3DownNation CFL picks: Edmonton Elks look to snap 19-game home losing streak

Photo: Timothy Matwey/3DownNation. All rights reserved.

Week 6 of the 2023 CFL season is set to get underway with the Edmonton Elks looking to break a 19-game home losing streak that dates all the way back to October 2019.

Ottawa contributor Santino Filoso sits atop our picks standings with a scintillating record of 15-4 straight-up, while he shares the lead against-the-spread with Joel Gasson and Peter Klein at 14-5.

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.

Thursday, July 13: Hamilton Tiger-Cats at Edmonton Elks — 9:00 p.m. EDT

Edmonton has lost 19 consecutive games at home and the club is looking to avoid tying the all-time professional sports record of 20 set by the St. Louis Browns of Major League Baseball in 1953. With the Ticats coming off a short week and Edmonton’s next three contests coming against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers (4-1) and B.C. Lions (4-1), this is a must-win game for the Elks.

[metabet_core_odds_board query=”531024″ site_id=”3downnation”]

DUNK: The Elks have to win at home at some point, right? 

Straight-up: ELKS. Against the spread: ELKS.

HODGE: I can’t believe I’m doing this.

Straight-up: ELKS. Against the spread: ELKS.

ABBOTT: Logic says Hamilton will struggle on a short week, but losses like the one Edmonton suffered last week can break a team.

Straight-up: TICATS. Against the spread: TICATS.

BALLANTINE: Is this streak worth anything if it doesn’t break the pro sports record? Without the actual record, all of Edmonton’s losses would have been for nothing. 

Straight-up: TICATS. Against the spread: TICATS.

FILOSO: Someone has to win, right? Give me the home team, I guess.

Straight-up: ELKS. Against the spread: ELKS.

GASSON: If not now, when? 

Straight-up: ELKS. Against the spread: ELKS.

GRANT: This is the week the streak finally ends. It’s tough sledding after this game for the Elks, so they really need this as an organization.

Straight-up: ELKS. Against the spread: ELKS.

HOSKINS: Elks finally put together a full game after a long week to get the monkey off their back.

Straight-up: ELKS. Against the spread: ELKS.

KLEIN: On one hand, Edmonton almost won last week. On the other, they only scored 11 points. I think they’ll have to wait at least one more week for win number one.

Straight-up: TICATS. Against the spread: TICATS.

MCGUIRE: Hamilton has the better quarterback but luckily for Edmonton, it’s about more than who’s under centre. The Elks are due.

Straight-up: ELKS. Against the spread: ELKS.

SMITH: It wouldn’t shock me if Edmonton pulled this one off and they are likely to be the majority’s pick to do so, but a team scoring barely more than 12 points per game is not one I can back under any circumstances.

Straight-up: TICATS. Against the spread: TICATS.

TOTALS STRAIGHT-UP: Edmonton 7, Hamilton 4

TOTALS AGAINST THE SPREAD: Edmonton 7, Hamilton 4

Friday, July 14: Toronto Argonauts at Montreal Alouettes — 7:30 p.m. EDT

The Argos are riding high coming off their second bye week of the season as head coach Ryan Dinwiddie signed a multi-year extension with the club. The league’s last undefeated team will be a tough match-up for the Alouettes, a team that is currently on pace to allow 99 sacks this season, which would be the second-highest total in league history. If Montreal is serious about pushing Toronto for first place in the East Division this season, this game could be considered a must-win.

[metabet_core_odds_board query=”531025″ site_id=”3downnation”]

DUNK: Argos keep sailing smoothly against an East Division opponent. 

Straight-up: ARGOS. Against the spread: ARGOS.

HODGE: Montreal is on pace to give up 99 sacks this season and Toronto’s defence will take full advantage.

Straight-up: ARGOS. Against the spread: ARGOS.

ABBOTT: Losses against Winnipeg and B.C. proved that Montreal’s 2-0 start was a sham. Toronto is the league’s other powerhouse.

Straight-up: ARGOS. Against the spread: ARGOS.

BALLANTINE: Why is this spread this low?

Straight-up: ARGOS. Against the spread: ARGOS.

FILOSO: The Argos have scored 120 points in their three games. Nothing I’ve seen from Montreal’s defence makes me think they can slow down Toronto’s attack.

Straight-up: ARGOS. Against the spread: ARGOS.

GASSON: Two teams going in different direction. Fajardo might get sacked more than the spread.

Straight-up: ARGOS. Against the spread: ARGOS.

GRANT: I expect a slow start from Toronto coming off their second early bye. They should have the horses for a comeback win, but it will be close.

Straight-up: ARGOS. Against the spread: ALS.

HOSKINS: Fajardo’s famous spin out of the pocket won’t fool Toronto’s defence. The visitors take this one rather handily.

Straight-up: ARGOS. Against the spread: ARGOS.

KLEIN: When the odds gods bless you with the best team in the league favoured by 4.5 points, you don’t ask questions. You simply say thank you and move on. 

Straight-up: ARGOS. Against the spread: ARGOS.

MCGUIRE: Fajardo and Maas set a franchise record for sacks allowed in Saskatchewan last year and are already threatening to do the same in Montreal. This will be a romp.

Straight-up: ARGOS. Against the spread: ARGOS.

SMITH: Teams coming off a bye have been almost automatic this season, winning five of six. The talent disparity between Toronto and Montreal is also immense.

Straight-up: ARGOS. Against the spread: ARGOS.

