CFL season betting preview: How to bet the East Division-West and Best Bets !

The 2014 CFL season will kick off on Thursday night in Winnipeg as the Blue Bombers host the Argos. There will be nine teams competing for the ultimate prize this year, as Ottawa has re-joined the fold.

Here’s a look at how the East Division teams stack up entering the new campaign.

East Division

Montreal Alouettes (2013: 8-10 SU, 11-7 ATS)

Odds to win division: +250
Odds to win Grey Cup: +706

Why to bet the Alouettes: Montreal might possess the best receiving corps in the CFL, led by Jamel Richardson, S.J. Green and emerging young talent Duron Carter. Former Heisman Trophy winner, QB Troy Smith has big shoes to fill, but does have the pedigree to succeed, and he’ll get plenty of help. The East Division might be a little watered down with the addition of expansion Ottawa, perhaps opening the door for an Als bounce-back year.

Why not to bet the Alouettes: The Anthony Calvillo era has come to an end, and that obviously leaves more questions than answers. That’s not to mention the fact that the Als lost a pair of offensive line standouts to retirement in the offseason, and did little to improve their team by way of free agency or the draft.

Grey Cup outlook: Poor. Inconsistency will plague the Als on both sides of the football, leading to a likely third place finish in the East Division.


Toronto Argonauts (2013: 11-7 SU, 9-8-1 ATS)

Odds to win division: +150
Odds to win Grey Cup: +639

Why to bet the Argos: The face of the league is also the face of the Argos in QB Ricky Ray. While health has been an issue in recent years, if Ray can stay on the field, the Argos will be among the best offensive teams in the league once again.

Why not to bet the Argos: Toronto will be forced to go with a running back by committee approach after Chad Kackert’s sudden retirement. Losing cornerback Patrick Watkins and versatile QB Zach Collaros won’t help matters either. It remains to be seen whether the Argos have enough depth to contend in the East.

Grey Cup outlook: Average at best. Scott Milanovich has proven to be a first class head coach, but he’ll need to do some of his best work to get the Argos back to the Grey Cup this year.


Hamilton Tiger-Cats (2013: 10-8 SU, 9-9 ATS)

Odds to win division: +200
Odds to win Grey Cup: +700

Why to bet the Ti-Cats: Credit Ti-Cats management for shaking things up after reaching last year’s Grey Cup. Henry Burris wasn’t getting any younger, and the move to a younger, more versatile QB in Zach Collaros should give the offense another shot in the arm. In fact, most of Hamilton’s offseason focus was placed on improving the offense.

Why not to bet the Ti-Cats: How long will it take Collaros to get up to speed with the offense? There are also a number of questions on the defensive side of the football, where the Ti-Cats did little to improve prospects in the offseason.

Grey Cup outlook: Good. The Ti-Cats will be hungry to get back after getting embarrassed by the Riders last November.


Ottawa Redblacks (2013: N/A)

Odds to win division: +500
Odds to win Grey Cup: +1800

Why to bet the Redblacks: There’s reason for optimism in Ottawa, even if it is the Redblacks inaugural campaign. While they are starting from scratch, the cupboard is by no means bare. Henry Burris will start the season under centre, while RB Chevon Walker and WR Paris Jackson give them much needed explosiveness all over the field. Ottawa’s defensive roster is filled with veterans.

Why not to bet the Redblacks: It’s obviously going to take some time for the roster to mesh. We did see some promising signs in the preseason, but it’s important not to get too carried away with those exhibition results. Ottawa may contend with its Eastern counterparts, but the West will be another story.

Grey Cup outlook: Not a chance. The Redblacks will simply be looking to build toward the future this year. As long as the product they put on the field is entertaining, it’s a win for the city of Ottawa.

2014 CFL Future Odds

June 22, 2014

The new CFL season begins on Thursday June 26 with Winnipeg hosting Toronto. Defending champion Saskatchewan will open their season on Sunday June 29 by hosting Hamilton. Saskatchewan is tied with Calgary at 4/1 odds to win the Grey Cup, while B.C. is the favorite to win it all. Below are the latest odds from Sportsbook.ag for the upcoming CFL campaign.

Odds to win the 2014 CFL Grey Cup
B.C. Lions 15/4
Calgary Stampeders 4/1
Saskatchewan Roughriders 4/1
Hamilton Tiger-Cats 7/1
Toronto Argonauts 15/2
Montreal Alouettes 8/1
Edmonton Eskimos 9/1
Winnipeg Blue Bombers 12/1
Ottawa RedBlacks 18/1

Odds to Win the CFL East Division
Toronto Argonauts 3/2
Hamilton Tiger-Cats 2/1
Montreal Alouettes 5/2
Ottawa RedBlacks 7/1

Odds to Win the CFL West Division
B.C. Lions 9/5
Calgary Stampeders 2/1
Saskatchewan Roughriders 2/1
Edmonton Eskimos 5/1
Winnipeg Blue Bombers 10/1

Who will win the Grey Cup
Team from the West Division -175
Team from the East Division +145

2014 CFL Grey Cup - Exact Matchup
Montreal Alouettes vs B.C. Lions 8/1
Montreal Alouettes vs Calgary Stampeders 9/1
Montreal Alouettes vs Saskatchewan Roughriders 9/1
Montreal Alouettes vs Edmonton Eskimos 20/1
Montreal Alouettes vs Winnipeg Blue Bombers 33/1
Toronto Argonauts vs B.C. Lions 7/1
Toronto Argonauts vs Calgary Stampeders 7/1
Toronto Argonauts vs Saskatchewan Roughriders 7/1
Toronto Argonauts vs Edmonton Eskimos 14/1
Toronto Argonauts vs Winnipeg Blue Bombers 25/1
Hamilton Tiger-Cats vs B.C. Lions 7/1
Hamilton Tiger-Cats vs Calgary Stampeders 17/2
Hamilton Tiger-Cats vs Saskatchewan Roughriders 17/2
Hamilton Tiger-Cats vs Edmonton Eskimos 16/1
Hamilton Tiger-Cats vs Winnipeg Blue Bombers 33/1
Ottawa RedBlacks vs B.C. Lions 20/1
Ottawa RedBlacks vs Calgary Stampeders 22/1
Ottawa RedBlacks vs Saskatchewan Roughriders 22/1
Ottawa RedBlacks vs Edmonton Eskimos 45/1
Ottawa RedBlacks vs Winnipeg Blue Bombers 75/1
Any Other Matchup 25/1

TORONTO -- The snow has melted, the grass is green, and the sun is shining. Yes, it's summer in Canada, which means it's time for football.

Another CFL season is nearly upon us, with just days separating millions of fans from the 2014 campaign's inaugural kickoff in Winnipeg, as the Bombers host the Argonauts on Thursday night.

Here are 10 players (in no particular order) to keep an eye on during the regular season:

John Chiles, WR, Toronto Argonauts: Chiles enters the 2014 season amid high expectations from both fans,
and his own organization. In 2013, he racked up a surprising 725 yards and eight touchdowns as a rookie. Can he top those numbers now that he's on the radar of defences across the league?

Zach Collaros, QB, Hamilton Tiger-Cats: If Collaros' 2013 performance is any type of indicator, the Ticats should be
just fine under their new starting QB's leadership. How he'll fare as a starter is yet to be determined, but all signs
are pointing in the right direction in Hamilton.

Jon Cornish, RB, Calgary Stampeders: Despite all the personal accolades collected by the Canadian tailback in 2013 (Most Outstanding Player, Most Outstanding Canadian, Lou Marsh Trophy), Cornish will be the first to tell you that the only trophy that matters is the one given out following the final game of the CFL Calendar. Expect him to do whatever it takes to lift it at season's end.

Darian Durant, QB, Saskatchewan Roughriders: Fresh off his first Grey Cup victory, Durant will look to further cement his legacy in both the CFL and it's most intense market. But with no Kory Sheet, Weston Dressler or Geroy Simon to help him offensively, will we see a different Durant in 2014?

CJ Gable, RB, Hamilton Tiger-Cats: Last season's East Division Most Outstanding Rookie jumps, jukes, spins, and
powers his way into the new season, with expectations of developing into an elite CFL tailback. Look for him to anchor what should be a dangerous Hamilton offence in 2014.

Chad Johnson, WR, Montreal Alouettes: With plenty of fanfare, Johnson arrives in Montreal looking to not only
provide some depth on the Alouette offence, but to also re-establish himself as an effective football player. Don't
expect immediate results from the 36-year-old, as it should take him some time to familiarize himself with the new field.

Khalif Mitchell, DT, BC Lions: Back in his comfort zone on the West Coast, Mitchell's nastiness and tenacity is something the Lions will welcome with open arms in what's expected to be a very tight West Division.

