We have reached the final week of the CFL season, and all four games will matter for somebody. The East Division crown remains up for grabs between Hamilton and Montreal for at least a game, while B.C., Calgary, and Winnipeg will each have their say on the seeding in the West Division.
Vancouver-based reporter J.C. Abbott remains in front for our straight-up picks, while Regina-based reporter Brendan McGuire has a strong lead in our picks against the spread. Below are our picks for Week 21 in the CFL.
Friday, October 24: Ottawa Redblacks at Hamilton Tiger-Cats (-14) at 7:00 p.m. EDT
The Hamilton Tiger-Cats are favoured by two touchdowns at home on Friday night against the Ottawa Redblacks, as they look to clinch first place in the East Division with victory. Linebacker Kyler Fisher will be back in action for the Tabbies, as they’ll face Ottawa QB Tyrie Adams in his second straight start. The Redblacks have nothing to play for, but have reinserted Cleyon Laing and Lucas Cormier into the lineup anyway.
ABBOTT: No compelling East Division finish for us.
Straight-up: Hamilton. Against the spread: Hamilton.
BALLANTINE: Hamilton will get comfortably ahead and then take some guys out. Look for a garbage time cover here.
Straight-up: Hamilton. Against the spread: Ottawa.
FILOSO: Not only can the Ticats clinch first, they’re 15-2 in their last 17 versus the Redblacks.
Straight-up: Hamilton. Against the spread: Ottawa.
GASSON: For the sake of the weekend, it would be nice if Ottawa found a way. I don’t think we can count on that.
Straight-up: Hamilton. Against the spread: Hamilton.
HERRERA-VERGARA: The Redblacks are going to fight till the end, but I don’t see how Hamilton can lose.
Straight-up: Hamilton. Against the spread: Ottawa.
HODGE: The Tiger-Cats take care of business to secure first place.
Straight-up: Hamilton. Against the spread: Hamilton.
HOSKINS: The Cats feed before playoffs.
Straight-up: Hamilton. Against the spread: Hamilton.
KLEIN: I don’t know what the spread would have to be for me to pick Ottawa, but this isn’t it.
Straight-up: Hamilton. Against the spread: Hamilton.
McGUIRE: The Cats have something to play for, and it shouldn’t take much more than that to beat the Redblacks. Tyrie Adams, however, is still an intriguing project, and I expect him to keep it close.
Straight-up: Hamilton. Against the spread: Ottawa.
THOMAS: It would be nothing short of a disaster for Hamilton to lose this game, given the circumstances.
Straight-up: Hamilton. Against the spread: Ottawa.
TOTALS STRAIGHT-UP: Hamilton 10, Ottawa 0.
TOTALS AGAINST THE SPREAD: Hamilton 5, Ottawa 5.
Friday, October 24: Calgary Stampeders at Edmonton Elks (+5) at 9:30 p.m. EDT
The Edmonton Elks are five-point home underdogs against the Calgary Stampeders in their finale, and will be fielding a pared-down roster after being eliminated last week. Brett Boyko, Kurleigh Gittens Jr., Jared Brinkman, and Robbie Smith are among those sitting out entirely, while Carter O’Donnell will also watch from the sidelines. Meanwhile, the Stampeders need to win in the hopes of a home playoff game, but won’t have their top Canadian receiver, Jalen Philpot, due to a knee injury.
ABBOTT: The Elks are short too many key bodies for a proper last hurrah.
Straight-up: Calgary. Against the spread: Edmonton.
BALLANTINE: Calgary still has a home playoff game on the line. The Elks have plane tickets waiting.
Straight-up: Calgary. Against the spread: Calgary.
FILOSO: I like the Stamps to win, but not to cover.
Straight-up: Calgary. Against the spread: Edmonton.
GASSON: I don’t see Edmonton being a team that fades away now that their season is over.
Straight-up: Edmonton. Against the spread: Edmonton.
HERRERA-VERGARA: The Stamps need this one way more.
Straight-up: Calgary. Against the spread: Calgary.
HODGE: The Stampeders get the win, but Edmonton keeps it close.
Straight-up: Calgary. Against the spread: Edmonton.
HOSKINS: Edmonton sends their fans home happy to end the season.
Straight-up: Edmonton. Against the spread: Edmonton.
KLEIN: The Stamps have found their groove at the right time.
Straight-up: Calgary. Against the spread: Calgary.
McGUIRE: I can’t remember taking the Elks all year, and I’m not going to change now. However, since Fajardo took over, they have almost never lost by more than one possession, so I feel good about Edmonton covering here.
Straight-up: Calgary. Against the spread: Edmonton.
THOMAS: I think Edmonton is the better team right now. I expect a down-to-the-wire finish and an Elks win.
Straight-up: Edmonton. Against the spread: Calgary.
TOTALS STRAIGHT-UP: Calgary 7, Edmonton 3.
TOTALS AGAINST THE SPREAD: Edmonton 6, Calgary 4.
