The CFL is coming off an exceptional slate of games that set a multi-year ratings high on television. With a number of young quarterbacks looking to prove their mettle, the league will look to continue the fun in Week 7.
If you think you have the chops to match our experts, try 3DownNation’s new Pick’em game. It’s free to play with a $50 Amazon gift card up for grabs each game. All residents of Canada and the U.S. are eligible to participate, excluding Quebec.
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Thursday, July 20: Edmonton Elks at Winnipeg Blue Bombers — 8:30 p.m. EDT
The Elks have lost 10 straight games dating back to last season and lost two defensive starters to injury during practice this week. Winnipeg is coming off a shocking loss to the Ottawa Redblacks but will finally have Kenny Lawler back in the lineup following an immigration issue that arose after he pled guilty to impaired driving. This will mark the first of three meetings between the West Division rivals this season.
[metabet_core_odds_board query=”531028″ site_id=”3downnation”]
DUNK: Until the Elks prove they can cover, you can’t bet on them.
Straight-up: BOMBERS. Against the spread: BOMBERS.
HODGE: This spread is outrageous, though Edmonton is outrageously bad.
Straight-up: BOMBERS. Against the spread: BOMBERS.
ABBOTT: The Elks have lost by more than 15 points twice this season. Sorry, make that three times.
Straight-up: BOMBERS. Against the spread: BOMBERS.
BALLANTINE: There’s no way the spread should be this high. This is a joke, right?
Straight-up: BOMBERS. Against the spread: ELKS.
FILOSO: The thing is, I really do think Winnipeg covers.
Straight-up: BOMBERS. Against the spread: BOMBERS.
GASSON: The Bombers aren’t the same old Bombers but they’re also not the Elks.
Straight-up: BOMBERS. Against the spread: BOMBERS.
GRANT: This is simply too many points! I expect Winnipeg to win, but Edmonton is still a professional football team.
Straight-up: BOMBERS. Against the spread: ELKS.
HOSKINS: Edmonton’s been faced with even more injuries as they meet an angry Winnipeg team at home. The line is almost generous.
Straight-up: BOMBERS. Against the spread: BOMBERS.
KLEIN: I was wondering what the spread would have to be for me to take Edmonton. We found it!
Straight-up: BOMBERS. Against the spread: ELKS.
MCGUIRE: It’s hard to see The Peg losing this one but this spread? C’mon, man!
Straight-up: BOMBERS. Against the spread: ELKS.
SMITH: Winnipeg will win this one but it would just be flat-out irresponsible to lay the points.
Straight-up: BOMBERS. Against the spread: ELKS.
TOTALS STRAIGHT-UP: Winnipeg 11, Edmonton 0
TOTALS AGAINST THE SPREAD: Winnipeg 6, Edmonton 5
Photo courtesy: Bob Butrym/RFB Sport Photography
Friday, July 21: Toronto Argonauts at Hamilton Tiger-Cats — 7:30 p.m. EDT
The undefeated Argos are coming off a fourth consecutive win this season, while Hamilton is fighting yet another setback at the quarterback position after Matthew Shiltz went down with a hip injury. Taylor Powell will make his first career CFL start as the Ticats look to win a third-straight game. These teams met at BMO Field in Week 2 with Toronto coming away with a 32-14 victory on home turf.
[metabet_core_odds_board query=”531029″ site_id=”3downnation”]
DUNK: Argonauts rough up Taylor Powell.
Straight-up: ARGOS. Against the spread: ARGOS.
HODGE: Corey Mace’s defence should feast on a rookie quarterback.
Straight-up: ARGOS. Against the spread: ARGOS.
ABBOTT: With Taylor Powell in at QB, they might as well call this one the “QEW Massacre.”
Straight-up: ARGOS. Against the spread: ARGOS.
BALLANTINE: I’m not sure I have faith in Hamilton given their situation at QB.
Straight-up: ARGOS. Against the spread: ARGOS.
FILOSO: Toronto is the best team in the league. Period.
Straight-up: ARGOS. Against the spread: ARGOS.
GASSON: This is a rivalry game at home for Hamilton and stranger things have happened. Toronto will lose eventually but not quite yet.
Straight-up: ARGOS. Against the spread: TICATS.
GRANT: Taylor Powell will have trouble moving the ball through the air and Toronto is a tough team to run against. This could be a blowout.
Straight-up: ARGOS. Against the spread: ARGOS.
HOSKINS: Hamilton had success with backups last week, though the competition is a lot stiffer this time around.
Straight-up: ARGOS. Against the spread: ARGOS.
KLEIN: Toronto is the better team and coming off a bye. This line is a touch high but not enough for me to go away from the top team in the league.
Straight-up: ARGOS. Against the spread: ARGOS.
MCGUIRE: The Ticats are going to get walloped at home.
Straight-up: ARGOS. Against the spread: ARGOS.
SMITH: Toronto doesn’t win in Hamilton often but I made the mistake of laying more than a touchdown with a road favourite last week. I won’t do it again.
Straight-up: ARGOS. Against the spread: TICATS.