Troy Smith, QB, Montreal Alouettes: Imagine the most popular guy at the office just quit, and you were chosen
to step in and replace him. Not the easiest of situations, is it? Replacing Anthony Calvillo is no easy feat, but the Als
appear to have full confidence in their new starting pivot, and they've provided him with all the tools he needs to succeed.

Chevon Walker, RB, Ottawa REDBLACKS: Forced to the bench by CJ Gable as a member of the Ticats in 2013, Walker will try and guide the newborn REDBLACKS to some success as their featured back in 2014. His final pre-season performance (47 yards, three touchdowns) showed he's ready to rock when his team begins their regular season in Week 2.

Drew Willy, QB, Winnipeg Blue Bombers: Named the starter before he even put a Blue and Gold jersey on, Willy
is charged with bringing the Bombers back into the post-season conversation, and even beyond. While that might
be too much to expect this year, Willy should provide Bomber fans with ample reasons to smile going forward.

Bo's Ball: Mitchell to start for Stamps vs. Als

Posted: June 23, 2014 02:45 PM
Updated: June 23, 2014 03:00 PM

CALGARY -- A competition for the highest-profile position on the football field makes for a compelling storyline, so it’s no surprise that fans and media had been fixated on the battle for the No. 1 quarterback job with the Calgary Stampeders.

Much had been written and said about the arms race between Drew Tate and Bo Levi Mitchell and Stamps head coach and general manager John Hufnagel was asked almost daily for a progress update on the competition.

Coach Huff brought an end to the drama on Monday by announcing that Mitchell would be under centre for Saturday’s home-opener against the Montreal Alouettes, but the coach stressed that both players figure to see plenty of action in 2014.

“In my mind,” said Hufnagel, “it really doesn’t matter who’s the starting quarterback for Game 1. It’s a long season, they’re all going to play, and I believe they both will play well when they’re on the field.”

The numbers back up the coach/GM on both fronts. As far as the credentials of Tate and Mitchell go, both players have enjoyed success with the Red and White.
Related Links

Career stats: Bo Levi Mitchell
Career stats: Drew Tate
Stamps downed by Leos in pre-season

Tate has been with the Stamps since 2009 and became the starter in Week 17 of the 2011 season. Injuries have limited him to eight regular-season and two playoff starts since that time but he has been very productive when healthy, posting a 5-0 record when he plays the entire game.

He has completed 259 or 381 passes during his Stamps career (a 68.0-per cent completion rate, the highest total in franchise history) for 3,270 yards, 24 touchdowns and just nine interceptions.

Mitchell has been with the Stamps for two seasons and posted a 3-0 record when called upon as a starter in 2013. He completed 94 of 135 passes last season for 1,156 yards, 10 touchdowns and three interceptions.

Coincidentally, both players had a tough night in the Stamps’ pre-season game at BC last week although bad luck — passes were deflected by Calgary receivers and even by an official into the hands of Lions defenders — played a role in the quarterbacks’ struggles.

And when it comes to the suggestion that both players are likely to get their chance this season, one only needs to look back to 2013 when three different QBs — Tate, Mitchell and the since-departed Kevin Glenn — started and won games for the Stamps.

And it’s not just in Calgary that the pivots were rotating a year ago. In an eight-team (at the time) league, 18 different quarterbacks started games including one player who started games for two teams (Buck Pierce in Winnipeg and BC) and four different QBs in Montreal (Anthony Calvillo, Josh Neiswander, Tanner Marsh and Troy Smith).

Only two clubs — Edmonton (Mike Reilly) and Hamilton (Henry Burris) — had the same starter for all 18 regular-season contests.

With Burris now with the expansion Ottawa RedBlacks, Pierce and Calvillo retired and Glenn in line to start the year as the Lions No. 1 QB in favour of injured Travis Lulay, five of the eight incumbent teams in the league will have new season-opening starters in 2014.

The Calgary quarterbacks have proven that they will support one another regardless of the order on the depth chart from week to week. When Glenn was in the picture a year ago, observers marveled at how well the trio of talented throwers got along even when outside forces tried to create a quarterback controversy.

There’s no reason to believe that will change this year with Tate, Mitchell and newcomer Bryant Moniz, who won the No. 3 job in training camp.

“Obviously, you want to be the guy,” said Mitchell last week, “but no matter what, no matter who is in there, we’re going to win and that’s all we care about.”

Extended in Edmonton: Reilly re-ups with Eskimos

Posted: June 23, 2014 12:20 PM
Updated: June 23, 2014 12:33 PM


EDMONTON -- The Edmonton Eskimos have signed quarterback Mike Reilly to a contract extension, keeping him in Green and Gold through the 2016 season.

In 18 games (18 starts) last season, Reilly completed 305-of-512 passes for 4,207 yards (59.6% completion rate), 24 touchdowns and 18 interceptions. His passing yards and TD passes ranked second in the CFL.

In Week 8, against Toronto, Reilly passed for 511 yards - the fourth highest in a single game on the Eskimos all-time list.

Reilly also carried the ball 84 times for 709 yards (8.4 avg.) and one touchdown. He led all CFL quarterbacks in rushing and ranked fifth in the league. He is the first quarterback since 2007 to run for over 700 yards in a single season.

Reilly was originally traded to Edmonton from BC on Jan. 31,2013 along with the Lions' second round pick in the 2013 CFL Canadian Draft in exchange for Edmonton's second round picks in the 2013 and 2014 CFL Canadian Drafts.

Steinberg's MMQB: Looking back and gazing ahead

Posted: June 23, 2014 09:00 AM


So the 2014 Canadian Football League pre-season is in the books, and we have our fair share of question marks. How will Ottawa do in their return to the league? What will life after AC look like in Montreal? How will a young Riders team defend their Grey Cup?

Questions like these are why we look forward to the end of June every year, and 2014 is no different.

When you factor in some of the decisions made Saturday as teams got down to size, the start of the coming campaign becomes even more intriguing. The preseason helped make a lot of decisions, but it’s good to know that we’ve got meaningful football to watch from now until November.

Deep cuts

Jamel Richardson headlines the list of surprise cuts as teams trimmed their rosters down to 46 on Saturday. The circumstances that lead to the decision are still a little fuzzy, so the MMQB feels a little hesitant to pass judgment on the choice itself.
Fan Poll
Which cut-day release surprised you most?
1) Jamel Richardson
2) Hugh Charles
3) Romby Bryant
4) Other

That said, we do feel comfortable passing on a few thoughts.

First off, I’ve always had a great appreciation for the way Richardson plays. Prior to his injury shortened 2013 season, Richardson had forged a reputation as one of the most reliable, physical, and explosive receivers in this league.

Watching him dominate defensive backs during his five straight 1,000-yard seasons truly was a pleasure, as he brought a skill set that was extremely unique.

With reports surfacing Richardson is on the verge of signing with Toronto, there are going to be questions as to how he’ll recover from a major knee injury. Chiefly: can he still play the physical brand of football he did prior?

I hope the answer is yes, and my gut says the answer is yes as well. But that’s just my gut. However, if my gut ends up being correct, he will absolutely be an asset to the Argos.

And, with a new full time starting quarterback in Montreal, there’s a pretty realistic chance his old squad will miss what he brings too.

I remember watching the Edmonton Eskimos beat the Hamilton Tiger-Cats 30-20 in Week 2 of the 2013 season and being extremely impressed with one player in particular.

That player was also the most notable name cut by the Eskimos on Saturday: running back Hugh Charles.

The game referenced above saw Charles score a pair of touchdowns while racking up 149 combined yards of offence.

I always wondered why then Head Coach Kavis Reed didn’t use Charles more extensively in his two full years in Edmonton, because I always thought he could be an extremely dangerous weapon.

2013 saw his touches drop from 202 to 136 from the year prior (with only one less game played), and you could tell he was becoming less and less a part of Edmonton’s offensive game plan.

I still maintain that more consistent usage of Charles would have been good for the Eskimos, but that page has been turned.

At 28, I still think the guy can play and could help a team right now. He’s a dual threat back who can stretch the field when catching the ball out of the backfield, and he’s no slouch in a pure running game either.

Let’s see if he catches on somewhere in 2014.

Good signs

Good news: three teams left their fans with positive quarterback impressions in their final pre-season week. Leading that pack is Ottawa’s Henry Burris. As we talked about last week, there are lots of areas the REDBLACKS will need to improve on throughout the season, but at the very least, it looks like they’ve got a quarterback who will keep them somewhat competitive.

Burris threw just five incomplete passes in a 26-10 win over Montreal on Friday night, and did so in impressive fashion. He hooked up with nine different receivers, looked comfortable in the pocket, and performed up to the high standard we’ve come to expect from him.

