There are still weeks to go before the ball is dropped on a new calendar year but in the CFL, the page has already been turned to 2024.
The Montreal Alouettes have soaked up the fanfare for their 28-24 win in the 110th Grey Cup, but that’s already old news. All nine teams are reloading for their shot at the title and sportsbooks are sizing up their moves to set the lines for next season.
For early-bird gamblers in Ontario, Caesars Sportsbook has locked in their initial odds for the 111th Grey Cup game. For the savvy CFL fan, there is plenty of opportunity to get in on the ground floor of a longshot winner, particularly given recent history.
Photo: Neil Noonan/3DownNation. All rights reserved.
Winnipeg Blue Bombers: [metabet_core_dynamic_odds market=”fbb/cfl_winner” query=”fbb/winnipeg_blue_bombers” site_id=”3downnation”]
The Bombers may have narrowly lost in each of the past two Grey Cups but they’ve also made four straight championship game appearances. Nobody in the West Division has proven they can surpass the Winnipeg juggernaut, making them the Vegas favourite to hoist the trophy in 2024. General manager Kyle Walters and his staff are back for two more seasons, while the team avoided losing offensive coordinator Buck Pierce to the Riders. Still, head coach Mike O’Shea will have to come to terms with an aging roster if he wants to get back on top.
Photo: Matt Johnson/3DownNation. All rights reserved.
Toronto Argonauts: [metabet_core_dynamic_odds market=”fbb/cfl_winner” query=”fbb/toronto_argonauts” site_id=”3downnation”]
The Argonauts were the team nobody could touch in 2023 until the Alouettes stunned them with one of the biggest playoff upsets in league history. The team still dominated the CFL awards, but headlines were instead dominated by Most Outstanding Player Chad Kelly’s concussion claims and the apparent lack of communication between the quarterback and his coaches. The team is also facing major changes on defence, with coordinator Corey Mace bound for Saskatchewan. That hasn’t scared off oddsmakers, who think Toronto’s all-time regular season wins record makes them a safe bet to secure their second Grey Cup in three years.
Photo courtesy: Paul Yates/B.C. Lions
B.C. Lions: [metabet_core_dynamic_odds market=”fbb/cfl_winner” query=”fbb/bc_lions” site_id=”3downnation”]
With the 111th Grey Cup game scheduled to take place in Vancouver, the Lions have firmly entrenched themselves as contenders. Offensive balance has been the team’s issue in two straight West Final losses to Winnipeg, but Jordan Maksymic’s high-octane attack has made the Leos the most exciting team to watch in the league and pushed Vernon Adams Jr. into the elite quarterbacking tier. Unfortunately, they could be without major contributors on both sides of the ball for much of next season, with all-star receiver Keon Hatcher and veteran halfback T.J. Lee suffering Achilles tears in their final game.
Photo: Reuben Polansky/3DownNation. All rights reserved.
Montreal Alouettes: [metabet_core_dynamic_odds market=”fbb/cfl_winner” query=”fbb/montreal_alouettes” site_id=”3downnation”]
It may not be as bad as starting the year ninth on the power rankings but Alouettes fans are unlikely to be pleased with their team’s current odds on the back of their storybook Grey Cup finish. Head coach Jason Maas appears to have built a culture worth celebrating in his first season at the helm and general manager Danny Maciocia is busy bringing back much of their championship core. Grey Cup MVP Cody Fajardo is locked in for two more seasons, while late additions Shawn Lemon and Darnell Sankey will both get full years to strut their stuff.
Photo: Larry MacDougal/3DownNation. All rights reserved.
Calgary Stampeders: [metabet_core_dynamic_odds market=”fbb/cfl_winner” query=”fbb/calgary_stampeders” site_id=”3downnation”]
There was a time not too long ago when the Stampeders entered every offseason as the presumptive favourites, but now many will be surprised to see them this high on the list. Quarterback Jake Maier is in need of a bounceback after a disappointing first year as the starter, though the organization remains committed to him going forward. Dave Dickenson has a lot on his plate as head coach, general manager and offensive play-caller, with the departure of Marc Mueller doing nothing to ease the burden.
Photo courtesy: Bob Butrym/RFB Sport Photography
Hamilton Tiger-Cats: [metabet_core_dynamic_odds market=”fbb/cfl_winner” query=”fbb/hamilton_tiger_cats” site_id=”3downnation”]
The Ticats have opened their offseason with a massive shake-up, kicking Orlondo Steinauer upstairs and handing Scott Milanovich the keys as head coach. That still hasn’t convinced oddsmakers that they can break the longest active Grey Cup drought in the CFL, particularly because we don’t know who will be quarterbacking the team next year. Bo Levi Mitchell’s future is in limbo after his playoff benching and a looming offseason bonus could convince Hamilton to hitch their wagon to Matthew Shiltz or Taylor Powell.
Photo courtesy: Electric Umbrella/Liam Richards/Saskatchewan Roughriders
Saskatchewan Roughriders: [metabet_core_dynamic_odds market=”fbb/cfl_winner” query=”fbb/saskatchewan_roughriders” site_id=”3downnation”]
A new era has dawned for the Riders with the hiring of head coach Corey Mace and the defensive guru appears fully bought into the Saskatchewan culture. He’s already gone big-game hunting with the hiring of offensive coordinator Marc Mueller, the grandson of the legend Ron Lancaster, but there is a lot of work still to be done to build a winner. The return of quarterback Trevor Harris should help move things along, as all the newcomers seem to agree that the veteran’s injury was what sunk the team last year.
Photo courtesy: Scott Grant/CFLPhotoArchive.com
Ottawa Redblacks: [metabet_core_dynamic_odds market=”fbb/cfl_winner” query=”fbb/ottawa_redblacks” site_id=”3downnation”]
After four straight losing seasons totalling a combined 14 wins, the only thing shocking about Ottawa’s Grey Cup odds is they aren’t the worst in the league. Head coach Bob Dyce and general manager Shawn Burke will each get one more crack at turning things around, with newly hired offensive coordinator Tommy Condell tasked with somehow making their attack less putrid. That means a big decision at quarterback, though incumbent Dustin Crum received some high praise from the incoming play-caller for his flashy rookie season.
Photo: Timothy Matwey/3DownNation. All rights reserved.
Edmonton Elks: [metabet_core_dynamic_odds market=”fbb/cfl_winner” query=”fbb/edmonton_elks” site_id=”3downnation”]
Scrambling Canadian quarterback Tre Ford captured the hearts of many CFL fans with the way he finished the 2023 season, but it appears that he’ll get no love in Vegas. With the team exploring private ownership for the first time due to financial difficulties, the Elks need a big resurgence to move the turnstiles at a cavernous Commonwealth Stadium. Bettors simply aren’t convinced that another year of Chris Jones’ roster carousel will change anything.
[metabet_core_side_odds_tile query=”fbb/cfl_winner” size=”100%x400″ site_id=”3downnation”]
