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CFL Game of the Month. My selection is on Edmonton plus the points over B.C. at 10 pm et on Thursday.

The Elks are off to a very disappointing 0-2 start, especially considering their first two games were played at home, against seemingly inferior East Division opponents no less. Expect them to bounce back on Thursday as they hit the road for the first time this season and play their first division game.

In Week 1, it was all about a lack of execution for Edmonton as it marched up and down the field but simply couldn't finish drives with touchdowns against the RedBlacks. Last week, the Elks were simply overmatched by an Alouettes squad that came out firing on all cylinders on both sides of the football, but particularly on defense as they were all over Elks QB Trevor Harris all night long. I think the case can certainly be made that the Elks overlooked the Als. They won't make the same mistake against the Lions, who are coming off an upset win on the road against the Stampeders.

The news has now come out that Stamps QB Bo Levi Mitchell has a broken fibula and all indications are that he was playing hurt in last week's game against B.C. Credit for the Lions for coming up with the win, but let's not get too excited. They're still dealing with injury issues to starting QB Mike Reilly with reports from practice this week indicating that he is still having trouble pushing the football down the field. While he is expected to start on Thursday night you can take that news with a grain of salt as we've seen plenty of mystery around the QB position in B.C. already this season.

While the Lions offensive line held up well last week, I still think it's an area of concern with big offseason acquisition Ryker Matthews sidelined due to a head injury. He isn't expected to be cleared to play this Thursday night.

This one really comes down to whether we can trust the Elks offense. If Edmonton is going to turn things around, that's the area that needs to improve the most and I'm confident we'll see just that on the fast track at B.C. Place on Thursday. This is an ultra-talented group led by veteran QB Trevor Harris and WR Greg Ellingson. After being held to just one catch for one yard last week, I believe we can bank on a big bounce-back performance from Ellingson in particular. Harris was given no time to operate against the Als retooled pass rush but should find the going a little easier against the Lions this week. Take Edmonton (10*).

My selection is on the 'over' between Edmonton and B.C. at 10 pm et on Thursday.

The 'under' has gone 7-1 so far this CFL season and that's affording us with a very low total (relatively speaking) in Thursday's Week 3 opener between the Elks and Lions.

The Elks offense has been non-existent so far this season. That's certainly surprising as they opened with a pair of home dates against East Division opponents in the RedBlacks and Alouettes. We did see Edmonton march the football up and down the field against Ottawa but it simply wasn't able to finish drives with 7's rather than 3's. Last week, the Elks certainly appeared to overlook the Als, and paid the price, unable to contend with Montreal's aggressive pass rush.

Here, I do expect to see the Elks offense come alive on the fast track at B.C. Place. This is still an offense that features capable leaders at the skill positions on offense in QB Trevor Harris, WR Greg Ellingson and RB James Wilder. With Ellingson in particular coming off a brutal one-catch, one-yard performance last week, I expect a big bounce-back effort here.

The Lions, like the Elks, boast incredible talent at the skill positions on offense but QB Mike Reilly's injury issues have held them back so far. They will welcome RB Shaq Cooper to the fold for the first time this season on Thursday, adding another level to what has the potential to be an explosive offense should Reilly be given time in the pocket to operate.

As I said, I expect the Elks to break out offensively in this one while the Lions have already shown the ability to thrive in a catch-up role back in Week 1 (they nearly came all the way back from 31-0 down in a 33-29 loss). We don't need a true shootout to cash this ticket as we've been given a low total to work with. Take the over (9*).

CFL o/u Premier Play. My selection is on the 'over' between Montreal and Edmonton at 7 pm et on Saturday.

We've seen plenty of low-scoring games to open this CFL season - likely a product of their being no preseason this year. Here, I do think we'll see a little more offense as the Elks already have a game under their belts while the Als had an extra week of practice, and I expect them to be considerably stronger offensively than defensively once again.

