3DownNation CFL picks: can Rick Campbell exact revenge against Redblacks?

The CFL is back for Week 4, albeit one day late due to the postponement of Thursday’s game between the Edmonton Elks and Toronto Argonauts.

This week’s slate of games features a number of questions surrounding the health of the winless Ticats, how Rick Campbell will fare in his return to Ottawa, and whether or not Andrew Harris will make his 2021 debut after suffering an injury in training camp.

Without further ado, here are the picks from our contributors.

Friday, August 27 at 5:30 p.m. ET
Hamilton Tiger-Cats at Montreal Alouettes
Betting Line: Ticats -5

The Ticats are the league’s only remaining winless team, which is shocking considering how many pundits chose them to win the Grey Cup. Dane Evans is making his first start of the season, while the Als will look to capitalize on their home-opener following a 1-1 start in Alberta.

DUNK: Remember when the Als lost to a rookie QB making his first career start? TICATS

HODGE: Hamilton is just too banged up. ALS

ABBOTT: The Ticats’ offensive line is still a mess and I don’t think going to a less mobile quarterback helps that situation. ALS

BALLANTINE: Hamilton is coming off a bye week and Montreal showed last week you can rattle them. TICATS

FILOSO: Montreal simply looks like the better team. ALS

GASSON: Could be a dandy. The Ticats will improve, but the Als are healthier along the O-line. ALS

HUDSON: Watching Adams is fun when he’s on his game but Hamilton is coming out of a bye week, which is big advantage for a good coaching staff. TICATS

LUDWIG: Hamilton is even more banged up, on top of their struggles. I don’t trust Montreal but there’s no trusting Hamilton at the moment. ALS

MCGUIRE: Montreal is too good to disappoint their fans two weeks in a row. ALS

SMITH: You win in the trenches and the Ticats are thin on both sides. ALS

TICATS — 3
ALS — 7

Saturday, August 28 at 7:00 p.m. ET
B.C. Lions at Ottawa Redblacks
Betting Line: Lions -5

Rick Campbell returns to Ottawa for the first time since he and the club parted ways following their miserable 2019 season. Michael Reilly is looking to bounce-back from a poor performance in a Week 3 loss to Edmonton, while Matt Nichols and the Redblacks are still trying to get their offence on track.

DUNK: Must-win for B.C. if they want to compete in the West. LIONS

HODGE: The Rick Campbell revenge game. LIONS

ABBOTT: The only thing worse than my picks might be Ottawa’s record at the end of the year. LIONS

BALLANTINE: Ottawa’s home record is abysmal, but that defence isn’t. This one’ll be a low-scoring slug-fest. REDBLACKS 

FILOSO: B.C. is 16-20 when visiting Ottawa since 1961. This could be a defensive struggle but a fired-up crowd goes home happy. REDBLACKS

GASSON: Ottawa can’t score. LIONS

HUDSON: Ottawa might have a defence? But otherwise looks like an expansion team for talent. LIONS

LUDWIG: Ottawa can’t score without significant help from their opponent. Michael Reilly and co. (usually) can. LIONS

MCGUIRE: B.C. has two quarterbacks and they might both be better than Ottawa’s. LIONS

SMITH: Ottawa gets a slight bump being at home, but it’s not enough. LIONS

LIONS — 8
REDBLACKS — 2

Sunday, August 29 at 7:00 p.m. ET
Calgary Stampeders at Winnipeg Blue Bombers
Betting Line: Bombers -5

Jake Maier shocked fans across the country in Week 3 when he upset the Montreal Alouettes in his first career CFL start. He’ll have to be at the top of his game on Sunday as dominant pass-rushers Willie Jefferson and Jackson Jeffcoat look to tee-off on the confident rookie.

DUNK: Blue Bombers bounce back. BOMBERS

HODGE: Calgary’s quarterback Maier may not get sacked a lot. BOMBERS

ABBOTT: Jake Maier was given too much space to operate by rookie defensive coordinator Barron Miles last week. Richie Hall won’t replicate those mistakes. BOMBERS

BALLANTINE: Once Maier settled in, he made good reads and moved the ball. Another week should help. STAMPS

FILOSO: Calgary was fortunate to beat Montreal last week. Their luck runs out against Winnipeg. BOMBERS

GASSON: The Bombers bounce back. BOMBERS 

HUDSON: The Argos might have created tape on how to stop Winnipeg’s offence, but Calgary still has many rookie QB and too many injuries. BOMBERS

LUDWIG: On balance, Winnipeg should be more than able to control a No. 2 quarterback, though their offence needs to be better than last week. BOMBERS

MCGUIRE: The Bomber pass rush far too much for the rookie QB and his feel-good story. BOMBERS 

SMITH: One rough game isn’t enough for me to write the obit for Winnipeg. BOMBERS

STAMPS — 1
BOMBERS — 9

2021 records

Dunk: 6-6
Gasson: 5-7
Hodge: 5-7
Hudson: 5-7
McGuire: 5-7
Ludwig: 4-8
Smith: 4-8
Abbott: 3-9
Ballantine: 3-9
Filoso: 2-10