CFL betting trends, odds and predictions for Week 1 from various handicappers and websites
CFL Future Best Bets
By Sportsbook.ag
Now that the NHL and NBA playoffs have concluded, and the MLB season is entering the dog days of summer, many bettors are shifting their focus to the upcoming football season. 99% of that is NFL based, but for those up in Canada (or fans of the CFL anywhere), they'll be quick to tell you that the 2017 CFL season gets going in a week and it can be great for those who want to scratch that itch of watching/betting on football games.
Last year it was the underdog story of the Ottawa Redblacks who came away with a Grey Cup victory in an all-time classic championship game with Calgary, but the defending champs from Canada's capital lost their starting QB Henry Burris to retirement and have turned things over to the very capable Trevor Harris.
Currently it's those Calgary Stampeders who are favorites to claim the title this year (+325) and that shouldn't be too surprising given the core of their roster is back and they were nearly double-digit favorites in that Grey Cup vs. Ottawa.
But will the Stampeders get redemption this year, or should bettors set their sites on other squads that could very well make a run just like the Ottawa Redblacks did in 2016?
CFL Grey Cup Odds
BC Lions (+500) – The Lions come in right behind Calgary as the favorites to go all the way in 2017 and rightfully so. BC made it to the Western Final last year against those Stampeders, but a 1st half blitz by Calgary turned that game into a blowout rather quickly. There is no chance that BC has forgotten about how their 2016 season ended, and with all their key contributors suiting up in the orange and black this year, we could see 2017 turn out to be a year of redemption for this team out West. Things won't be easy for them as they've still got to find a way to get through Calgary, and the two teams behind them in the odds for the Grey Cup – Edmonton (+550) and Saskatchewan (+600) – are in the West as well.
Yet, what may be interesting to note here is the fact that the last three Grey Cup champions all lost in the Grey Cup or Conference Final the year before – typically in blowout fashion – and that's a scenario the Lions fit exactly in 2017. Come playoff time in November, you can expect the Lions to be making a lot of noise.
Montreal Alouettes (+750) – Unlike BC, Montreal did not have much success a year ago, but they were still a win away from getting into the playoffs where anything can happen. It's been a few down years in a row for the Alouettes as they've transitioned to the post-Anthony Calvillo era, but they hope to rectify that in 2017.
Montreal made the biggest move of the off-season when they acquired former Saskatchewan QB Darian Durant from the Roughriders, hoping that Durant can stay healthy and recapture his past glory. Durant and Calvillo were epic rivals in 2009-10 when Saskatchewan and Montreal met in consecutive Grey Cups against one another. Calvillo and Montreal came out on top in both instances, but now with Calvillo on the sidelines as an Alouettes coach and Durant on the field, those two great QB minds are working together to turn this thing around in Montreal.
In general, the East is going to be the weaker of the two divisions this year and that is good news for Montreal. They've still got a deep stable of talented receivers Durant can use at his disposal, and after consecutive years of battling one another for a championship, you know Calvillo and Durant are excited to work together towards that same goal. East teams aren't getting that much respect to begin the year, but as we saw with Ottawa in 2016, anything can happen in a one-game playoff contest and 2017 could very well be the Alouettes time to re-assert themselves as the best organization in the league.
CFL Betting Notes - Week 1
By David Schwab
VegasInsider.com
Football is back ‘north of the border’ with the start of the 2017 CFL regular season. Week 1 is highlighted by a rematch of last season’s Grey Cup title game between the Calgary Stampeders, out of the West Division and the East’s Ottawa RedBlacks. Calgary cruised through the regular season right to the title game, but the Stampeders were stunned by Ottawa in overtime 39-33 as 9½-point favorites.
CFL futures are backing Calgary again as a 13/4 favorite to win the 2017 Grey Cup followed by British Columbia at 4/1 and the Edmonton Eskimos as 9/2 third favorites. It is time to get things started with the following Week 1 matchups (all records listed are from the 2016 regular season).
