CFL Betting Notes – Week 2
VegasInsider Staff Sports Betting Expert
The CFL kicked off its regular season last week with the favorites going 3-1 straight-up (2-2 against the spread) and the total staying UNDER in three of the four games. Edmonton got things started with a tight 33-30 victory against Winnipeg on Thursday night, but the Eskimos could not cover as seven-point road favorites.
On Friday night, Saskatchewan defeated the reining Grey Cup Champion Toronto Argonauts 27-19 to easily cover as 2 ½-point underdogs at home.
Saturday’s CFL action started with Calgary rallying to a 28-14 victory over Hamilton as a 7 ½-point home favorite. Later that night, British Columbia posted a 22-10 victory against Montreal as an 8 ½-point favorite at home.
Thursday, June 21
Saskatchewan Roughriders (1-0 SU, 1-0 ATS) at Ottawa RedBlacks (0-0 SU, 0-0 ATS)
Point-spread: Ottawa -3
Total: 51
Game Overview
Saskatchewan will be looking to take down its second-straight opponent from the East coming off last week’s win. Zach Collaros made a successful debut as the Roughriders’ new starting quarterback with 203 yards passing and one touchdown throw, while completing 72 percent of his 25 passing attempts. Jerome Messam was another big offseason addition at running back and he added 72 yards rushing on 21 carries in Friday’s victory.
Credit Saskatchewan’s defense for holding Ricky Ray to just 232 yards through the air and Toronto’s ground game to 54 total yards.
The RedBlacks come off that Week 1 bye fresh and ready to go. They lost to Saskatchewan 31-20 as 2 ½-point home favorites in the opening round of last season’s CFL playoffs with the Roughriders coming over from the West as a crossover team.
Heading into this season, Ottawa has Trevor Harris back as its starting quarterback after missing time in 2017 due to injury. Its offensive line was also banged up heading down the stretch last year. Harris proved he could move the ball down the field through the air with 4,679 yards passing in 15 games.
Betting Trends
-- The road team has won the last four meetings both SU and ATS with the total going OVER in four of the last six matchups in this inter-division clash.
Friday, June 22
Winnipeg Blue Bombers (0-1 SU, 1-0 ATS) at Montreal Alouettes (0-1 SU, 0-1 ATS)
Point-spread: Winnipeg -2
Total: 46 ½
Game Overview
The Blue Bombers turned to Chris Streveler as their starting quarterback for the injured Matt Nichols and he ended the game against Edmonton with three scoring strikes to keep things interesting for all four quarters.
He ended the game with 178 yards passing on 15 completions. Weston Dressler was his top target with four catches for 74 yards and a score and Andrew Harris racked-up 77 yards on 14 rushing attempts.Montreal had the fewest straight-up victories of any CFL team last season (three) and its opening-day effort against BC could point towards another long campaign in 2018.
The Alouettes scored all 10 of their points in the opening quarter before their offense ground to a halt. Drew Willy got the start at quarterback and he ended the night with 281 yards passing, but just one touchdown pass against one interception.
Betting Trends
-- Winnipeg has covered in six of its last seven road games against the Alouettes with the total going OVER in the last five meetings in Montreal.
Hamilton Tiger-Cats (0-1 SU, 0-1 ATS) at Edmonton Eskimos (1-0 SU, 0-1 ATS)
Point-spread: Edmonton -6 ½
Total: 55
Game Overview
CFL fans waiting for the debut of Johnny Manziel as the Tiger-Cats newest quarterback will have to wait a bit longer after starter Jeremiah Masoli put on an aerial show that included 200 yards passing in the first two quarters of last week’s opener. He ended the game with 344 total yards passing, while completing 25 of his 36 attempts, but he did not find the end zone through the air. The Tiger-Cats only gained 56 yards on the ground on 12 rushing attempts.
Edmonton had its hands full with Winnipeg in Week 1 with the only difference in the final score being a field goal as time expired. Mike Reilly led the CFL in both passing yards and touchdown throws last season and he started the 2018 season with 408 yards and one score through the air. He was also the team’s leading rusher last Thursday night with 43 yards and two touchdowns on 11 carries. Derel Walker hauled in eight receptions for 176 yards as one of eight different players to catch a ball from Reilly in that game.
Betting Trends
-- Hamilton is a perfect 5-0 ATS in its last five road games against the Eskimos and the total has gone OVER in five of the last six games of this inter-division tilt played in Edmonton.
Saturday, June 23
Calgary Stampeders (1-0 SU, 1-0 ATS) at Toronto Argonauts (0-1 SU, 0-1 ATS)
Point-spread: Calgary -3 ½
Total: 52 ½
Game Overview
Calgary needed all four quarters to get past Hamilton last Saturday in a game that was closer than the final score might indicate. Bo Levi Mitchell threw for 297 total yards with 200 coming in the first half. It was the Stampeders’ ground game that helped generate 19 points in the fourth quarter. Don Jackson and Terry Williams rushed for a combined 117 yards and a score on 18 rushing attempts overall. Calgary did get a solid effort from its defense when it needed it the most.
The Argonauts scored a grand total of five points in the first three quarters of last week’s loss before posting 14 points in the fourth quarter to keep things interesting. Ricky Ray did not have his best night throwing the ball against Saskatchewan, especially in the first half when Toronto was held to 71 yards through the air. He ended the game with 232 yards passing with no touchdown throws against one interception.
Betting Trends
-- Calgary has gone 5-1 ATS in the last six meetings overall and it is also 5-1 ATS in its last six road games against Toronto. The total has stayed UNDER in five of the last seven meetings.
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