He truly is an ideal guy to help kick start an expansion franchise.

It was tough to get a true read on Zach Collaros in his Hamilton debut a couple weekends ago, so Tiger-Cats fans were likely pretty stoked to see him settle in and play some controlled football Thursday in Toronto.

Yes, the Argos prevailed 41-23, but the best news for Hamilton came from Collaros, who threw for 196 yards and ran for 22 more. He has a presence when he’s on the field, and I’m excited to see his first full year as a CFL starter.

Mike Reilly was just fine in his second pre-season game, and it sure looks like he’s solidified his status as a starter in this league. But it was Matt Nichols who was the story in Edmonton’s 19-14 win over the Riders on Friday night.

Nichols, who has had nothing but bad injury luck over the last two seasons, threw for 155 yards on 8-for-11 passing in his second exhibition outing of 2014.

Make no mistake, Reilly is the guy in Edmonton, and he should be. But knowing the difficulty the Eskimos had in protecting him last year, there’s always a chance Nichols may be called upon at some point. Seeing him have a positive pre-season is extremely encouraging.

Parting shots

Troy Smith’s pre-season debut for the Alouettes wasn’t as encouraging as some of the performances we just highlighted. However, I still think Montreal made a smart move when they brought him in last season.

His explosive ability and eagerness to make big plays will be more and more of an asset as he continues to hone in his understanding of the Canadian game.

He’ll never be as accurate as that guy who won a few titles in Montreal, but I still think he can be a CFL winner.

Nothing changes for me when it comes to Calgary’s quarterback situation. Drew Tate should be the Week 1 starter, even as neither he nor Bo Levi Mitchell were overly impressive in a 37-13 setback Friday in BC.

Tate is more accurate and can manage an offence better at this stage in his career. Mitchell’s ceiling is extremely high, and is time is coming, but I don’t think it’s here yet.

I’m not sure if anyone saw this, but how cool is it to see SI.com roll with Canada Week? We, um, borrowed the name of this column from Peter King who is spearheading seven days of coverage on Sports Illustrated’s website.

Former Als Head Coach Marc Trestman and the legendary Doug Flutie are writing columns, while King himself is covering the Stamps and Riders home openers. That’s pretty cool.
About Pat

Pat Steinberg is the co-host of the drive home program on Sportsnet Radio FAN 960 in Calgary. He also reports on the CFL and the Stampeders and hosts pre and post-game programs for the team. He looks forward to traveling to the Grey Cup every year. Follow Pat on Twitter @Fan960Steinberg.

Three's company: Lulay, Iannuzzi, Arceneaux out for BC

Posted: June 23, 2014 12:30 PM
Updated: June 23, 2014 12:56 PM


VANCOUVER – The BC Lions will open their 2014 regular season campaign without an important trio on the offensive side of the ball.

Monday, the team placed QB Travis Lulay, as well as receivers Emmanuel Arceneaux and Marco Iannuzzi on the one-week injured list, meaning all three will be unavailable to play when the team hosts the Edmonton Eskimos on Saturday.

Lulay did not particiapte in any pre-season action, as he continues to recover from off-season shoulder surgery. It appears as though the team will be handling his situation on a week-to-week basis.

With Lulay out, expect veteran pivot Kevin Glenn to lead the Lions offence for the time being.

Both Arceneaux and Iannuzzi also didn't see much action in the pre-season. Arceneaux has been nursing a broken hand suffered early in training camp, while the Lions have not released information on Ianuzzi’s injury.

The Lions also added DL Brandon Jordan, and LB Alex Hoffman-Ellis to the one-game injured list on Monday, and added offensive lineman Cody Husband to the 6-game injured list.

Bryant the odd man out of Toronto's receiving corps


Posted: June 22, 2014 04:30 PM
Updated: June 22, 2014 05:04 PM


TORONTO -- Jim Barker hates telling a football player he's been released, especially one he has a history with.

The Toronto Argonauts GM gave 14 players their pink slips Saturday night to reach the 46-man limit. Included was veteran receiver Romby Bryant -- who goes back six years with Barker -- and defensive back Alonzo Lawrence, a starter last year.

"He (Bryant) has been with me since back in Calgary and he's such a phenomenal pro,'' Barker, who served as Calgary's coach and in its front office before returning to Toronto following the 2009 season, said Sunday. "The ones that have been there the longest are the hardest but they're all hard.

"These guys come in and you just hate to have to do it but it's part of what the business is.''

Bryant, 34, missed much of last season after being injured in a pre-season game against Montreal. He was limited to eight receptions for 91 yards and two touchdowns.

Bryant's best season was with Calgary in 2010 when he had 78 receptions for 1,170 yards and 15 TDs. He was also part of the Stampeders team that lost 35-22 to Toronto in the historic 100th Grey Cup game in '12 at Rogers Centre.
Roster Recap


All CFL teams cut their rosters down late Saturday night. Track all the moves heading into Week 1 here.

Bryant began his CFL career with Winnipeg in '08 and recorded 304 catches for 4,557 yards and 33 TDs over seven seasons.

The six-foot, 218-pound Lawrence had 44 tackles, two interceptions, two fumble recoveries and a sack last season, his first with Toronto.

In both situations, Bryant and Lawrence were beat out by younger players.

"I guess some of it is a philosophical deal, do you take a younger guy when they're similar (with veteran) and that's for the most part how we feel,'' head coach Scott Milanovich said. "If you've got two guys who are in the same neighbourhood, you go with the younger guy who has more time but Romby can still play.

"If you would've asked me a week ago I would've said Romby would be on our active roster. If you would've asked me a week ago I would've said Alonzo was probably a starter. We just had some guys step up and play a little better and that's a good thing for us.''

Offensively, Barker said young receivers Terrrell Sinkfield and Darvin Adams impressed throughout camp. Sinkfield had eight catches for 100 yards and a TD in Toronto's 41-23 exhibition win over Hamilton on Thursday while Adams added three catches for 67 yards and a touchdown.

"You just kept expecting one of them to fall off and they never did,'' Barker said. "They just got stronger as camp went and grasped what we're trying to do.

"Those two young guys made it difficult to keep Romby.''

Meanwhile on defence, Milanovich said Lawrence got caught up in shuffle within the secondary.

"We moved Brandon Smith from halfback to field cornerback and he also has return ability on special teams,'' Milanovich said. "Brandon Underwood moved to halfback and really picked it up quickly.

"Jamie Robinson has settled in as the Sam (linebacker). Alonzo was a field corner and some of these other guys have a little bit more versatility and can play more than one spot.''

Also released were: national long-snapper Michael Benson, national receivers Evan Pszczonak and Tore Corrado, international defensive linemen Padrick Scott and Dexter Davis, international receiver J.D. Falslev, national offensive linemen Kirby Fletcher and Thomas Griffiths, international punter/kicker Josh Jasper, international linebacker Eddie Lackey, international defensive back Andre Martin Jr. and international receiver K.J. Stroud.

Toronto kept four running backs -- Curtis Steele, Jeremiah Johnson, Canadian rookie Anthony Coombs and the injured Steve Slaton -- and three fullbacks -- rookies Alexandre Dupuis and Brendan Gillanders and veteran Zander Robinson. Milanovich said the club will go with a running back by committee as it attempts to replace Chad Kackert, the '12 Grey Cup MVP who retired prior to training camp after a slow recovery from a serious leg injury late last season.

Kackert remains Toronto's strength-and-conditioning coach.

"That's just a position you need to have some depth at,'' Barker said. "In Curtis Steele, we have a guy who's also one of our top special-teams players.

"There's a lot of guys who made this football team because of what they do on special teams. You're going to look at our roster and say, 'Wow, you've got seven running backs.'' The thing is they're all special-teams picks, a lot of them. That's just part of putting your roster together."

Toronto opens the '14 season Thursday night in Winnipeg. And despite the Argos managing nine sacks in their exhibition win over Hamilton, Milanovich said his team has plenty of work to do before it can consider itself a Grey Cup contender.

"I don't take a lot of stock in what happened in the pre-season,'' he said. "I just got done telling the team we're an average football team right now.

"But a defence that gets after the quarterback energizes a team. I hope we're able to do that Thursday night.''