Thursday, June 22
Saskatchewan Roughriders (5-13, 9-9 ATS) vs. Montreal Alouettes (7-11 SU, 9-9 ATS)
Point-spread: Montreal -6
Total: 50½
Game Overview
It was a rough year for Saskatchewan in 2016, but it did show some positive signs for the future with a four-game winning streak towards the end of the season both straight-up and against the spread. Veteran CFL quarterback Kevin Glenn joined the Roughriders this past offseason and if he can remain healthy for an entire 18-game schedule they should be able to improve on a very disappointing five-win season. Defense could still be an issue after allowing an average of 29.4 points per game in 2016.
The outlook for Montreal is also trending up after missing the playoffs last season in the East Division. The Alouettes did take some steps to build on a defense that allowed an average of 23 PPG, which was ranked second only to Calgary. The biggest change for this season is at the quarterback position with another CFL veteran switching uniforms. Darian Durant will take over as the team’s starter with Vernon Adams Jr. waiting in the wings. The addition of Earnest Jackson along with last season’s leading receiver Nik Lewis gives Durant some solid options in the passing game.
Betting Trends
Montreal has a 8-2 edge ATS in the last 10 meetings and the total has stayed UNDER in 16 of its last 21 home games against Saskatchewan.
Friday, June 23
Calgary Stampeders (15-2-1 SU, 13-5 ATS) vs. Ottawa RedBlacks (8-9-1 SU, 7-11 ATS)
Point-spread: Calgary -2½
Total: 55
Game Overview
Calgary remains loaded on both sides of the ball heading into this Grey Cup rematch and it is probably chomping at the bit to avenge that loss after clearly establishing itself as the best team in the league. Bo Levi Mitchell is back under center after leading the CFL in touchdown throws in 2016 with 32 against just eight interceptions. Also returning are most of his top weapons in receivers DaVaris Daniels, Marquay McDaniel and Kamar Jordan while Jerome Messam is back to anchor the ground game.
The RedBlacks won the CFL title in 2016 with losing record in the regular season and their futures odds to repeat at 8/1 suggest a step backwards this year. Trevor Harris is firmly established as Ottawa’s starting quarterback and getting this team off to a fast start with another upset against Calgary could rest squarely on his ability to put some points on the board early and often.
Betting Trends
Calgary has covered ATS in five of its last seven games against Ottawa and the total has gone OVER or ended as a PUSH in the last five meetings.
Saturday, June 24
Edmonton Eskimos (10-8 SU, 9-9 ATS) vs. British Columbia Lions (12-6 SU, 13-5 ATS)
Point-spread: BC -2½
Total: 58
Game Overview
Edmonton was a crossover team in the playoffs last season and after getting past Hamilton in the East Semifinal it came up short against Ottawa in the East Division Final. Mike Reilly is back at quarterback after leading the league in total passing yards with 5,554. He was second on the list in touchdown throws with 28. Adarius Bowman still figures to be one of his top targets in the passing game, but age becomes a concern at 32-years old. The loss of wide receiver Derel Walker could be an even bigger concern for the Eskimos.
BC made it all the way to the West Finals as the second-best team in that division and it should be right in the mix again this season with quarterback Jonathon Jennings leading the way. The one concern with him is turnovers after throwing a league-high 15 interceptions to go along with his 27 touchdown throws last year. The big plus for the Lions this season is the addition of Chris Williams, who was with Ottawa last season.
Betting Trends
BC has covered the spread in five of its last six home games against Edmonton and it holds a 4-1 edge ATS in the last five meetings overall. The total stayed UNDER in both meetings last season.
Sunday, June 25
Hamilton Tiger-Cats (7-11 SU, 6-12 ATS) vs. Toronto Argonauts (5-13 SU, 5-13)
Point-spread: Hamilton -4
Total: 53
Game Overview
Hamilton had won six previous matchups against its bitter division rivals (both SU and ATS) until suffering a 33-21 loss last season in early September as a 6 ½-point road favorite. The Tiger-Cats will look to a healthy Zach Collaros to avenge that loss and get this season off to a strong start. If Collaros can stay off the injured list in 2017, this team has the talent to win the East, but given his recent history that could be a big if. Jeremiah Masoli has already proved that he can also run this offense after throwing for 2,695 yards and 15 touchdowns in 2016.
