Ron Raymond’s Week 14 CFL Picks
Toronto 51.5 vs. Edmonton -5
Pick: Toronto +5.5 (5* BEST BET)
Ron’s Comment: Michael Bishop has brought some life to the Argos since coming back from his wrist injury and the Argonauts have won 3 of their last 4 games since Labor Day. In order to start a winning streak, you need to start with a win and the boatmen did that last weekend with a nice win over Eastern Division leaders Winnipeg Blue Bombers. The Eskimos are just too radical to support in this spot, as you never know which Eskimos team will show up. Plus, in their last 10 home games vs. Eastern division Opponents, the Eskimos are 2-8 ATS. Toronto is 8-3 SU and ATS in Edmonton since 1996. Play Toronto +5.5
ATSDatabase Tip: When ANY CFL Team played as a 3.5 to 6.5 Road Underdog -After a division game - Coming off a game scored 31 points or more - Coming off a Home win as a Favorite - Allowed scored 24 points or less against. The Road Underdog is 8-4 ATS in this situation since ’96.
Forecast: Toronto 28 Edmonton 24
Montreal 52.0 vs. Saskatchewan -6
Pick: Saskatchewan -6.0
Ron’s Comment: The CFL is a quarterback league and when your number one pivot is sidelined with a rotary cuff, chances are you will struggle. The Alouettes are 1-4 SU in their last 5 games and without AC and Watkins and Cahoon, the Als are finding out their depth chart is not as deep as other clubs. However, Calvillo is expected to be back this weekend, but they will be facing a desperate Roughriders team who just lost a heartbreaker last weekend vs. the Lions and are currently riding a 3 game losing streak. In fact, from a point spread point of view, they haven’t covered a spread since August 10th in a 24-13 road win vs. the Argos as a -5.5 point road chalk. Montreal is very lucky to be a .500 ball club right now and with 2 straight back to back loses to Edmonton, you can see tension are high in Alouettes camp these days and we all know what happens when you start pointing fingers. Play on Saskatchewan -6.
ATSDatabase Tip: When ANY CFL Team played as a Home team -During the month of September -With 6 day off - Coming off a game scored 34 points or less - Coming off back to back SU loss; The Home Team is 20-5 ATS in this role.
Forecast: Saskatchewan 34 Montreal 17
Hamilton 50.5 vs. Winnipeg -10
Pick: UNDER 50.05
Ron’s Comment: When the line first came out, I thought Hamilton as a +10 point road underdog was a good value play, but that was with Casey Printers starting, not Ritchie Williams. Plus, with Jesse Lumsden in the backfield, he can get you some decent yardage which can result in some points, either a field goal or touchdowns. Plus, Nick Setta is probably the best place kicker in the CFL and that’s money when you’re betting underdogs. As for the Blue Bombers, they are coming off a 31-23 lost to Toronto, but failed on their comeback, after being down 21-1 at the half. To be honest, this is a tough game to call, because you have two different types of offenses with Printers and Williams at the helm. However, the strongest part about the Tiger Cats is their defense, so let’s play on their strength of keeping this a low scoring game.
ATSDatabase Tip: When WINNIPEG team played as Home team as a Favorite - Coming off a 2 Road stand; The UNDER is 12-3-0 for the Blue Bombers in this spot.
Forecast: Winnipeg 24 Hamilton 14
Calgary 54.5 vs. B.C.Lions -10.5
Pick: UNDER 54.5
Ron’s Comment: The Stampeders are coming off a double jeopardy here, as they lost to the last place team Hamilton Tiger Cats last weekend and lost their starting QB Henri Burris to injury in the dying seconds of the game in which he was marching his team for a score. Now, when you look at the B.C.Lions, they are coming off an emotional division last minute win last weekend vs. Saskatchewan, in which tempers were at a all time high for both teams. The line opened at -7.0 and the Burris injury news raised this line to -10.5. The Lions are in a classic letdown spot here vs. the Stampeders, but it’s hard to put your faith and money onto a QB like former Oregon Ducks standout Akili Smith, when he’s got no CFL experience and he’s heading into the Lions den this weekend. I would recommend you don’t touch the side on this game, as the Lions could be flat and the Stamps could have allot of 2 and outs. Play the UNDER.
ATSDatabase Tip: When BRITISH COLUMBIA team played as a Home team -After a division game - Coming off a 1 game over; The UNDER is 14-3-0 for the Lions in this spot since 1996.
Forecast: B.C.Lions 31 Calgary 7
Ron’s CFL Record:
5* CFL BEST BET Record: 5-7-1 ATS
1* CFL Record: 24-19 ATS
Straight up Forecast: 31-16-1 SU