2013 Regular Season Standings

West Division


GP W L T PTS F A HOME AWAY DIV STREAK

y - Calgary 18 14 4 0 28 549 413 8 - 1 - 0 6 - 3 - 0 7 - 3 - 0 L1

x - Saskatchewan 18 11 7 0 22 519 398 6 - 3 - 0 5 - 4 - 0 6 - 4 - 0 L2

x - BC 18 11 7 0 22 504 461 8 - 1 - 0 3 - 6 - 0 6 - 4 - 0 W2

Edmonton 18 4 14 0 8 421 519 1 - 8 - 0 3 - 6 - 0 1 - 9 - 0 W1

East Division


GP W L T PTS F A HOME AWAY DIV STREAK

y - Toronto 18 11 7 0 22 507 458 4 - 5 - 0 7 - 2 - 0 6 - 4 - 0 L1

x - Hamilton 18 10 8 0 20 453 468 6 - 3 - 0 4 - 5 - 0 8 - 2 - 0 W2

x - Montreal 18 8 10 0 16 459 471 4 - 5 - 0 4 - 5 - 0 4 - 6 - 0 W1

Winnipeg 18 3 15 0 6 361 585 1 - 8 - 0 2 - 7 - 0 2 - 8 - 0 L3

CFL season betting preview: How to bet the West Division

The 2014 CFL season will kick off on Thursday night in Winnipeg as the Blue Bombers host the Argos. There will be nine teams competing for the ultimate prize this year, as Ottawa has re-joined the fold. The B.C. Lions are currently favored to hoist the Grey Cup, with Saskatchewan and Calgary not far behind.

Here’s a look at how the West Division teams stack up entering the new campaign.

West Division

Calgary Stampeders (2013: 14-4 SU, 11-6-1 ATS)

Odds to win division: +200
Odds to win Grey Cup: +404

Why to bet the Stampeders: Calgary has two of the league’s best (some would say backup) quarterbacks in Drew Tate and Bo Levi Mitchell. Who will get the starting nod remains to be seen, but it’s a nice problem to have in the CFL, where durability tends to be an issue. With former Most Outstanding Player winner Jon Cornish in the backfield, neither Tate or Mitchell will have to shoulder the entire load.

Why not to bet the Stampeders: Has the window closed on the Stampeders? It seemed as if they peaked two years ago, when they reached the Grey Cup in Toronto. While they were terrific in the regular season a year ago, the playoffs were a different story.

Grey Cup outlook: Good. However, they’re going to need the offense to hum under the guidance of Tate or Mitchell.


Saskatchewan Roughriders (2013: 11-7 SU, 8-9-1 ATS)

Odds to win division: +200
Odds to win Grey Cup: +397

Why to bet the Roughriders: Darian Durant is back under centre, giving the Riders some continuity on offense. They’ve got plenty of depth all over the field, which is a good thing given some of the offseason departures. Don’t sleep on the Riders defense either, one of the most underrated units in the league.

Why not to bet the Roughriders: Kory Sheets and Weston Dressler will both be trying out south of the border this Summer, leaving a pair of substantial voids in the Riders offense. While both could return, that wouldn’t be likely to happen until Labour Day.

Grey Cup outlook: Not as good as the odds indicate. Could a letdown be in order after the Riders won the Grey Cup in their own backyard last year?


B.C. Lions (2013: 11-7 SU, 9-9 ATS)

Odds to win division: +180
Odds to win Grey Cup: +323

Why to bet the Lions: The Grey Cup host has ultimately hoisted the trophy in each of the last two years, and it’s the Lions turn this Fall. The sky is the limit for a team that’s loaded with stars on both sides of the football. The addition of QB Kevin Glenn gives the Lions a nice veteran presence behind Travis Lulay.

Why not to bet the Lions: The Lions offensive line is young and inexperienced. It won’t matter who is taking the snaps if the line can’t protect. We’ve seen this story play out before, with the Lions receiving plenty of hype prior to the start of the season, only to disappoint. We’ll see if that holds true this year.

Grey Cup outlook: Excellent. On paper, the Lions are the favorite for good reason. The added motivation of hosting the Grey Cup should serve them well.


Edmonton Eskimos (2013: 4-14 SU, 8-10 ATS)

Odds to win division: +500
Odds to win Grey Cup: +1000

Why to bet the Eskimos: Last season was a rebuilding year, plain and simple. Expectations aren’t all that high this year either, but the potential is there for the Esks to make a move. Mike Reilly has cemented his role as the team’s starting QB. The addition of former Argos defensive coordinator Chris Jones, not to mention CB Patrick Watkins bolsters an already promising defensive corps.

Why not to bet the Eskimos: Make no mistake, the Esks are still in rebuild mode. In a tough West Division, they’re unlikely to contend, but would look at six or seven wins as a major positive moving forward. If Reilly can’t stay healthy, the offense could be in serious trouble.

Grey Cup outlook: Poor. The Eskimos will be a fun team to watch, and should make positive strides, but shouldn’t be involved in too many Grey Cup conversations.


Winnipeg Blue Bombers (2013: 3-15 SU, 5-12-1 ATS)

Odds to win division: +1000
Odds to win Grey Cup: +1200

Why to bet the Blue Bombers: New head coach Mike O’Shea should provide a breath of fresh air to a struggling Blue Bombers franchise. After ranking last in both scoring offense and defense a year ago, there’s nowhere to go but up for the Bombers. QB Drew Willy takes over the offense and the move should pay dividends in short order.

Why not to bet the Blue Bombers: Outside of O’Shea and Willy, there are few reasons for optimism – this year at least. The Bombers are in a similar position to that of the Eskimos last year. They know the direction they’re headed in, but not quite sure how to get there. We’ll see plenty of growing pains again in 2014.

Grey Cup outlook: Poor. Unless O’Shea is able to pull off a miracle in his first year in Winnipeg, the Bombers will likely be looking at a five or six win season.

Good stuff. Thanks for posting.

CFL Betting Notes - Week 1

June 24, 2014

A brand new year of CFL action is ready to kick things off this Thursday night in Winnipeg as the 2014 regular season gets underway. The big news heading into a new season, in addition to a new labor contract between the owners and the CFL Players Association, is the expansion to nine teams with the addition of the Ottawa RedBlacks, who will be a part of the East Division.

To balance things out geographically, the Blue Bombers will now be playing out of the West Division along with the 2013 Grey Cup Champion Saskatchewan Roughriders, who will close-out the first week of action this Sunday at home against Hamilton in a rematch of last year’s championship game.

Thursday, June 26

Toronto Argonauts vs. Winnipeg Blue Bombers
Line: Toronto -4 ½
Total: 53 ½

Toronto won the East Division last season with a straight-up record of 11-7, but it was stunned by Hamilton 36-24 in the East Division Finals as a five-point home favorite. The Argonauts finished the regular season with a 9-8-1 record against the spread overall and they were a profitable 6-2-1 ATS on the road. The total went OVER in 10 of the 18 games.

The Blue Bombers followed-up a disappointing 6-12 campaign in 2012 with a dismal 3-15 SU mark that was the worst in the league last year. They were slightly better ATS at 5-12-1, but closed things out by covering in just one of their last eight games. The total went an even 9-9 overall with six of the games going OVER at home.

The Argonauts are 3-0-1 ATS in their last four trips to Winnipeg and they are 3-1-1 ATS in the last five meetings overall. The total has stayed UNDER in 10 of the last 14 meetings at Investors Group Field. The road team has won five of the last seven meetings SU and the total has gone OVER in three of the last four games between these two.

Saturday, June 28

Montreal Alouettes vs. Calgary Stampeders
Line: Calgary -7
Total: 54 ½

Montreal remains one of the premier franchises in the CFL, but it comes into this season fresh off an 8-10 SU (11-7 ATS) losing season in 2013. The Alouettes will also start the year without long-time veteran quarterback Anthony Calvillo, who finally decided to retire after coming into the league in 1994. Despite the losing record, Montreal was a solid bet on the road last season with a 7-2 mark ATS.

The Stampeders won the West Division last season with the CFL’s best overall record at 14-4 SU, but their run in the playoffs was cut short with a 35-13 loss to Saskatchewan as five-point favorites at home in the West Final. They went 11-6-1 ATS in 2013 with a 5-3-1 ATS record at home. The total went OVER in six of their nine games at home.

In the two meetings last season, Calgary won both ends of an early season home-and-home series both SU and ATS. The Stampeders outscored Montreal by a combined 19 points and the total went OVER the 49 ½-point closing line in a 38-27 victory as seven-point home favorites at McMahon Stadium. It stayed UNDER the 53 ½-point line in their 22-14 road victory against the Alouettes as two-point underdogs.

Edmonton Eskimos vs. British Columbia Lions
Line: BC -7 ½
Total: 52

Edmonton went in the wrong direction in 2013 with just four SU victories after posting a 7-11 SU record in 2012 that was actually good enough to make the playoffs. The Eskimos went 8-10 ATS last season and while they were just 2-7 ATS at home, they did manage to cover in six of their nine games on the road. The total went OVER in 12 of the 18 games.