The Argonauts slipped to last place in the East and the chances of turning things around are not all that promising with the longest odds on the board to win a CFL title at 15/1. Ricky Ray is another veteran quarterback that needs to prove that he can stay on the field, but Toronto’s lack of quality receivers could be an even bigger concern for this offense. The Argonauts could also take their lumps on the other side of the ball with a defense that dead last in the league in 2016 when it came to total points allowed (568).
Betting Trends
Hamilton has gone 6-1 ATS in its last seven road games against Toronto and the total has gone OVER or ended as a PUSH in four of the last five meetings overall.
CFL Season Betting Preview
Covers.com
Calgary's offense, led by quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell, led the CFL with 586 points scored in 2016.
The 2017 CFL season is nearly upon us, and bettors come in with plenty of questions. Can the Ottawa Redblacks repeat as CFL champions following last year's thrilling Grey Cup finish? Can the Calgary Stampeders overcome the sting of a crushing defeat in last year's title game? Can the Toronto Argonauts defy the odds and win their 17th Grey Cup title?
Here's a look at all nine teams heading into this week's season openers, along with their odds of winning the CFL championship.
Calgary Stampeders (+275)
The Stampeders remain the team to beat in the CFL's West Division, returning the majority of a roster that ploughed through the regular-season en route to a league-best 15-2-1 record and a 13-5 mark against the spread. While the offense - led by All-Star quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell - was the focal point (league-best 586 points scored), the Calgary defense was just as elite, surrendering a CFL-low 369 points - 85 fewer than the next closest teams. Barring a collapse, Calgary should have little trouble rolling through the division and once again contending for a spot in the Grey Cup.
BC Lions (+500)
The Lions underwent a significant defensive overhaul in the offseason despite boasting one of the league's best units in 2016. Yet, while there are undoubtedly upgrades at every key defensive position, the loss of linebacker Adam Bighill to the NFL's New Orleans Saints looms large, as no other player on the roster is considered a strong replacement on the weak side. The Lions posted a 13-5 ATS mark in 2016, along with a 9-9-0 O/U record; with the defense in flux heading into the season, bettors shouldn't be surprised to see more of an Over lean in the Lions' 2017 O/U ledger.
Edmonton Eskimos (+550)
Second-year head coach Jason Maas can't stop talking about how deep this team is - he says he "slept like a baby" after the final cutdown day, having struggled with who to release right up to the final hour. The largest area of optimism appears to be focused on the defensive line, which surrendered 155 more points while recording eight fewer interceptions and 15 fewer sacks in 2016 than it did the year before. Edmonton finished 9-9-0 ATS and 10-8-0 O/U last season, and will be looking to eliminate the sour taste of a double-digit loss to Ottawa in last year's East final.
Hamilton Tiger-Cats (+700)
Every team in the East Division showed some flaws in 2016 - yes, even the Grey Cup-champion Redblacks. For the Tiger-Cats, it was a porous defense that was one of only three units in the entire league to surrender more than 500 points in the regular season. Quarterback Zach Collaros is the focal point of the offense, but has yet to play an entire CFL season; on defense, John Chick is coming off a sensational 14-sack campaign but is 34 entering the season. The TiCats went just 6-12 ATS last season while boasting an 8-9-1 O/U mark; if Collaros can't stay healthy, it could be another dismal season in Hamilton.
Winnipeg Blue Bombers (+700)
This is absolutely a "show-me" season for the Blue Bombers, who captured their first playoff berth in six years last season thanks to an 11-7 record and a defense that allowed the third-fewest points in the CFL. Winnipeg had a largely uneventful offseason, opting to add depth pieces to both the offense and defense rather than making a splash as it had done in 2016. The Blue Bombers, who went 10-8 SU and 10-7-1 O/U in 2016, have worse odds than two teams that finished behind them last season, but ended 2016 with wins in 10 of their final 13 regular-season games before losing a one-point heartbreaker to BC in the division semifinal.