The Als certainly improved their pass rush in the offseason, with their big acquisition being former Elk Almondo Sewell. However, I do feel that Elks QB Trevor Harris should be able to get the ball out quickly enough to his talented group of wide receivers to find some offensive success in this one. There was plenty of rust last week as the Elks moved the football but couldn't finish drives with touchdowns. Against a weak Als secondary, there's reason to believe some of those field goal drives will turn into touchdowns here.

The Als offense is virtually intact from 2019. There is top talent at all the skill positions, led by QB Vernon Adams Jr. and RB William Stanback. While the RedBlacks below average offense wasn't able to do much against Edmonton last week, I'm confident we'll see the Als open things up here.

Keep in mind, when these two teams last met in the 2019 playoffs, we saw 66 total points scored. Take the over (10*).

My selection is on Toronto plus the points over Winnipeg at 8:30 pm et on Friday.

The Argos are coming off a stunning 23-20 win over the Stampeders on a last-minute field goal last week. Of course, that victory doesn't look quite as impressive after Calgary dropped a 15-9 decision at home against B.C. last night. With that being said, I do expect Toronto to once again turn in a quality performance away from home against the defending champion Blue Bombers on Friday night.

I'm confident we'll see Toronto effectively shorten this game by pounding away with top-flight RB John White. Keep in mind, the Bombers will be without their best run stopped in Steve 'Stove' Richardson for this one while stud edge rushers Willie Jefferson and Jackson Jeffcoat are also questionable to suit up (I'm making this play with the expectation that both do play).

Winnipeg got a tremendous performance from veteran QB Zach Collaros in last week's win over Hamilton. Collaros was comfortable in the pocket all night long thanks to a strong effort from the Winnipeg o-line. I do think we'll see him under duress far more often in this one, however. I still rate the Bombers as having one of the league's weaker wide receiving corps, especially with Darvin Adams and Ardarius Stewart sidelined due to injury. Take Toronto (8*).

My selection is on the 'under' between Toronto and Winnipeg at 8:30 pm et on Friday.

We've seen four of the first five CFL games this season stay 'under' the total - partly due to the fact that there were no preseason games this year. I expect that trend to continue for at least one more night on Friday.

Look for Toronto to make every effort to effectively shorten this game by leaning on their rushing attack led by standout RB John White. With the Bombers missing elite run-stopper Steve 'Stove' Richardson, there's reason to believe the Boatmen can find some success moving the chains on the ground and ultimately putting together long, clock-churning drives.

However, Toronto does have a relatively limited passing attack right now. Despite last week's victory, we didn't really see many big splash plays from QB McLeod Bethel-Thompson and the pass game. While the Bombers do employ an inexperienced secondary, I'm not convinced the Argos are well-equipped to take advantage.

Winnipeg turned in a sharp offensive performance against Hamilton last week but should have its hands full against a revamped Argos defense that held Calgary to only 20 points last week, and has gotten healthier since. Take the under (8*).

CFL Game of the Week. My selection is on Calgary minus the points over B.C. at 9:30 pm et on Thursday.

Our two losses in CFL action last week came on plays involving these teams as we suffered an epic bad beat with the Riders in B.C.'s incredible comeback loss (but cover) while the Stampeders blew a second half lead (and cover) in a field goal loss to the Argos. Here, I like the way this one sets up as a big bounce-back game for the Stamps at home.

B.C. had a miserable 2019 season and it might be in for a similar fate here in 2021 if Week 1 was any indication. Yes, give the Lions credit for not quitting and rallying back to nearly steal a win after falling behind 31-0 in the first half in Saskatchewan. However, the fact that it dug such a hole was telling.

The Lions defense is saying all the right things heading into this one as it did hold an excellent Riders offense to just one second half point in last week's 33-29 loss, however that had everything to do with game flow. The Riders offense quite simply took its foot off the gas after building that 31-0 lead. B.C. won't be so fortunate here as the Stampeders come into this one in a foul mood after a disappointing season-opening loss at home.

There were a lot of positives for Calgary to take away from last week's game. The offense was able to march the football up and down the field and just as easily could have put up 30+ point were it not for some miscues at the end of drives. That probably should have been expected with QB Bo Levi Mitchell missing considerable time in the 2019 season and then having no preseason games to get back in rhythm here this year. I do expect to see progression from the Calgary offense this week.