The Lions won 13 games SU in 2012, but that number dropped to 11 in 2013. They faced the Roughriders in the opening round of the playoffs and came out on the wrong end of a 29-25 loss as 4 ½-point road underdogs. BC was an even 9-9 ATS in the regular season. The total also went 9-9, but it did stay UNDER in six of nine games at home.

BC won’t have the services of quarterback Travis Lulay this weekend, who is still nursing a shoulder injury. Veteran Kevin Glenn is expected to get the starting nod for the Lions while Lulay recovers.

These West Division foes met three times last season with BC sweeping the series both SU and ATS. The total went OVER in two of the three games. The average margin of victory in the three games was 12.7 points with the Lions averaging 30.3 points per game.

Sunday, June 29

Hamilton Tiger-Cats vs. Saskatchewan Roughriders
Line: Saskatchewan -5 ½
Total: 55

Hamilton’s run all the way to the 2013 Grey Cup Championship was a bit of a shock after going just 10-8 SU in the regular season. It first knocked-off Montreal 19-16 as a 3 ½-point home favorite before upsetting Toronto in the division final. The Tiger-Cats were an even 9-9 ATS and the total stayed UNDER in 12 of the 18 games.

The Roughriders will begin the defense of their Grey Cup title fresh off an 11-7 SU record in 2013 that included eight SU victories in their first nine games. They regained their form at just the right time with a 6-2 SU run in their final eight games. The total went OVER in three of their final four contests including the 52-point closing line in their 45-23 victory in the Grey Cup as seven-point favorites.

Along with the victory in the title game both SU and ATS, Saskatchewan won a home-and-home series against Hamilton both ways in the 2013 regular season with the total staying UNDER in both games. It is now 4-1 both SU and ATS in the last five games between the two.

your welcome Jake.......can't wager blindly....give us all a chance right?

Toronto
Argonauts


Quarterbacks
Player Num Height Weight DOB
Gale, Mitchell 16 6'2" 231 lbs 1/7/1990
Harris, Trevor 7 6'3" 209 lbs 5/31/1986
Pachall, Casey 12 6'5" 230 lbs 11/14/1990
Portis, Josh 3 6'3" 204 lbs 7/14/1987
Ray, Ricky 15 6'3" 204 lbs 10/22/1979

Running Backs
Player Num Height Weight DOB
Coombs, Anthony 1 5'9" 190 lbs 10/26/1992
Johnson, Jeremiah 37 5'9" 210 lbs 2/15/1987
Slaton, Steve 20 5'9" 209 lbs 1/4/1986
Steele, Curtis 29 6'0" 180 lbs 3/24/1987

Fullbacks
Player Num Height Weight DOB
Dupuis, Alexandre 43 6'4" 245 lbs 3/23/1990
Gillanders, Brendan 45 5'11" 203 lbs 11/27/1990
Robinson, Alexander 87 6'5" 243 lbs 10/11/1989

Wide Receivers
Player Num Height Weight DOB
Adams, Darvin 9 6'2" 182 lbs 1/5/1990
Adjel, Natey 11 6'0" 195 lbs 9/15/1989
Bradwell, Mike 88 6'3" 197 lbs 7/11/1986
Chiles, John 85 6'1" 209 lbs 10/9/1988
Sinkfield, Terrell 83 6'0" 200 lbs 12/10/1990
Watt, Spencer 89 6'0" 180 lbs 12/15/1988

Centers
Player Num Height Weight DOB
Keeping, Jeff 67 6'6" 302 lbs 7/19/1982

Linebackers
Player Num Height Weight DOB
Emry, Shea 41 6'0" 228 lbs 4/23/1986
Hood, Jonathan 25 6'0" 205 lbs 12/23/1985
Horton, Shane 27 6'1" 215 lbs 7/25/1988
Jones, Greg 53 6'0" 242 lbs 10/5/1988
Miles, Thomas 48 6'1" 230 lbs 7/31/1992
Tonye-Tonye, Herve 40 5'11" 223 lbs 5/15/1988
Yurichuk, James 47 6'4" 230 lbs 11/1/1986

Safeties
Player Num Height Weight DOB
Black, Matt 39 5'9" 195 lbs 3/1/1985
Gabriel, Jermaine 5 5'10" 193 lbs 3/14/1990

Defensive Backs
Player Num Height Weight DOB
Black, Eric 30 6'1" 170 lbs 5/3/1991
Carter, Jalil 19 6'1" 205 lbs 7/18/1989
Robinson, Jamie 4 6'2" 192 lbs 6/28/1987
Smith, Branden 43 5'11" 182 lbs 12/19/1989
Underwood, Brandon 28 6'1" 190 lbs 6/24/1986
Ware, Matt 17 6'3" 218 lbs 12/2/1982

Guards
Player Num Height Weight DOB
Rogers, SirVincent 66 6'4" 319 lbs 5/9/1986

Defensive Ends
Player Num Height Weight DOB
Brown, Ivan 97 6'2" 240 lbs 7/18/1985
Laing, Cleyon 90 6'3" 280 lbs 11/25/1990

Tackles
Player Num Height Weight DOB
Sewell, Matt 59 6'8" 335 lbs 1/26/1990
Van Zeyl, Chris 54 6'6" 309 lbs 9/4/1983

Kickers
Player Num Height Weight DOB
Waters, Swayze 34 5'11" 181 lbs 5/18/1987

Long Snappers
Player Num Height Weight DOB
Reinhart, Jake 58 6'0" 220 lbs 11/25/1989

Defensive Lines
Player Num Height Weight DOB
Gibson, Thaddeus 6 6'2" 243 lbs 10/21/1987
Harrell, Logan 77 6'2" 280 lbs 9/25/1989
Johnson, Delano 93 6'4" 290 lbs 1/13/1988
Moore, Kyle 56 6'6" 270 lbs 10/25/1986
Okpalaugo, Tristan 91 6'6" 250 lbs 10/10/1989
Romeus, Greg 99 6'5" 267 lbs 4/29/1988
Whiteside, Aston 51 6'2" 255 lbs 5/19/1989

Offensive Lines
Player Num Height Weight DOB
Holmes, Tyler 57 6'4" 305 lbs 7/24/1988
King, Jarriel 61 6'5" 315 lbs 2/27/1987
Smith, Wayne 52 6'1" 304 lbs 11/17/1979

Slot-Backs
Player Num Height Weight DOB
Barnes, Jason 81 6'3" 187 lbs 4/11/1984
Durie, Andre 32 5'10" 199 lbs 7/27/1981
Owens, Chad 2 5'8" 180 lbs 4/3/1982

Winnipeg
Blue Bombers


Quarterbacks
Player Num Height Weight DOB
Brohm, Brian 12 6'3" 230 lbs 9/25/1985
Marve, Robert 16 6'1" 212 lbs 2/10/1989
Willy, Drew 5 6'3" 215 lbs 11/13/1986


Running Backs
Player Num Height Weight DOB
Cotton, Paris 34 5'9" 190 lbs 11/2/1989
Ford, Will 30 5'8" 191 lbs 12/15/1986
Grigsby, Nic 32 5'11" 199 lbs 12/26/1988
Volny, Carl 29 5'10" 208 lbs 12/25/1987


Fullbacks
Player Num Height Weight DOB
Fitzgerald, Carl 26 6'5" 239 lbs 1/13/1990
Pontbriand, Michael-Pierre 39 6'2" 233 lbs 3/4/1983


Wide Receivers
Player Num Height Weight DOB
Feoli-Gudino, Julian 83 6'1" 207 lbs 6/22/1987


Centers
Player Num Height Weight DOB
Goossen, Matthias 61 6'4" 294 lbs 10/14/1992


Linebackers
Player Num Height Weight DOB
Briggs, Jesse 40 6'1" 222 lbs 4/14/1990
Cornell, Mike 49 6'2" 225 lbs 12/5/1986
Kuale, E.J. 1 6'2" 229 lbs 6/22/1983
Stephan, Rene 42 6'2" 218 lbs 5/7/1988
Wild, Ian 38 6'0" 207 lbs 3/13/1990


Cornerbacks
Player Num Height Weight DOB
Markett, Marty 20 5'9" 168 lbs 9/7/1989


Safeties
Player Num Height Weight DOB
Sherman, Teague 27 5'11" 197 lbs 3/29/1988
West, Dan 33 6'2" 201 lbs 9/3/1986