Saskatchewan Roughriders (+700)
It was a particularly bad time to be the worst team in the West, as the Roughriders were the only unit in the division to finish below .500; not surprisingly, a 1-9 mark against other West teams was Saskatchewan's biggest downfall. This season has already started on a dour note, with former NFL quarterback and marquee offseason addition Vince Young having been released after suffering a torn hamstring earlier this month. It's a significant blow to a team that needs to find an offensive spark after finishing with a league-low 350 points in 2016. Saskatchewan went 9-9 ATS and 8-10 O/U last season.
Ottawa Redblacks (+750)
Talk about not having love for the defending champions - or perhaps, oddsmakers realize just how improbable the Redblacks' run to the title actually was. Ottawa was the best of a very bad bunch of East teams, winning the division despite finishing below .500 and then catching a little magic en route to the first Grey Cup championship in franchise history. And then there's the schedule, which has led some to wonder if the Redblacks made enemies of the CFL schedule maker; they'll open with back-to-back games against Calgary, play three games in a 10-day span in mid-July - two away from Ottawa - and don't have a bye until Week 18.
Montreal Alouettes (+800)
The Alouettes are one of the more intriguing teams heading into the season, primarily due to their unsettled quarterback situation. Darian Durant is the starting signal caller for now, but Montreal has reportedly been kicking the tires on former NFL quarterback Josh Freeman. Regardless of who takes the snaps for the Als, the focus will be on improving a lackluster offense that produced just 383 points in 2016. Montreal went 9-9 ATS and 7-10-1 O/U last season; a better showing at quarterback might turn some of those Unders into Overs this season, provided the defense is as stout as it was a season ago.
Toronto Argonauts (+1,200)
Last season was monumentally disappointing for the Argos, who tied Saskatchewan for the worst record in the league while allowing the most points (568) and scoring the second-fewest (383). Mark Trestman was brought in to help turn around the moribund team, and his impact will almost certainly be felt primarily on the offensive side of the ball. Quarterback Ricky Ray is 37 and played just nine games last season, but is one of the league's top QBs when healthy - and could face significant competition from backup Drew Willy. Still, the Argos won't improve upon last year's 5-13-0 ATS mark if they can't stop opposing teams from scoring.
CFL Betting Notes - Week 1
By David Schwab
VegasInsider.com
Football is back ‘north of the border’ with the start of the 2017 CFL regular season. Week 1 is highlighted by a rematch of last season’s Grey Cup title game between the Calgary Stampeders, out of the West Division and the East’s Ottawa RedBlacks. Calgary cruised through the regular season right to the title game, but the Stampeders were stunned by Ottawa in overtime 39-33 as 9½-point favorites.
CFL futures are backing Calgary again as a 13/4 favorite to win the 2017 Grey Cup followed by British Columbia at 4/1 and the Edmonton Eskimos as 9/2 third favorites. It is time to get things started with the following Week 1 matchups (all records listed are from the 2016 regular season).
Thursday, June 22
Saskatchewan Roughriders (5-13, 9-9 ATS) vs. Montreal Alouettes (7-11 SU, 9-9 ATS)
Point-spread: Montreal -6
Total: 50½
Game Overview
It was a rough year for Saskatchewan in 2016, but it did show some positive signs for the future with a four-game winning streak towards the end of the season both straight-up and against the spread. Veteran CFL quarterback Kevin Glenn joined the Roughriders this past offseason and if he can remain healthy for an entire 18-game schedule they should be able to improve on a very disappointing five-win season. Defense could still be an issue after allowing an average of 29.4 points per game in 2016.
The outlook for Montreal is also trending up after missing the playoffs last season in the East Division. The Alouettes did take some steps to build on a defense that allowed an average of 23 PPG, which was ranked second only to Calgary. The biggest change for this season is at the quarterback position with another CFL veteran switching uniforms. Darian Durant will take over as the team’s starter with Vernon Adams Jr. waiting in the wings. The addition of Earnest Jackson along with last season’s leading receiver Nik Lewis gives Durant some solid options in the passing game.