Saturday, October 25: Montreal Alouettes at Winnipeg Blue Bombers (-5.5) at 3:00 p.m. EDT
The Winnipeg Blue Bombers are 5.5-point home favourites against the Montreal Alouettes on Saturday afternoon in a game that might not mean a damn for the road team by the time it kicks off. However, Alouettes head coach Jason Maas has told the media that his starters will play regardless, especially quarterback Davis Alexander. On the other side, Canadian receiver Nic Demski appears set to miss a second straight game for Winnipeg, as they look to reward their rabid fanbase and avoid the crossover with a miracle.
ABBOTT: The Als are locked in regardless of the circumstances.
Straight-up: Montreal. Against the spread: Montreal.
BALLANTINE: If Calgary wins and Winnipeg follows through with a win against Montreal, it makes the last game of the season meaningful. Let’s root for meaning!
Straight-up: Winnipeg. Against the spread: Winnipeg.
FILOSO: Throw all predictions out the window. Depending on how Friday’s games go, this could play out like a pre-season game.
Straight-up: Montreal. Against the spread: Montreal.
GASSON: This could go so many different ways before we even play. I’ll just take the better team.
Straight-up: Montreal. Against the spread: Montreal.
HERRERA-VERGARA: It is hard to predict this one, but I feel the Als are on a roll.
Straight-up: Montreal. Against the spread: Montreal.
HODGE: Nothing’s confirmed yet, but it looks like Winnipeg is playing a lot of backups.
Straight-up: Montreal. Against the spread: Montreal.
HOSKINS: Montreal won’t give this one up.
Straight-up: Montreal. Against the spread: Montreal.
KLEIN: I can’t get last week’s Winnipeg performance out of my head. Montreal takes this.
Straight-up: Montreal. Against the spread: Montreal.
McGUIRE: If there’s anything we’ve learned about the Alouettes, if they don’t have a healthy Davis Alexander, they probably won’t win. He’s not healthy this week, whether he plays or not.
Straight-up: Winnipeg. Against the spread: Winnipeg.
THOMAS: This is going to be a weird one depending on the result of the Ticats game. Winnipeg is expected to play backups as of this writing, so give me the Als.
Straight-up: Montreal. Against the spread: Montreal.
TOTALS STRAIGHT-UP: Montreal 8, Winnipeg 2.
TOTALS AGAINST THE SPREAD: Montreal 8, Winnipeg 2.
Saturday, October 25: B.C. Lions at Saskatchewan Roughriders (+7) at 7:00 p.m. EDT
The Saskatchewan Roughriders are touchdown underdogs to the B.C. Lions at home on Saturday night, as they officially wrap up the 2025 regular season. The Lions are the hottest team in the CFL and need a victory to secure a home playoff game, while the Riders have nothing left to play for with first place secure. Even so, Corey Mace is playing coy with his roster, and several of the players who sat out last week for Saskatchewan are expected to be back in action for at least part of this one, including quarterback Trevor Harris.
ABBOTT: Regardless of what happens before, this will be a battle for at least a half.
Straight-up: B.C. Against the spread: Saskatchewan.
BALLANTINE: If I was right about the rest of the weekend, and this becomes a game where Sask could send B.C. out East, I wonder if that makes the Riders fight a little harder than they would otherwise.
Straight-up: Saskatchewan. Against the spread: Saskatchewan.
FILOSO: The Lions have the most straightforward path to a home playoff game, whereas Saskatchewan is likely to prioritize staying healthy for when they host the West Final.
Straight-up: B.C. Against the spread: B.C.
GASSON: I suspect this will be another game to forget.
Straight-up: B.C. Against the spread: Saskatchewan.
HERRERA-VERGARA: The Lions have a great opportunity to host the Western Semi-Final. I feel they will dominate this game.
Straight-up: B.C. Against the spread: B.C.
HODGE: The Lions are the better team, but this line seems generous.
Straight-up: B.C. Against the spread: Saskatchewan.
HOSKINS: B.C. wants that home playoff game. I say they get it.
Straight-up: B.C. Against the spread: B.C.
KLEIN: The Riders should keep this competitive, but the Lions still take it.
Straight-up: B.C. Against the spread: Saskatchewan.
McGUIRE: It usually comes down to who wants it more, and the Lions want this one a lot more than the Roughriders do.
Straight-up: B.C. Against the spread: B.C.
THOMAS: Saskatchewan is worried about the West Final, and the Lions are hot.
Straight-up: B.C. Against the spread: B.C.
TOTALS STRAIGHT-UP: B.C. 9, Saskatchewan 1.
TOTALS AGAINST THE SPREAD: B.C. 5, Saskatchewan 5.
2025 records (straight-up)
ABBOTT — 52-25
HOSKINS — 50-27
McGUIRE — 48-29
HODGE — 48-29
HERRERA-VERGARA — 48-29
BALLANTINE — 47-30
THOMAS — 46-31
KLEIN — 46-31
GASSON — 42-35
FILOSO — 41-36
2025 records (against the spread)
McGUIRE — 50-27
THOMAS — 42-35
ABBOTT — 42-35
HERRERA-VERGARA — 41-36
FILOSO — 39-38
BALLANTINE — 38-39
KLEIN — 38-39
HODGE — 36-41
GASSON — 36-41
HOSKINS — 35-42