Defensive Backs
Player Num Height Weight DOB
Alexander, Donovan 4 6'0" 181 lbs 4/3/1985
Banks, Korey 24 5'11" 190 lbs 8/15/1979
Bucknor, Matt 2 5'11" 180 lbs 6/30/1985
Dunn, Desia 23 5'9" 201 lbs 11/10/1988
Johnson, Bruce 25 5'11" 185 lbs 12/18/1987
Jones, Derek 41 6'1" 180 lbs 5/22/1992
Leggett, Maurice 31 5'11" 188 lbs 10/2/1986
Newman, Graig 3 6'1" 195 lbs 7/2/1989
Randle, Chris 8 5'11" 191 lbs 6/18/1988
Sears Jr., Johnny 0 6'1" 192 lbs 3/16/1987
Suber, Alex 21 5'7" 173 lbs 12/1/1986
Unamba, Don 13 6'1" 192 lbs 2/23/1989
Washington, Demond 7 5'9" 180 lbs 9/30/1987


Guards
Player Num Height Weight DOB
Greaves, Chris 64 6'5" 303 lbs 1/8/1987
Morley, Steve 62 6'7" 322 lbs 8/18/1981
Swiston, Paul 55 6'9" 322 lbs 5/26/1989


Defensive Ends
Player Num Height Weight DOB
Peach, Greg 90 6'3" 255 lbs 11/19/1986
Richardson, Louie 52 6'4" 220 lbs 9/22/1985
Vega, Jason 98 6'4" 256 lbs 5/30/1987

Defensive Tackles
Player Num Height Weight DOB
Anderson, Zach 44 6'3" 278 lbs 11/26/1988
Lucas, Ryan 94 6'6" 278 lbs 10/23/1984
Thomas, Jake 95 6'2" 266 lbs 12/16/1990
Turner, Bryant 92 6'2" 276 lbs 11/25/1987


Tackles
Player Num Height Weight DOB
January, Glenn 69 6'6" 299 lbs 5/25/1983


Punters
Player Num Height Weight DOB
Renaud, Mike 9 6'2" 215 lbs 5/25/1983


Kickers
Player Num Height Weight DOB
Hajrullahu, Lirim 70 6'0" 190 lbs 4/24/1990


Offensive Lines
Player Num Height Weight DOB
Hinse, Gord 6'4" 307 lbs 8/24/1987
Howard, Cordaro 68 6'4" 314 lbs 7/2/1987
Knapp, Dan 66 6'5" 305 lbs 9/1/1988
Neufeld, Patrick 53 6'5" 296 lbs 12/26/1988
Stevenson, Dale 59 6'7" 292 lbs 12/8/1987


Slot-Backs
Player Num Height Weight DOB
Denmark, Clarence 89 5'10" 189 lbs 9/29/1985
Kelly, Aaron 19 6'5" 195 lbs 4/20/1986
Kohlert, Rory 87 6'2" 212 lbs 1/7/1988
Moore, Nick 17 6'2" 195 lbs 6/25/1986
Watson, Cory 81 6'3" 211 lbs 3/27/1984
Woods, Aaron 14 5'6" 180 lbs 8/5/1986

CFL
Long Sheet

Week 1

Thursday, June 26

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

TORONTO (11 - 8) at WINNIPEG (3 - 15) - 6/26/2014, 8:35 PM
There are no Top Trends with records of significance that apply to this game.

Head-to-Head Series History
TORONTO is 3-2 against the spread versus WINNIPEG over the last 3 seasons
TORONTO is 5-1 straight up against WINNIPEG over the last 3 seasons
3 of 6 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Saturday, June 28

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

MONTREAL (8 - 11) at CALGARY (14 - 5) - 6/28/2014, 3:05 PM
There are no Top Trends with records of significance that apply to this game.

Head-to-Head Series History
CALGARY is 4-0 against the spread versus MONTREAL over the last 3 seasons
CALGARY is 3-1 straight up against MONTREAL over the last 3 seasons
2 of 4 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

EDMONTON (4 - 14) at BRITISH COLUMBIA (11 - 8) - 6/28/2014, 6:05 PM
There are no Top Trends with records of significance that apply to this game.

Head-to-Head Series History
BRITISH COLUMBIA is 4-2 against the spread versus EDMONTON over the last 3 seasons
BRITISH COLUMBIA is 5-1 straight up against EDMONTON over the last 3 seasons
3 of 6 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sunday, June 29

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

HAMILTON (12 - 9) at SASKATCHEWAN (14 - 7) - 6/29/2014, 7:05 PM
Top Trends for this game.
SASKATCHEWAN is 60-40 ATS (+16.0 Units) when playing on a Sunday since 1996.
HAMILTON is 8-1 ATS (+6.9 Units) as a road underdog of 3.5 to 7 points over the last 3 seasons.

Head-to-Head Series History
SASKATCHEWAN is 4-1 against the spread versus HAMILTON over the last 3 seasons
SASKATCHEWAN is 4-1 straight up against HAMILTON over the last 3 seasons
3 of 5 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------




CFL
Armadillo's Write-Up

Week 1

Not lot of information to go on yet, but we've got some info look at, as the CFL kicks off its season this weekend:

Toronto (0-0) @ Winnipeg (0-0)-- Argonauts won seven of last eight series games, winning all three meetings LY by 16-6-15 points (2-0-1 vs spread); six of last nine series games went over the total. Toronto won its last four visits here, by 5-19-16-6 points. Underdogs are 6-2-1 vs spread in last nine series games, also 6-2-1 in last nine played here. Winnipeg is just 9-27 SU the last two years. Argonauts were 6-2-1 vs spread on the road LY.

Montreal (0-0) @ Calgary (0-0)-- Montreal was 7-2 vs spread on road this year, but that was with CFL legend Calvillo (now retired) at QB. Stampeders won five of last six series games, sweeping the series LY, 22-14/38-27; Alouettes lost their last four visits here by 25-7-28-11 points. Six of last eight series games went over total, including six of last seven played here. Six of nine Calgary home games LY went over the total.

Edmonton (0-0) @ BCLions (0-0)-- Lions' QB Lulay (shoulder) isn't expected to play in this opener. British Columbia won eight of last nine series games, with last five wins by average score of 26-18 (4-1 vs spread). Eskimos lost six of last seven visits here, dropping last three by 20-10-14 points. Three of last four series games went over total. Edmonton is just 11-25 SU the last two years, but went 6-3 vs spread on road LY.

Hamilton (0-0) @ Saskatchewan (0-0)-- Rematch of LY's Grey Cup game that Roughriders won 45-23 (-7) on this field; Riders won seven of last nine series games, winning all three last year by 37-12-22 points (3-0 vs spread). TiCats are 1-11 in last dozen visits here, losing last two 37-0/45-23. Five of their last seven visits here went over the total. Riders won Grey Cup LY after going 3-6 in second half of regular season- they covered four of last five vs TiCats.




CFL

Week 1

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Trend Report
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Thursday, June 26

8:30 PM
TORONTO vs. WINNIPEG
Toronto is 13-3-1 ATS in its last 17 games on the road
The total has gone OVER in 6 of Toronto's last 9 games when playing Winnipeg
The total has gone OVER in 6 of Winnipeg's last 9 games when playing Toronto
The total has gone UNDER in 10 of Winnipeg's last 14 games when playing at home against Toronto


Saturday, June 28

3:00 PM
MONTREAL vs. CALGARY
The total has gone UNDER in 6 of Montreal's last 8 games on the road
Montreal is 2-4 SU in its last 6 games on the road
The total has gone OVER in 6 of Calgary's last 8 games when playing Montreal
Calgary is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games when playing at home against Montreal

6:00 PM
EDMONTON vs. BRITISH COLUMBIA
Edmonton is 1-6 SU in its last 7 games when playing on the road against British Columbia
The total has gone OVER in 11 of Edmonton's last 15 games
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of British Columbia's last 7 games at home
British Columbia is 8-1 SU in its last 9 games at home


Sunday, June 29

7:00 PM
HAMILTON vs. SASKATCHEWAN
Hamilton is 1-13 SU in its last 14 games when playing on the road against Saskatchewan
The total has gone UNDER in 7 of Hamilton's last 9 games
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Saskatchewan's last 7 games when playing at home against Hamilton
The total has gone UNDER in 7 of Saskatchewan's last 10 games

CFL
Dunkel

SATURDAY, JUNE 28

Game 323-324: Montreal at Calgary (3:00 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Montreal 116.447; Calgary 121.075
Dunkel Line: Calgary by 4 1/2; 50
Vegas Line: Calgary by 8; 54
Dunkel Pick: Montreal (+8); Under

Game 325-326: Edmonton at BC (6:00 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Edmonton 116.575; BC 117.075
Dunkel Line: BC by 1; 48
Vegas Line: BC by 7 1/2; 52
Dunkel Pick: Edmonton (+7 1/2); Under


SUNDAY, JUNE 29

Game 327-328: Hamilton at Saskatchewan (7:00 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Hamilton 117.075; Saskatchewan 119.947
Dunkel Line: Saskatchewan by 3; 58
Vegas Line: Saskatchewan by 5 1/2; 54 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Hamilton (+5 1/2); Over




CFL
Long Sheet

Week 1

Saturday, June 28

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

MONTREAL (8 - 11) at CALGARY (14 - 5) - 6/28/2014, 3:05 PM
There are no Top Trends with records of significance that apply to this game.