Betting Trends
Montreal has a 8-2 edge ATS in the last 10 meetings and the total has stayed UNDER in 16 of its last 21 home games against Saskatchewan.
Friday, June 23
Calgary Stampeders (15-2-1 SU, 13-5 ATS) vs. Ottawa RedBlacks (8-9-1 SU, 7-11 ATS)
Point-spread: Calgary -2½
Total: 55
Game Overview
Calgary remains loaded on both sides of the ball heading into this Grey Cup rematch and it is probably chomping at the bit to avenge that loss after clearly establishing itself as the best team in the league. Bo Levi Mitchell is back under center after leading the CFL in touchdown throws in 2016 with 32 against just eight interceptions. Also returning are most of his top weapons in receivers DaVaris Daniels, Marquay McDaniel and Kamar Jordan while Jerome Messam is back to anchor the ground game.
The RedBlacks won the CFL title in 2016 with losing record in the regular season and their futures odds to repeat at 8/1 suggest a step backwards this year. Trevor Harris is firmly established as Ottawa’s starting quarterback and getting this team off to a fast start with another upset against Calgary could rest squarely on his ability to put some points on the board early and often.
Betting Trends
Calgary has covered ATS in five of its last seven games against Ottawa and the total has gone OVER or ended as a PUSH in the last five meetings.
Saturday, June 24
Edmonton Eskimos (10-8 SU, 9-9 ATS) vs. British Columbia Lions (12-6 SU, 13-5 ATS)
Point-spread: BC -2½
Total: 58
Game Overview
Edmonton was a crossover team in the playoffs last season and after getting past Hamilton in the East Semifinal it came up short against Ottawa in the East Division Final. Mike Reilly is back at quarterback after leading the league in total passing yards with 5,554. He was second on the list in touchdown throws with 28. Adarius Bowman still figures to be one of his top targets in the passing game, but age becomes a concern at 32-years old. The loss of wide receiver Derel Walker could be an even bigger concern for the Eskimos.
BC made it all the way to the West Finals as the second-best team in that division and it should be right in the mix again this season with quarterback Jonathon Jennings leading the way. The one concern with him is turnovers after throwing a league-high 15 interceptions to go along with his 27 touchdown throws last year. The big plus for the Lions this season is the addition of Chris Williams, who was with Ottawa last season.
Betting Trends
BC has covered the spread in five of its last six home games against Edmonton and it holds a 4-1 edge ATS in the last five meetings overall. The total stayed UNDER in both meetings last season.
Sunday, June 25
Hamilton Tiger-Cats (7-11 SU, 6-12 ATS) vs. Toronto Argonauts (5-13 SU, 5-13)
Point-spread: Hamilton -4
Total: 53
Game Overview
Hamilton had won six previous matchups against its bitter division rivals (both SU and ATS) until suffering a 33-21 loss last season in early September as a 6 ½-point road favorite. The Tiger-Cats will look to a healthy Zach Collaros to avenge that loss and get this season off to a strong start. If Collaros can stay off the injured list in 2017, this team has the talent to win the East, but given his recent history that could be a big if. Jeremiah Masoli has already proved that he can also run this offense after throwing for 2,695 yards and 15 touchdowns in 2016.
The Argonauts slipped to last place in the East and the chances of turning things around are not all that promising with the longest odds on the board to win a CFL title at 15/1. Ricky Ray is another veteran quarterback that needs to prove that he can stay on the field, but Toronto’s lack of quality receivers could be an even bigger concern for this offense. The Argonauts could also take their lumps on the other side of the ball with a defense that dead last in the league in 2016 when it came to total points allowed (568).
Betting Trends
Hamilton has gone 6-1 ATS in its last seven road games against Toronto and the total has gone OVER or ended as a PUSH in four of the last five meetings overall.
SASKATCHEWAN (5 - 13) at MONTREAL (7 - 11) - 6/22/2017, 7:30 PM
Top Trends for this game.
SASKATCHEWAN is 78-54 ATS (+18.6 Units) as an underdog of 3.5 to 9.5 points since 1996.
