Week 8 of the 2024 CFL regular season has arrived, which means it’s time for our contributors to make their picks straight-up and against the spread.
There’s a four-way tie atop our standings straight-up as Santino Filoso, Ben Grant, Pablo Herrera-Vergara, and Peter Klein all stand at 18-10, while Filoso stands alone atop our standing against the spread at a solid 17-11. With still plenty of football to be played, however, anything can happen as the season progresses.
Without further ado, here are our picks for Week 8 in the CFL.
Photo courtesy: Montreal Alouettes
Thursday, July 25: Saskatchewan Roughriders at Montreal Alouettes — 7:30 p.m. EDT
The Alouettes will be without Cody Fajardo for this game as he’s been added to the six-game injured list with a hamstring injury. Caleb Evans went 2-0 as a starter in spot duty last season, though he struggled at times in the club’s last game, throwing two touchdowns and two interceptions. The Riders are also banged up as star running back A.J. Ouellette won’t play due to a hip injury with third-year running back Frankie Hickson taking his place in the backfield.
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ABBOTT: In a duel of banged-up teams with backup QBs, the more rested team will prevail — barely.
Straight-up: Montreal. Against the spread: Saskatchewan.
BALLANTINE: The Riders take advantage of a Fajardo-less Alouettes squad and keep their winning ways going.
Straight-up: Saskatchewan. Against the spread: Saskatchewan.
DURRELL: This will be a battle of the defences, as two of the best in the league go against two inexperienced QBs. I think Cody Fajardo being out of Montreal’s lineup will have a bigger impact than Trevor Harris being out of Saskatchewan’s.
Straight-up: Saskatchewan. Against the spread: Saskatchewan.
FILOSO: A Fajardo-less Alouette team has no right being favoured, let alone by more than a field goal.
Straight-up: Saskatchewan. Against the spread: Saskatchewan.
GASSON: Montreal is a tough place to play for the Riders, who are coming off a big emotional win.
Straight-up: Montreal. Against the spread: Montreal.
GRANT: The Roughriders will struggle to get anything going against this defence, while Montreal will cash in on a few big plays with their backup QB.
Straight-up: Montreal. Against the spread: Montreal.
HERRERA-VERGARA: After a more-than-welcomed bye week, the Als defence should have what it takes to bother Shea Patterson.
Straight-up: Montreal. Against the spread: Montreal.
HODGE: The Riders are playing well but it’s tough to go on the road on a short week to play a team coming off the bye.
Straight-up: Montreal. Against the spread: Saskatchewan.
HOSKINS: Montreal is still a good team but they’re different without Fajardo.
Straight-up: Saskatchewan. Against the spread: Saskatchewan.
KLEIN: Sometimes it’s just your year.
Straight-up: Saskatchewan. Against the spread: Saskatchewan.
TOTALS STRAIGHT-UP: Saskatchewan 5, Montreal 5.
TOTALS AGAINST THE SPREAD: Saskatchewan 7, Montreal 3.
Photo courtesy: Scott Grant/CFLPhotoArchive.com
Friday, July 26: Calgary Stampeders at Ottawa Redblacks — 7:30 p.m. EDT
The Ottawa Redblacks are 4-2 for the first time since 2018, though Dru Brown is coming off his worst game of the season as he threw two interceptions in a slugfest against Edmonton. Meanwhile, Jake Maier was named 3DownNation’s offensive player of the week after throwing three touchdown passes in an upset win over the B.C. Lions, while Tyler Richardson and Kobe Williams generated turnovers for an improving Calgary defence.
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ABBOTT: Ottawa will be tired and due a letdown. Calgary is healthy and riding high after last week.
Straight-up: Calgary. Against the spread: Calgary.
BALLANTINE: Calgary just beat B.C., have gone punch for punch with Montreal, and the Redblacks are not anywhere near that good.
Straight-up: Calgary. Against the spread: Calgary.
DURRELL: The Redblacks have four wins but they’ve come against teams with a combined three wins. I think Calgary will be able to grind it out.
Straight-up: Calgary. Against the spread: Calgary.
FILOSO: Calgary is 1-8 in their last nine away games and that trend will continue at TD Place. For the first time in franchise history, Ottawa wins five of their first seven games.
Straight-up: Ottawa. Against the spread: Ottawa.
GASSON: I like Dru Brown here. Ottawa is slowly putting something together.
Straight-up: Ottawa. Against the spread: Ottawa.
GRANT: Simply put, I believe the Stampeders to be a better team. If they can avoid mistakes, they should be able to grind out a win.
Straight-up: Calgary. Against the spread: Calgary.
HERRERA-VERGARA: The Stamps have the better roster right now.
Straight-up: Calgary. Against the spread: Calgary.
HODGE: Dru Brown’s not going to have two bad games in a row.
Straight-up: Ottawa. Against the spread: Ottawa.
HOSKINS: Ottawa coming off back-to-back wins sounds impressive but considering who they played…
Straight-up: Calgary. Against the spread: Calgary.
KLEIN: Ottawa is going to see there is a difference between the two Alberta teams.
Straight-up: Calgary. Against the spread: Calgary
TOTALS STRAIGHT-UP: Calgary 7, Ottawa 3.
TOTALS AGAINST THE SPREAD: Calgary 7, Ottawa 3.