Head-to-Head Series History
CALGARY is 4-0 against the spread versus MONTREAL over the last 3 seasons
CALGARY is 3-1 straight up against MONTREAL over the last 3 seasons
2 of 4 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

EDMONTON (4 - 14) at BRITISH COLUMBIA (11 - 8) - 6/28/2014, 6:05 PM
There are no Top Trends with records of significance that apply to this game.

Head-to-Head Series History
BRITISH COLUMBIA is 4-2 against the spread versus EDMONTON over the last 3 seasons
BRITISH COLUMBIA is 5-1 straight up against EDMONTON over the last 3 seasons
3 of 6 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sunday, June 29

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

HAMILTON (12 - 9) at SASKATCHEWAN (14 - 7) - 6/29/2014, 7:05 PM
Top Trends for this game.
SASKATCHEWAN is 60-40 ATS (+16.0 Units) when playing on a Sunday since 1996.
HAMILTON is 8-1 ATS (+6.9 Units) as a road underdog of 3.5 to 7 points over the last 3 seasons.

Head-to-Head Series History
SASKATCHEWAN is 4-1 against the spread versus HAMILTON over the last 3 seasons
SASKATCHEWAN is 4-1 straight up against HAMILTON over the last 3 seasons
3 of 5 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------




CFL
Armadillo's Write-Up

Week 1

Not lot of information to go on yet, but we've got some info look at, as the CFL kicks off its season this weekend:

Montreal (0-0) @ Calgary (0-0)-- Montreal was 7-2 vs spread on road this year, but that was with CFL legend Calvillo (now retired) at QB. Stampeders won five of last six series games, sweeping the series LY, 22-14/38-27; Alouettes lost their last four visits here by 25-7-28-11 points. Six of last eight series games went over total, including six of last seven played here. Six of nine Calgary home games LY went over the total.

Edmonton (0-0) @ BCLions (0-0)-- Lions' QB Lulay (shoulder) isn't expected to play in this opener. British Columbia won eight of last nine series games, with last five wins by average score of 26-18 (4-1 vs spread). Eskimos lost six of last seven visits here, dropping last three by 20-10-14 points. Three of last four series games went over total. Edmonton is just 11-25 SU the last two years, but went 6-3 vs spread on road LY.

Hamilton (0-0) @ Saskatchewan (0-0)-- Rematch of LY's Grey Cup game that Roughriders won 45-23 (-7) on this field; Riders won seven of last nine series games, winning all three last year by 37-12-22 points (3-0 vs spread). TiCats are 1-11 in last dozen visits here, losing last two 37-0/45-23. Five of their last seven visits here went over the total. Riders won Grey Cup LY after going 3-6 in second half of regular season- they covered four of last five vs TiCats.




CFL

Week 1

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Trend Report
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Saturday, June 28

3:00 PM
MONTREAL vs. CALGARY
The total has gone UNDER in 6 of Montreal's last 8 games on the road
Montreal is 2-4 SU in its last 6 games on the road
The total has gone OVER in 6 of Calgary's last 8 games when playing Montreal
Calgary is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games when playing at home against Montreal

6:00 PM
EDMONTON vs. BRITISH COLUMBIA
Edmonton is 1-6 SU in its last 7 games when playing on the road against British Columbia
The total has gone OVER in 11 of Edmonton's last 15 games
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of British Columbia's last 7 games at home
British Columbia is 8-1 SU in its last 9 games at home


Sunday, June 29

7:00 PM
HAMILTON vs. SASKATCHEWAN
Hamilton is 1-13 SU in its last 14 games when playing on the road against Saskatchewan
The total has gone UNDER in 7 of Hamilton's last 9 games
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Saskatchewan's last 7 games when playing at home against Hamilton
The total has gone UNDER in 7 of Saskatchewan's last 10 games

CFL Is Back!

Jun 26, 2014



East Division

Montreal Alouettes (2013: 8-10 SU, 11-7 ATS)

Odds to win division: +250
Odds to win Grey Cup: +706

Why to bet the Alouettes: Montreal might possess the best receiving corps in the CFL, led by Jamel Richardson, S.J. Green and emerging young talent Duron Carter. Former Heisman Trophy winner, QB Troy Smith has big shoes to fill, but does have the pedigree to succeed, and he’ll get plenty of help. The East Division might be a little watered down with the addition of expansion Ottawa, perhaps opening the door for an Als bounce-back year.

Why not to bet the Alouettes: The Anthony Calvillo era has come to an end, and that obviously leaves more questions than answers. That’s not to mention the fact that the Als lost a pair of offensive line standouts to retirement in the offseason, and did little to improve their team by way of free agency or the draft.

Grey Cup outlook: Poor. Inconsistency will plague the Als on both sides of the football, leading to a likely third place finish in the East Division.

Toronto Argonauts (2013: 11-7 SU, 9-8-1 ATS)

Odds to win division: +150
Odds to win Grey Cup: +639

Why to bet the Argos: The face of the league is also the face of the Argos in QB Ricky Ray. While health has been an issue in recent years, if Ray can stay on the field, the Argos will be among the best offensive teams in the league once again.

Why not to bet the Argos: Toronto will be forced to go with a running back by committee approach after Chad Kackert’s sudden retirement. Losing cornerback Patrick Watkins and versatile QB Zach Collaros won’t help matters either. It remains to be seen whether the Argos have enough depth to contend in the East.

Grey Cup outlook: Average at best. Scott Milanovich has proven to be a first class head coach, but he’ll need to do some of his best work to get the Argos back to the Grey Cup this year.

Hamilton Tiger-Cats (2013: 10-8 SU, 9-9 ATS)

Odds to win division: +200
Odds to win Grey Cup: +700

Why to bet the Ti-Cats: Credit Ti-Cats management for shaking things up after reaching last year’s Grey Cup. Henry Burris wasn’t getting any younger, and the move to a younger, more versatile QB in Zach Collaros should give the offense another shot in the arm. In fact, most of Hamilton’s offseason focus was placed on improving the offense.

Why not to bet the Ti-Cats: How long will it take Collaros to get up to speed with the offense? There are also a number of questions on the defensive side of the football, where the Ti-Cats did little to improve prospects in the offseason.

Grey Cup outlook: Good. The Ti-Cats will be hungry to get back after getting embarrassed by the Riders last November.

Ottawa Redblacks (2013: N/A)

Odds to win division: +500
Odds to win Grey Cup: +1800

Why to bet the Redblacks: There’s reason for optimism in Ottawa, even if it is the Redblacks inaugural campaign. While they are starting from scratch, the cupboard is by no means bare. Henry Burris will start the season under centre, while RB Chevon Walker and WR Paris Jackson give them much needed explosiveness all over the field. Ottawa’s defensive roster is filled with veterans.

Why not to bet the Redblacks: It’s obviously going to take some time for the roster to mesh. We did see some promising signs in the preseason, but it’s important not to get too carried away with those exhibition results. Ottawa may contend with its Eastern counterparts, but the West will be another story.

Grey Cup outlook: Not a chance. The Redblacks will simply be looking to build toward the future this year. As long as the product they put on the field is entertaining, it’s a win for the city of Ottawa.





West Division

Calgary Stampeders (2013: 14-4 SU, 11-6-1 ATS)

Odds to win division: +200
Odds to win Grey Cup: +404

Why to bet the Stampeders: Calgary has two of the league’s best (some would say backup) quarterbacks in Drew Tate and Bo Levi Mitchell. Who will get the starting nod remains to be seen, but it’s a nice problem to have in the CFL, where durability tends to be an issue. With former Most Outstanding Player winner Jon Cornish in the backfield, neither Tate or Mitchell will have to shoulder the entire load.

Why not to bet the Stampeders: Has the window closed on the Stampeders? It seemed as if they peaked two years ago, when they reached the Grey Cup in Toronto. While they were terrific in the regular season a year ago, the playoffs were a different story.

Grey Cup outlook: Good. However, they’re going to need the offense to hum under the guidance of Tate or Mitchell.

Saskatchewan Roughriders (2013: 11-7 SU, 8-9-1 ATS)

Odds to win division: +200
Odds to win Grey Cup: +397

Why to bet the Roughriders: Darian Durant is back under centre, giving the Riders some continuity on offense. They’ve got plenty of depth all over the field, which is a good thing given some of the offseason departures. Don’t sleep on the Riders defense either, one of the most underrated units in the league.