SASKATCHEWAN is 127-93 ATS (+24.7 Units) as an underdog since 1996.
Head-to-Head Series History
MONTREAL is 2-2 against the spread versus SASKATCHEWAN over the last 3 seasons
MONTREAL is 2-2 straight up against SASKATCHEWAN over the last 3 seasons
2 of 4 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons
CALGARY (16 - 3 - 1) at OTTAWA (10 - 9 - 1) - 6/23/2017, 7:30 PM
Top Trends for this game.
OTTAWA is 22-10 ATS (+11.0 Units) in games where the line is +3 to -3 since 1996.
OTTAWA is 16-6 ATS (+9.4 Units) as an underdog over the last 3 seasons.
CALGARY is 13-5 ATS (+7.5 Units) in games played on turf over the last 2 seasons.
Head-to-Head Series History
CALGARY is 3-2 against the spread versus OTTAWA over the last 3 seasons
OTTAWA is 2-2 straight up against CALGARY over the last 3 seasons
5 of 5 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons
EDMONTON (11 - 9) at BRITISH COLUMBIA (13 - 7) - 6/24/2017, 10:00 PM
There are no Top Trends with records of significance that apply to this game.
Head-to-Head Series History
BRITISH COLUMBIA is 4-1 against the spread versus EDMONTON over the last 3 seasons
EDMONTON is 3-2 straight up against BRITISH COLUMBIA over the last 3 seasons
3 of 5 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons
HAMILTON (7 - 12) at TORONTO (5 - 13) - 6/25/2017, 4:00 PM
Top Trends for this game.
TORONTO is 5-13 ATS (-9.3 Units) in all games over the last 2 seasons.
TORONTO is 5-13 ATS (-9.3 Units) in all lined games over the last 2 seasons.
TORONTO is 3-13 ATS (-11.3 Units) in home games over the last 3 seasons.
TORONTO is 3-13 ATS (-11.3 Units) in home lined games over the last 3 seasons.
TORONTO is 19-37 ATS (-21.7 Units) in a home game where the total is greater than or equal to 52 since 1996.
Head-to-Head Series History
HAMILTON is 6-1 against the spread versus TORONTO over the last 3 seasons
HAMILTON is 6-1 straight up against TORONTO over the last 3 seasons
4 of 7 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons
SASKATCHEWAN vs. MONTREAL
Saskatchewan is 6-17 SU in its last 23 games
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Saskatchewan's last 6 games on the road
Montreal is 3-9 ATS in its last 12 games at home
The total has gone UNDER in 15 of Montreal's last 17 games when playing at home against Saskatchewan
CALGARY vs. OTTAWA
Calgary is 6-2 SU in its last 8 games on the road
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Calgary's last 5 games when playing Ottawa
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Ottawa's last 6 games when playing at home against Calgary
Ottawa5-1-1 SU in its last 7 games when playing at home against Calgary
EDMONTON vs. BRITISH COLUMBIA
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Edmonton's last 6 games when playing on the road against British Columbia
Edmonton is 1-5 SU in its last 6 games when playing on the road against British Columbia
The total has gone OVER in 5 of British Columbia's last 6 games at home
British Columbia is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games
HAMILTON vs. TORONTO
Hamilton is 1-6 SU in its last 7 games
Hamilton is 1-5 ATS in its last 6 games on the road
Toronto is 0-5 ATS in its last 5 games
Toronto is 1-5 ATS in its last 6 games at home
SASKATCHEWAN @ MONTREAL
The total has gone UNDER in 16 of Saskatchewan's last 19 games when playing on the road against Montreal
Saskatchewan is 4-1 ATS in its last 5 games on the road
Montreal is 6-1 ATS in its last 7 games
The total has gone UNDER in 16 of Montreal's last 19 games when playing at home against Saskatchewan
CALGARY @ OTTAWA
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Calgary's last 5 games when playing Ottawa
Calgary is 15-2 SU in its last 17 games
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Ottawa's last 5 games at home
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Ottawa's last 5 games when playing Calgary
EDMONTON @ BRITISH COLUMBIA
Edmonton is 6-2 SU in its last 8 games
Edmonton is 5-2 SU in its last 7 games when playing British Columbia
British Columbia is 5-1 ATS in its last 6 games when playing at home against Edmonton
British Columbia is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games when playing at home against Edmonton
HAMILTON @ TORONTO
Hamilton is 8-1 ATS in its last 9 games when playing Toronto
Hamilton is 6-1 ATS in its last 7 games when playing on the road against Toronto
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Toronto's last 6 games when playing at home against Hamilton
The total has gone OVER in 4 of Toronto's last 5 games when playing Hamilton
CFL Betting Preview: Eskimos at Lions
Covers.com
Edmonton Eskimos at BC Lions (-3.5, 60)
The BC Lions look to build on a promising 2016 campaign when they open the new season at home against the Edmonton Eskimos on Saturday. The Lions won 12 regular-season games under coach Wally Buono and notched a playoff victory for the first time since 2011 after going a combined 16-20 over the previous two years, and hope to take another step forward by beating the Eskimos for the third consecutive time in Vancouver.