Photo: Matt Johnson/3DownNation. All rights reserved.
Saturday, July 27: Winnipeg Blue Bombers at Toronto Argonauts — 7:00 p.m. EDT
The Argos are coming off a mistake-riddled loss to Hamilton during which they allowed a blocked punt and fumble return touchdown, while Cameron Dukes was pulled in favour of Nick Arbuckle. The Blue Bombers also had a rough go of things last week, managing only nine points against the Riders as Zach Collaros threw a bad interception and Nic Demski committed a late fumble. This marks Winnipeg’s first visit to BMO Field in two years when they won 23-22.
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ABBOTT: If the Bombers can establish Brady Oliveira, Toronto doesn’t have the firepower at QB to force Collaros to throw the ball.
Straight-up: Winnipeg. Against the spread: Winnipeg.
BALLANTINE: Zach Collaros is terrible now, apparently?
Straight-up: Toronto. Against the spread: Toronto.
DURRELL: Toronto rarely loses at home and Winnipeg looked poor last week.
Straight-up: Toronto. Against the spread: Toronto.
FILOSO: The Argos rarely lose at BMO Field and Collaros keeps killing the Bombers by gifting other teams the ball.
Straight-up: Toronto. Against the spread: Toronto.
GASSON: I don’t expect this to be a QB battle. Edge to the home team.
Straight-up: Toronto. Against the spread: Toronto.
GRANT: The Argonauts have the edge in the trenches, and that should be enough for them to win, if they can stay out of their own way.
Straight-up: Toronto. Against the spread: Toronto.
HERRERA-VERGARA: The Argos should bounce back at home facing a Bombers team that is still looking for answers
Straight-up: Toronto. Against the spread: Toronto.
HODGE: The Janarion Grant revenge game.
Straight-up: Toronto. Against the spread: Toronto.
HOSKINS: The Argos have the defence to win any game and their offensive line will keep Cameron Dukes or Nick Arbuckle upright.
Straight-up: Toronto. Against the spread: Toronto.
KLEIN: The Bombers just can’t seem to get things going.
Straight-up: Toronto. Against the spread: Toronto.
TOTALS STRAIGHT-UP: Toronto 9, Winnipeg 1.
TOTALS AGAINST THE SPREAD: Toronto 9, Winnipeg 1.
Photo courtesy: Edmonton Elks
Sunday, July 28: Hamilton Tiger-Cats at Edmonton Elks — 7:00 p.m. EDT
The Elks are still looking for their first win of the season and were miserable last week in a loss to the Redblacks as McLeod Bethel-Thompson struggled and Tre Ford failed to spark the offence in two short series. Meanwhile, the Ticats finally got off the schneid with a win over the rival Argonauts despite allowing a punt return touchdown by Janarion Grant. In a battle of two bottoming teams, something’s gotta give.
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ABBOTT: Opponents don’t beat the Elks, the Elks beat the Elks.
Straight-up: Hamilton. Against the spread: Hamilton.
BALLANTINE: Edmonton may have excised the Coach Jones demons, but they are still in the clutches of the bad voices of GM Jones.
Straight-up: Hamilton. Against the spread: Hamilton.
DURRELL: Edmonton’s first win has got to come sooner or later, right?
Straight-up: Edmonton. Against the spread: Edmonton.
FILOSO: Since I’m not allowed to pick a tie, I guess I’ll take the team that already won a game. The Elks will keep it close, though.
Straight-up: Hamilton. Against the spread: Edmonton.
GASSON: Bo is better than MBT.
Straight-up: Hamilton. Against the spread: Hamilton.
GRANT: I feel like Edmonton should win but they’ve let me down too many times. I want nothing to do with this game, honestly, but someone has to win.
Straight-up: Hamilton. Against the spread: Hamilton.
HERRERA-VERGARA: Edmonton won’t win much this season but this will be their first.
Straight-up: Edmonton. Against the spread: Edmonton
HODGE: There’s no nice way to say this: Edmonton stinks.
Straight-up: Hamilton. Against the spread: Hamilton.
HOSKINS: Hey Siri, flip a coin. It’s heads.
Straight-up: Edmonton. Against the spread: Edmonton.
KLEIN: Neither team is that good, but Hamilton’s not-that-good is worse than Edmonton’s.
Straight-up: Edmonton. Against the spread: Edmonton.
TOTALS STRAIGHT-UP: Hamilton 6, Edmonton 4.
TOTALS AGAINST THE SPREAD: Hamilton 6, Edmonton 4.
Records to date (straight-up)
FILOSO — 18-10
GRANT — 18-10
HERRERA-VERGARA — 18-10
KLEIN — 18-10
ABBOTT — 17-11
GASSON — 17-11
DURRELL — 16-12
HOSKINS — 16-12
BALLANTINE — 14-14
HODGE — 14-14
Records to date (against the spread)
FILOSO — 17-11
GRANT — 16-12
DURRELL — 15-13
HERRERA-VERGARA — 15-13
GASSON — 13-15
HODGE — 13-15
KLEIN — 13-15
HOSKINS — 12-16
BALLANTINE — 11-17
ABBOTT — 10-18
[metabet_core_odds_board site_id=”3downnation” league=”cfl” market=”spread” hide_consensus=”yes”]
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