Why not to bet the Roughriders: Kory Sheets and Weston Dressler will both be trying out south of the border this Summer, leaving a pair of substantial voids in the Riders offense. While both could return, that wouldn’t be likely to happen until Labour Day.

Grey Cup outlook: Not as good as the odds indicate. Could a letdown be in order after the Riders won the Grey Cup in their own backyard last year?

B.C. Lions (2013: 11-7 SU, 9-9 ATS)

Odds to win division: +180
Odds to win Grey Cup: +323

Why to bet the Lions: The Grey Cup host has ultimately hoisted the trophy in each of the last two years, and it’s the Lions turn this Fall. The sky is the limit for a team that’s loaded with stars on both sides of the football. The addition of QB Kevin Glenn gives the Lions a nice veteran presence behind Travis Lulay.

Why not to bet the Lions: The Lions offensive line is young and inexperienced. It won’t matter who is taking the snaps if the line can’t protect. We’ve seen this story play out before, with the Lions receiving plenty of hype prior to the start of the season, only to disappoint. We’ll see if that holds true this year.

Grey Cup outlook: Excellent. On paper, the Lions are the favorite for good reason. The added motivation of hosting the Grey Cup should serve them well.

Edmonton Eskimos (2013: 4-14 SU, 8-10 ATS)

Odds to win division: +500
Odds to win Grey Cup: +1000

Why to bet the Eskimos: Last season was a rebuilding year, plain and simple. Expectations aren’t all that high this year either, but the potential is there for the Esks to make a move. Mike Reilly has cemented his role as the team’s starting QB. The addition of former Argos defensive coordinator Chris Jones, not to mention CB Patrick Watkins bolsters an already promising defensive corps.

Why not to bet the Eskimos: Make no mistake, the Esks are still in rebuild mode. In a tough West Division, they’re unlikely to contend, but would look at six or seven wins as a major positive moving forward. If Reilly can’t stay healthy, the offense could be in serious trouble.

Grey Cup outlook: Poor. The Eskimos will be a fun team to watch, and should make positive strides, but shouldn’t be involved in too many Grey Cup conversations.

Winnipeg Blue Bombers (2013: 3-15 SU, 5-12-1 ATS)

Odds to win division: +1000
Odds to win Grey Cup: +1200

Why to bet the Blue Bombers: New head coach Mike O’Shea should provide a breath of fresh air to a struggling Blue Bombers franchise. After ranking last in both scoring offense and defense a year ago, there’s nowhere to go but up for the Bombers. QB Drew Willy takes over the offense and the move should pay dividends in short order.

Why not to bet the Blue Bombers: Outside of O’Shea and Willy, there are few reasons for optimism – this year at least. The Bombers are in a similar position to that of the Eskimos last year. They know the direction they’re headed in, but not quite sure how to get there. We’ll see plenty of growing pains again in 2014.

Grey Cup outlook: Poor. Unless O’Shea is able to pull off a miracle in his first year in Winnipeg, the Bombers will likely be looking at a five or six win season.

CFL
Dunkel

Montreal at Calgary
The Alouettes head to Calgary today to open the regular season and come into the contest with a 5-0 ATS record in their last 5 road games. Montreal is the pick (+8) according to Dunkel, which has the Stampeders favored by only 4. Dunkel Pick: Montreal (+8). Here are all of this week's CFL picks.

SATURDAY, JUNE 28

Game 323-324: Montreal at Calgary (3:00 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Montreal 116.447; Calgary 121.075
Dunkel Line: Calgary by 4 1/2; 50
Vegas Line: Calgary by 8; 54
Dunkel Pick: Montreal (+8); Under

Game 325-326: Edmonton at BC (6:00 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Edmonton 116.575; BC 117.075
Dunkel Line: BC by 1; 48
Vegas Line: BC by 7 1/2; 52
Dunkel Pick: Edmonton (+7 1/2); Under


SUNDAY, JUNE 29

Game 327-328: Hamilton at Saskatchewan (7:00 p.m. EST)
Dunkel Ratings: Hamilton 117.075; Saskatchewan 119.947
Dunkel Line: Saskatchewan by 3; 58
Vegas Line: Saskatchewan by 5 1/2; 54 1/2
Dunkel Pick: Hamilton (+5 1/2); Over




CFL
Long Sheet

Week 1

Saturday, June 28

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MONTREAL (8 - 11) at CALGARY (14 - 5) - 6/28/2014, 3:05 PM
There are no Top Trends with records of significance that apply to this game.

Head-to-Head Series History
CALGARY is 4-0 against the spread versus MONTREAL over the last 3 seasons
CALGARY is 3-1 straight up against MONTREAL over the last 3 seasons
2 of 4 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons

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EDMONTON (4 - 14) at BRITISH COLUMBIA (11 - 8) - 6/28/2014, 6:05 PM
There are no Top Trends with records of significance that apply to this game.

Head-to-Head Series History
BRITISH COLUMBIA is 4-2 against the spread versus EDMONTON over the last 3 seasons
BRITISH COLUMBIA is 5-1 straight up against EDMONTON over the last 3 seasons
3 of 6 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons

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Sunday, June 29

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HAMILTON (12 - 9) at SASKATCHEWAN (14 - 7) - 6/29/2014, 7:05 PM
Top Trends for this game.
SASKATCHEWAN is 60-40 ATS (+16.0 Units) when playing on a Sunday since 1996.
HAMILTON is 8-1 ATS (+6.9 Units) as a road underdog of 3.5 to 7 points over the last 3 seasons.

Head-to-Head Series History
SASKATCHEWAN is 4-1 against the spread versus HAMILTON over the last 3 seasons
SASKATCHEWAN is 4-1 straight up against HAMILTON over the last 3 seasons
3 of 5 games in this series have gone OVER THE TOTAL over the last 3 seasons

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CFL
Armadillo's Write-Up

Week 1

Not lot of information to go on yet, but we've got some info look at, as the CFL kicks off its season this weekend:

Montreal (0-0) @ Calgary (0-0)-- Montreal was 7-2 vs spread on road this year, but that was with CFL legend Calvillo (now retired) at QB. Stampeders won five of last six series games, sweeping the series LY, 22-14/38-27; Alouettes lost their last four visits here by 25-7-28-11 points. Six of last eight series games went over total, including six of last seven played here. Six of nine Calgary home games LY went over the total.

Edmonton (0-0) @ BCLions (0-0)-- Lions' QB Lulay (shoulder) isn't expected to play in this opener. British Columbia won eight of last nine series games, with last five wins by average score of 26-18 (4-1 vs spread). Eskimos lost six of last seven visits here, dropping last three by 20-10-14 points. Three of last four series games went over total. Edmonton is just 11-25 SU the last two years, but went 6-3 vs spread on road LY.

Hamilton (0-0) @ Saskatchewan (0-0)-- Rematch of LY's Grey Cup game that Roughriders won 45-23 (-7) on this field; Riders won seven of last nine series games, winning all three last year by 37-12-22 points (3-0 vs spread). TiCats are 1-11 in last dozen visits here, losing last two 37-0/45-23. Five of their last seven visits here went over the total. Riders won Grey Cup LY after going 3-6 in second half of regular season- they covered four of last five vs TiCats.




CFL

Week 1

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Trend Report
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Saturday, June 28

3:00 PM
MONTREAL vs. CALGARY
The total has gone UNDER in 6 of Montreal's last 8 games on the road
Montreal is 2-4 SU in its last 6 games on the road
The total has gone OVER in 6 of Calgary's last 8 games when playing Montreal
Calgary is 5-1 SU in its last 6 games when playing at home against Montreal

6:00 PM
EDMONTON vs. BRITISH COLUMBIA
Edmonton is 1-6 SU in its last 7 games when playing on the road against British Columbia
The total has gone OVER in 11 of Edmonton's last 15 games
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of British Columbia's last 7 games at home
British Columbia is 8-1 SU in its last 9 games at home


Sunday, June 29

7:00 PM
HAMILTON vs. SASKATCHEWAN
Hamilton is 1-13 SU in its last 14 games when playing on the road against Saskatchewan
The total has gone UNDER in 7 of Hamilton's last 9 games
The total has gone OVER in 5 of Saskatchewan's last 7 games when playing at home against Hamilton
The total has gone UNDER in 7 of Saskatchewan's last 10 games

CFL

Saturday, June 28


Essential CFL line move for Saturday's action

The British Columbia Lions host the Edmonton Eskimos in a West Division showdown Saturday in the Canadian Football League and we have the line move you need to know before you make your bets.

The Lions have jumped at 8-point favorites late Friday night for their game against the Eskimos. The Lions opened favored by a converted touchdown Tuesday and stayed there until Friday evening when they moved to -7.5, before quickly jumping to -8.