"Winning is critical early in the season," Buono told reporters. "If you want to be a contender then you have to play and act like a contender." Edmonton's top brass decided to shake things up after a disappointing fourth-place finish in the West Division. The Eskimos, who won the Grey Cup in 2015, sneaked into playoffs via to the crossover rule, and general manager Ed Hervey paid the price with his job in the offseason, but Edmonton returns a core group of veterans who are hungry to keep pace with Calgary and BC in the West. "I definitely think we're a better team," Edmonton quarterback Mike Reilly told reporters. "We're a little more experienced than we were last year and our news guys have done a great job of competing and picking up the systems very quickly."
LINE HISTORY: The hometown Lions opened as 3-point favourites and that number was bet up mid-week as high as 4.5 Thursday evening since the number has faded down to 3.5. the total hit the betting board at 57.5 and has been bet up 2.5 points to an even 60. Check out the complete line history here.
ABOUT THE ESKIMOS (2016: 11-9 SU, 9-10-1 ATS, 11-9 O/U): Reilly enjoyed a banner year as he led the league in passing yards (5,554) and total touchdowns (37), but will have to make do without explosive playmaker Derel Walker, who joined the Tampa Bay Buccaneers after catching 198 passes for 2,699 yards and 16 touchdowns over the past two seasons. Edmonton must also absorb the loss of special teams ace turned star linebacker Deon Lacey, who signed a futures contract with the Miami Dolphins after recording 103 tackles and three interceptions in 2016. Cory Greenwood was brought in from the Toronto Argonauts during free agency to replace Lacey but tore his ACL on the second day of training camp and will miss the 2017 season.
ABOUT THE LIONS (2016: 13-7 SU, 13-7 ATS, 11-9 O/U): Rookie linebacker Micah Awe looks to fill the void left by Adam Bighill, who signed a three-year futures contract with the New Orleans Saints, after recording 109 tackles with BC in 2016. Jason Arakgi, who is the CFL's all-time leader in special teams tackles, surprised many in the organization by abruptly announcing his retirement following the 42-10 preseason victory against the Saskatchewan Roughriders on June 16. Jonathon Jennings seems poised to join the CFL elite at quarterback after throwing for 5,226 yards and 27 touchdowns last season but will have to wait to connect with marquee free agent signing Chris Williams, who is not fully recovered from a torn ACL suffered at the tail end of last year.
TRENDS DATING BACK TO 2016:
* Lions are 7-1 ATS in their last 8 Saturday games.
* Over is 5-1 in Lions last 6 home games.
* Over is 5-1 in Lions last 6 games as a home favorite.
* Eskimos are 1-4 ATS in their last 5 meetings.
* Eskimos are 1-5 ATS in their last 6 meetings in BC.
CONSENSUS: The home chalk Lions are getting 62 percent of the action from and the UNDER is getting 55 percent of the totals wagers.