TOTALS STRAIGHT-UP: Toronto 11, Montreal 0

TOTALS AGAINST THE SPREAD: Toronto 10, Montreal 1

Saturday, July 15: Winnipeg Blue Bombers at Ottawa Redblacks — 4:00 p.m. EDT

Dustin Crum will make his first career CFL start with Jeremiah Masoli and Tyrie Adams out for the rest of the season due to injury. The dual-threat passer ran for 91 yards in a relief effort last week against Hamilton but also threw two costly interceptions. Meanwhile, the Blue Bombers appear to have gotten back to their winning ways following back-to-back victories over Montreal and Calgary.

[metabet_core_odds_board query=”531026″ site_id=”3downnation”]

DUNK: Dustin Crum let’s see what you got — learn fast.

Straight-up: BOMBERS. Against the spread: BOMBERS.

HODGE: Welcome to the CFL, Dustin Crum.

Straight-up: BOMBERS. Against the spread: BOMBERS.

ABBOTT: Willie Jefferson feels no sympathy for the Redblacks’ QB situation.

Straight-up: BOMBERS. Against the spread: BOMBERS.

BALLANTINE: There are miracle rookie starts. This won’t be one of them.

Straight-up: BOMBERS. Against the spread: BOMBERS.

FILOSO: For a rookie QB to have any chance against Winnipeg’s experienced defence, everyone around him needs to play mistake-free football. I’m not convinced Ottawa can.

Straight-up: BOMBERS. Against the spread: REDBLACKS.

GASSON: I like Crum’s potential but this is a pretty big ask for a first career start.

Straight-up: BOMBERS. Against the spread: REDBLACKS.

GRANT: I’m not writing Crum off, but with a week for Winnipeg to prepare for him, he’ll look lost. There’s a good chance Nick Arbuckle will finish this game for Ottawa.

Straight-up: BOMBERS. Against the spread: BOMBERS.

HOSKINS: Crum may as well be playing quidditch in this one. Winnipeg’s experience will prevail.

Straight-up: BOMBERS. Against the spread: BOMBERS.

KLEIN: This Winnipeg team isn’t the squad to work in a new QB against. Winnipeg takes this convincingly.

Straight-up: BOMBERS. Against the spread: BOMBERS.

MCGUIRE: Dustin Crum might be OK. The only problem is OK won’t cut it against this crew.

Straight-up: BOMBERS. Against the spread: BOMBERS.

SMITH: Winnipeg’s defence isn’t Hamilton’s and Dustin Crum will find out what life in the CFL is really like.

Straight-up: BOMBERS. Against the spread: BOMBERS.

TOTALS STRAIGHT-UP: Winnipeg 11, Ottawa 0

TOTALS AGAINST THE SPREAD: Winnipeg 9, Ottawa 2

Saturday, July 15: Calgary Stampeders at Saskatchewan Roughriders — 7:00 p.m. EDT

The Stampeders were outclassed in Winnipeg last week as franchise quarterback Jake Maier was pulled late amid a poor performance. He and the rest of his team will be looking to avenge a Week 3 loss to the Riders at McMahon Stadium, a game that went into double overtime before Maier threw a game-sealing interception to Nick Marshall. A win for Saskatchewan would not only improve their record to 4-1 on the year but also secure the season series against Cowtown.

[metabet_core_odds_board query=”531027″ site_id=”3downnation”]

DUNK: Until Jake Maier proves otherwise, bet against him. 

Straight-up: RIDERS. Against the spread: RIDERS.

HODGE: Calgary doesn’t have much of a choice at this point.

Straight-up: STAMPS. Against the spread: STAMPS.

ABBOTT: The Riders are the better team, but they may not even be able to rely on a rouge due to injuries.

Straight-up: STAMPS. Against the spread: STAMPS.

BALLANTINE: The Riders barely escaped Calgary with a win earlier this year. I expect it to be the reverse this week.

Straight-up: STAMPS. Against the spread: STAMPS.

FILOSO: Until the Stampeders get better QB play, they’ll keep losing.

Straight-up: RIDERS. Against the spread: RIDERS.

GASSON: Saskatchewan doesn’t have an opponent to play down to here, plus they have the better quarterback.

Straight-up: RIDERS. Against the spread: RIDERS.

GRANT: Trevor Harris is playing good football despite what everyone in my Twitter feed thinks. I have trouble seeing the Stampeders winning this one.

Straight-up: RIDERS. Against the spread: RIDERS.

HOSKINS: Riders seem to be executing as a team more than the Stamps these days. This should be a close one but I’ll take the home side.

Straight-up: RIDERS. Against the spread: RIDERS.

KLEIN: The Riders can build off that last drive against Edmonton last week and the defence knows what Calgary can and, maybe more importantly, can’t do.

Straight-up: RIDERS. Against the spread: RIDERS.

MCGUIRE: This is the game of the week. Calgary might win if Jake Maier stays away from Nick Marshall. I’m guessing he’ll slip up once or twice.

Straight-up: RIDERS. Against the spread: RIDERS.

SMITH: The Stamps look lost right now and Saskatchewan should be able to do enough to cover the small spread at home.

Straight-up: RIDERS. Against the spread: RIDERS.

TOTALS STRAIGHT-UP: Saskatchewan 7, Calgary 3

TOTALS AGAINST THE SPREAD: Saskatchewan 7, Calgary 3

Records to date (straight-up)

FILOSO — 15-4
ABBOTT — 14-5
KLEIN — 14-5
GASSON — 13-6
DUNK — 12-7
GRANT — 12-7
MCGUIRE — 12-7
SMITH — 12-7
BALLANTINE — 11-8
HODGE — 11-8
HOSKINS — 11-8

Records to date (against the spread)

FILOSO — 14-5
GASSON — 14-5
KLEIN — 14-5
ABBOTT — 11-8
BALLANTINE — 10-9
GRANT — 10-9
HODGE — 9-10
MCGUIRE — 9-10
DUNK — 8-11
HOSKINS — 8-11
SMITH — 8-11