CFL Betting Notes – Week 9
VegasInsider Staff Sports Betting Expert
For the second week in a row in the CFL, the favorites went 3-1 straight-up. However, they were an even 2-2 against the spread. Toronto pulled off the lone SU upset on Thursday night with a thrilling 42-41 victory at home against Ottawa as a 6 ½-point underdog. Later on Thursday night, Edmonton got past Saskatchewan 26-19 to barely cover the 6 ½ points at home.
On Friday night, Hamilton crushed Montreal 50-11 as a seven-point favorite on the road. Calgary remained perfect on the year with Saturday’ 27-18 victory against British Columbia, but it failed to cover as a heavy 12 ½-point favorite at home.
Thursday, Aug. 9
Edmonton Eskimos (5-2 SU, 3-4 ATS) at British Columbia Lions (2-4 SU, 4-2 ATS)
Point-spread: Edmonton -3 ½
Total: 54
Game Overview
Edmonton has won its last two games both SU and ATS with much better consistency on each side of the ball. You know that things are going well when Mike Reilly completes just 48.1 percent of his 27 passing attempts for 257 yards and the Eskimos still win. With that performance last week, he has now thrown for a CFL-high 2,320 yards and 14 touchdowns in his first seven games. CJ Gable is third in the league in rushing yards with 481 on 94 attempts.
The Lions became the first team this season to lose to Calgary by fewer than 10 points. They have now covered in their last three games while closing as underdogs in all three contests. Travis Lulay is firmly back in place as BC’s starting quarterback despite the losing record. He has put the ball up 112 times with 72 completions for 932 yards and four touchdown throws against two interceptions.Betting Trends
-- The Eskimos are 7-1 SU in the last eight meetings and they have gone 5-1 ATS in their last six games in this West Division matchup. The total has gone OVER in six of the last nine meetings.
Friday, Aug. 10
Hamilton Tiger-Cats (3-4 SU, 3-4 ATS) at Winnipeg Blue Bombers (4-3 SU, 5-2 ATS)
Point-spread: Winnipeg -4
Total: 57
Game Overview
The Tiger-Cats snapped a SU three-game losing streak while closing as favorites in convincing fashion. Granted they were playing Montreal, but there was some solid balance on offense with 250 yards passing and 169 yards on the ground. Credit Hamilton’s defense for making Johnny Manziel’s CFL debut at quarterback utterly forgettable. This unit picked him off four times while limiting the Alouettes to 107 yards through the air.
Winnipeg went into last week’s bye with three victories (SU and ATS) in its previous four games. This includes a sweep against Toronto in a home-and-home series. Matt Nichols has completed 63.1 percent of his 111 passing attempts for 873 yards and five touchdowns in his first four starts at quarterback. Running back Andrew Harris leads the CFL in rushing with 638 yards and five scores on 105 attempts.
Betting Trends
-- Hamilton has an 8-4 edge ATS in the last 12 meetings in this inter-division tilt and it is 10-4 SU in its last 14 games against Winnipeg. The total has stayed UNDER in each of the last five meetings.
Saturday. Aug. 11
Montreal Alouettes (1-6 SU, 2-5 ATS) at Ottawa RedBlacks (4-3 SU, 3-4 ATS)
Point-spread: Ottawa -13.5
Total: 50
Game Overview
Things cannot get much worse for Montreal in its dismal one-win effort through its first seven games. Manziel was less than impressive in his CFL debut, but things should start to slow down a bit this week against an Ottawa defense that is suddenly suspect coming off last week’s fourth-quarter collapse against Toronto. The one positive takeaway for the Alouettes was the 176 yards it gained on the ground in last week’s lopsided loss.
Ottawa blew a 24-point lead in the third quarter of last Thursday’s loss to the Argonauts. Quarterback Trevor Harris did his part with 381 yards passing and two touchdown throws behind a completion rate of 77.1 percent on 35 passing attempts. Running back William Powell was held to 35 yards rushing on 14 carries in that game. However, he is still ranked second in rushing overall in the CFL with 504 yards on 106 attempts.
Betting Trends
-- Ottawa has won its last five games against Montreal both SU and ATS with the total staying UNDER the closing betting line in all five matchups.
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