EXTRA POINTS:
1. The last five meetings have been decided by seven points or fewer.
2. The Lions led the CFL in rushing yards (2,082) and rushing touchdowns (23) in 2016.
3. Edmonton WR Adarius Bowman topped the league in receptions (120) and receiving yards (1,761) last season.
CFL Betting Preview: Tiger-Cats at Argonauts
Covers.com
Hamilton Tiger-Cats at Toronto Argonauts (+3.5, 56)
The Toronto Argonauts host the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in the season opener for both teams Sunday. The new-look Argonauts overhauled their management team by bringing in general manager Jim Popp and former Chicago Bears coach Marc Trestman, and the duo who led the Montreal Alouettes to back-to-back Grey Cups in 2009-10 hope to work their magic in Toronto, which missed the playoffs in two of the previous three seasons.
"The only thing I know for sure is that we have a bunch of guys who really love football and who have really worked hard," Trestman told reporters. "That's the platform we're going to work off as we head into the season." The Tiger-Cats look to rebound from a disappointing season by their lofty standards as they finished with a losing record for the first time since going 6-12 in 2012. Hamilton lost six of its last seven games in 2016, including a 24-21 home setback to the Edmonton Eskimos in the East Division Final and hope a healthy Zach Collaros, who missed eight games with injuries in 2016, can lead the Tiger-Cats back to the Grey Cup after back-to-back appearances in 2013-14. "I'm very grateful for the position I'm in and I try to live up to the expectations I set for myself every day," Collaros told reporters. "It's something to keep working at and all that matters is who's holding the trophy at the end of the year."
LINE HISTORY: The Tiger-Cats opened as 3.5-point road chalk and as of Saturday night it hasn’t moved off the opening number. The total hit the betting board at 54 and has been bet up two full points to 56.
ABOUT THE TIGER-CATS (2016: 7-12 SU, 6-12-1 ATS, 8-10-1 O/U): Collaros hasn't been able to shake the injury bug as he's missed at least five games in each of the past three seasons and Jeremiah Masoli will be ready to deputize for the former University of Cincinnati quarterback after throwing for 2,695 yards and 15 touchdowns in Collaros' absence last year. Andy Fantuz was named the East Division's Most Outstanding Canadian after catching 101 passes for 1,059 yards and five touchdowns but will begin the season in a front-office role after tearing his ACL in the penultimate game of the 2016 regular season. Hamilton shored up its secondary by snapping up free agent Abdul Kanneh and re-signing all-star Emanuel Davis, but both players are doubtful for the season opener.
ABOUT THE ARGONAUTS (2016: 5-13 SU, 5-13 ATS, 8-8-2 O/U): Toronto added receivers S.J. Green, Jeff Fuller and Armanti Edwards in an effort to kickstart the passing attack, which ranked second-last at 260.9 yards per game in 2016. Quarterback Drew Willy, who was traded to Winnipeg for all-star T.J. Health and a first round pick midway during the season, was unceremoniously released while veteran offensive lineman Greg Van Roten left the team to try his luck with the Jacksonville Jaguars in the NFL. Toronto snapped up all-star linebacker Bear Woods, who was surprisingly released by the Alouettes after recording 126 tackles last year, and hopes his presence can solidify a defence which gave up a league-worst 31.6 points per game last season.
TRENDS DATING BACK TO 2016:
* Argonauts are 1-11 ATS in their last 12 games overall.
* Argonauts are 0-6 ATS in their last 6 games as an underdog.
* Tiger-Cats are 8-1 ATS in their last 9 meetings.
* Tiger-Cats are 6-1 ATS in their last 7 meetings in Toronto.
* Over is 4-1-1 in the last 6 meetings in Toronto.
CONSENSUS: The road chalk Tiger-Cats are getting 57 percent of the action from users and the OVER is getting 51 percent of the totals wagers. View full consensus data for this matchup here.
EXTRA POINTS:
1. The Tiger-Cats have won five of the last six regular-season meetings with the Argonauts.
2. Toronto QB Ricky Ray has missed 24 games over the last two seasons.
3. Hamilton has dropped 11 of its last 12 season openers.