double-revenge spot.

Not only did Toronto lose to Montreal just two weeks ago, it also dropped the East Final against the Alouettes at the tail-end at what had been a dream season to that point last November. The Argos enter this contest on the heels of back-to-back losses after losing only two games in the entire regular season last year.

I'm not going to knock Toronto for last week's 'upset' loss in Saskatchewan. Riders head coach Corey Mase knows the Argos in and out after serving as their defensive coordinator. He completely eliminated the Argos aerial attack with rookie QB Cameron Dukes turning in his worst performance of the season (four interceptions and barely over 200 yards passing). A bounce-back should be in order here and it's worth noting that the Als are expected to be without the heart-and-soul of their defense in Marc-Antoine Dequoy (he's listed as doubtful due to injury).

Montreal was let off the hook by Calgary last Saturday, surging to its fifth straight win to open the campaign. Toronto is not Calgary and isn't likely to fold in the same way the Stamps did last week. Expect a tightly-contested affair between these division rivals. Take Toronto (10*).

My selection is on Hamilton plus the points over B.C. at 7 pm et on Sunday.

While these two teams boast very different records the fact is there's been quite a bit of parity in the CFL this season, with few blowouts and most games going right down to the wire. Hamilton is desperately seeking its first victory of the season and while B.C. certainly offers a difficult challenge, I expect the Ti-Cats to rise to the occasion.

The Lions are off to a 3-1 start but none of those wins have come easy. Their biggest margin of victory was nine points against Calgary in Week 2 and they needed to score 12 unanswered points in the later stages of the second half to secure that win. We haven't seen the B.C. offense get rolling the way it did last season.

On the flip side, Hamilton's offense has shown considerable improvement with veteran QB Bo Levi Mitchell at the helm. He's enjoying a renaissance season with his new team even if the Ti-Cats don't have the wins to show for it. A big reason for that is Hamilton's terrific offensive line, which rated out as one of the best units in the league entering the campaign.

The Ti-Cats are expected to have RB James Butler back on the field for this week's game after he was forced to miss last Sunday's last-second loss in Ottawa. WR Tim White is coming off his best game of the season, hauling in eight catches for 118 yards and a touchdown.

Note that these two teams split a pair of matchups last season with Hamilton winning in blowout fashion in Vancouver and the Lions prevailing by just three points here at Tim Hortons Field. Take Hamilton (8*).

My selection is on Calgary plus the points over Montreal at 7 pm et on Saturday.

The Alouettes are one of only two remaining undefeated CFL teams, sitting at 4-0 following last week's impressive 30-20 win in Toronto. While Saturday's home date with the Stampeders looks like another layup at first glance, I'm expecting Calgary to put up a fight, just as it has in all three previous games this season.

The Stampeders are somewhat surprisingly off to a 2-1 start this season. Their only failed pointspread cover came by a hair in a nine-point loss on the road against B.C. (the Lions scored nine unanswered points in the fourth quarter including a field goal with 30 seconds remaining). Keep in mind, in that loss in Vancouver, the Stamps still would have stayed inside the spread we're working with on Saturday.

For Montreal, you could certainly envision a letdown here after consecutive wins over the division-rival RedBlacks and Argos.

Based on what the players and coaches are saying, Calgary is clearly treating this game as a 'no one believes in us' situation and that can often work out well for an underdog (at least from an ATS perspective). Take Calgary (8*).

Non-Division Game of the Year. My selection is on Winnipeg minus the points over Ottawa at 8:30 pm et on Friday.

The West Division is quickly getting away from the Blue Bombers as they're off to an 0-4 start with the Lions and Roughriders sitting at 3-1 and 3-0, respectively. This isn't a must-win game for Winnipeg, but it's as close as it gets.

Ottawa is 2-1 but could just as easily be 1-2 as it came away victorious thanks to a last-second field goal against Hamilton last weekend. The one time we saw the RedBlacks hit the road this season they were blasted 47-21 in Montreal.

This is actually a rematch of a Week 2 matchup between these two teams that saw Ottawa prevail by a 23-19 score at home.

Bombers QB Zach Collaros is questionable to play on Thursday but this one should be all about RB Brady Oliveira - one of the CFL's best players - after he missed that first matchup with Ottawa this season. I like Winnipeg's chances of finally getting into the win column. Take Winnipeg (10*).

Total of the Month. My selection is on the 'under' between Hamilton and Saskatchewan at 7 pm et on Sunday.

These two teams just matched up last week in Hamilton and the result was a wild 33-30 Roughriders come-from-behind victory. I'm anticipating a much lower-scoring affair this time around as the scene shifts to Regina for the Riders home opener.

Saskatchewan's main focus in this game will undoubtedly be on slowing Ti-Cats quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell who has turned back the clock for two straight incredible performances out of the gate this season. Last week, Mitchell threw for 380 yards and three touchdowns against the Riders. I'm confident we'll see 2-0 Saskatchewan make the necessary adjustments here and ultimately slow Mitchell and the Hamilton offense, which was not thought to be one of the league's better units prior to the start of the season (and still won't be in my opinion).

The pointspread does dictate another tightly-contested affair between these two teams and I believe it as Hamilton is desperate to pick up its first victory of the campaign. The Ti-Cats can play some defense, as they showed in the earlier stages of last week's game (before that fourth quarter collapse). Playing from behind for much of their first two games the Riders have had to open things up offensively but I think they prefer to play a more methodical style led by veteran QB Trevor Harris. This total has quite simply been set too high based on last week's result. Take the under (10*).