TOTALS STRAIGHT-UP: Toronto 11, Hamilton 0
TOTALS AGAINST THE SPREAD: Toronto 9, Hamilton 2
Photo courtesy: Jeff Vinnick/B.C. Lions
Saturday, July 22: Saskatchewan Roughriders at B.C. Lions — 7:00 p.m. EDT
Mason Fine will be the new man under centre for the Riders after Trevor Harris underwent possibly season-ending surgery. The third-year passer threw two touchdowns in a relief effort last week and is looking to prove that he’s ready to lead a team. B.C. currently sits alone in first place in the West Division coming off their first bye week of the season.
[metabet_core_odds_board query=”531030″ site_id=”3downnation”]
DUNK: Lions off a bye versus a young QB…
Straight-up: LIONS. Against the spread: LIONS.
HODGE: B.C. won’t make any mistakes as they look to stay two points ahead of Winnipeg in the standings.
Straight-up: LIONS. Against the spread: LIONS.
ABBOTT: Mason will not be Fine once Mathieu Betts has his way with him.
Straight-up: LIONS. Against the spread: LIONS.
BALLANTINE: B.C. rolls in the absence of Trevor Harris.
Straight-up: LIONS. Against the spread: LIONS.
FILOSO: Mason won’t be Fine this week.
Straight-up: LIONS. Against the spread: LIONS.
GASSON: The Riders aren’t the most skilled team but they play hard. Part of me wants to take them just cause they’re due for one of these wins.
Straight-up: LIONS. Against the spread: RIDERS.
GRANT: Harris has quietly been Saskatchewan’s best player. His absence this week will be noticeable.
Straight-up: LIONS. Against the spread: LIONS.
HOSKINS: Mason Fine has a chance to lend a spark but not against this tough B.C. defence.
Straight-up: LIONS. Against the spread: LIONS.
KLEIN: I don’t know if Saskatchewan would have covered this spread even with Harris.
Straight-up: LIONS. Against the spread: LIONS.
MCGUIRE: Saskatchewan deserves to be heavy underdogs until Mason Fine and that shaky offensive line prove otherwise.
Straight-up: LIONS. Against the spread: LIONS.
SMITH: B.C. coming off a bye should be primed to win by at least two scores.
Straight-up: LIONS. Against the spread: LIONS.
TOTALS STRAIGHT-UP: B.C. 11, Saskatchewan 0
TOTALS AGAINST THE SPREAD: B.C. 10, Saskatchewan 1
Photo: Larry MacDougal/3DownNation. All rights reserved.
Sunday, July 23: Ottawa Redblacks at Calgary Stampeders — 7:00 p.m. EDT
Rookie quarterback Dustin Crum has the nation humming after helping lead a sensational late comeback win over Winnipeg. Ottawa is looking to get back to .500 for the first time in over two years, while Calgary will try to win back-to-back games for the first time this season. Jake Maier is coming off easily his best performance of the season as he threw for 315 yards and two touchdowns against Saskatchewan last week.
[metabet_core_odds_board query=”531031″ site_id=”3downnation”]
DUNK: Keep it Crumming.
Straight-up: REDBLACKS. Against the spread: REDBLACKS.
HODGE: Jake Maier showed me what I needed to see.
Straight-up: STAMPS. Against the spread: STAMPS.
ABBOTT: What can I say? I’m a sucker for a running quarterback.
Straight-up: REDBLACKS. Against the spread: REDBLACKS.
BALLANTINE: The rookie had a world-beating effort this week, but may Crum-ble when there is a little tape.
Straight-up: STAMPS. Against the spread: STAMPS.
FILOSO: Anyone buying Calgary stock right now is getting fool’s gold. Crum-sanity keeps rolling in Cowtown.
Straight-up: REDBLACKS. Against the spread: REDBLACKS.
GASSON: I’m still not that sold on Calgary. This is going to be a close one.
Straight-up: STAMPS. Against the spread: REDBLACKS.
GRANT: The Crumback was exciting, but I’m not ready to crown Dustin Crum just yet. Calgary also played above their station, so this could be an ugly one.
Straight-up: STAMPS. Against the spread: REDBLACKS.
HOSKINS: Crum has brought Ottawa back twice. Momentum is a funny thing and I like chaos.
Straight-up: REDBLACKS. Against the spread: REDBLACKS.
KLEIN: Two teams coming off huge wins, I’m just ready to buy into Calgary a little more at this point.
Straight-up: STAMPS. Against the spread: STAMPS.
MCGUIRE: I’m taking Ottawa for the upset of the week.
Straight-up: REDBLACKS. Against the spread: REDBLACKS.
SMITH: Calgary shouldn’t be more than a 3.5-point favourite against anyone other than Edmonton right now.
Straight-up: STAMPS. Against the spread: REDBLACKS.
TOTALS STRAIGHT-UP: Calgary 6, Ottawa 5
TOTALS AGAINST THE SPREAD: Ottawa 8, Calgary 3
Records to date (straight-up)
ABBOTT — 17-6
FILOSO — 16-7
KLEIN — 16-7
BALLANTINE — 14-9
GASSON — 14-9
SMITH — 14-9
DUNK — 13-10
GRANT — 13-10
HODGE — 13-10
MCGUIRE — 13-10
HOSKINS — 12-11
Records to date (against the spread)
FILOSO — 16-7
GASSON — 16-7
KLEIN — 16-7
ABBOTT — 14-9
BALLANTINE — 13-10
HODGE — 11-12
GRANT — 10-13
MCGUIRE — 10-13
SMITH — 10-13
DUNK — 9-14
HOSKINS — 9-14