Defensive, the Stamps were terrific last week, making a number of splash plays. Now they get too tee off on a weak Lions offensive line that will be without big offseason acquisition OL Ryker Matthews. Rookie QB Nathan Rourke is expected to start under center but don't be surprised if we see plenty of Michael Reilly as well. I'm not sure either are a great option at this point with Rourke still trying to learn the CFL game and Reilly clearly playing at less than 100%. Take Calgary (10*).

My selection is on the ‘under’ between Ottawa and Edmonton at 10:05 pm et on Saturday.

Full writeups will return for Week 2.

I’m not expecting a lot of offensive fireworks as the RedBlacks travel to Edmonton to face the Elks on Saturday. There are virtually no household names on the RedBlacks offense and while new head coach Paul LaPolice will squeeze all he can out of this group, it won’t happen in Week 1 off no preseason. Edmonton has an explosive offense led by QB Trevor Harris but again, with no preseason games I’m not convinced we’ll see the offense come out firing on all cylinders here. The Elks defense should be better than most expect and they can certainly handle this matchup on Saturday. Take the under (6*).

My selection is on Calgary minus the points over Toronto at 7:05 pm et on Saturday.

Full writeups will return for Week 2. I’ll give the Stamps the benefit of the doubt in their home opener and feel this line will prove too short. With a healthy Bo Levi Mitchell the Stamps are eager to put the 2019 season behind them. While there are plenty of new faves, the cupboard is always well stocked in Calgary. Toronto has the potential to make some noise in the East Division this season but this is a tough Week 1 road matchup against one of the West Division’s perennially elite teams. Take Calgary (6*).

My selection is on Saskatchewan minus the points over B.C. at 9:30 pm et on Friday.

I actually thought we'd see an opening line closer to double-digits for this one as the Lions travel to Regina to face the Riders.

The Lions have high hopes coming off a disastrous 2019 campaign where they simply couldn't keep veteran QB Mike Reilly upright due to major issues in pass protection. However, Reilly is already dealing with shoulder issues and while he's likely to start on Friday night, whether he can finish the game probably depends on how well the Lions new-look offensive line holds up.

While I absolutely love the make up of the Lions receiving corps, I have questions whether they can hit the ground running against a terrific Roughriders secondary led by Ed Gainey on Friday night. RB Shaq Cooper was B.C.'s big offseason acquisition but he isn't expected to play in this game leaving backfield duties in the hands of ex-XFL RB James Butler. If the Lions aren't able to consistently run the football there's little reason to expect anything other than for the Riders defense to pin back its ears and tee off on Reilly.

Offensively, the Riders return virtually all of the key pieces from their West Division-winning roster two years ago. QB Cody Fajardo is one of the CFL's stars but perhaps doesn't get talked about enough. With aggressive play-caller Jason Maas taking over offensive coordinator duties, the sky should be the limit for the Riders passing game. With that being said, Saskatchewan also boasts one of the league's best running backs in William Powell and I expect him to find plenty of room to run against an average Lions defensive front.

While the Riders defense loses four starters from the 2019 edition - mostly up front - the cupboard is by no means bare and defensive coordinator is a true up-and-comer in CFL coaching ranks after taking over for Chris Jones two years ago. Take Saskatchewan (8*).

CFL Total of the Month. My selection is on the 'under' between Hamilton and Winnipeg at 8:30 pm et on Thursday.

The 2021 CFL opener features a rematch of the last CFL game that was played - the 2019 Grey Cup between the Blue Bombers and Tiger-Cats. I'm expecting a lower-scoring affair than most as these two offenses take some time to settle into a groove after no preseason games and no real game action since that title showdown in 2019.

The Blue Bombers return most of the key pieces from that Grey Cup winning squad. With that being said, they're the underdog for a reason in this one. RB Andrew Harris isn't expected to play on Thursday and while he is supported by a couple of capable backs, his absence certainly can't be overlooked. Keep in mind the Bombers are ushering in a new offensive era in some respects with former CFL quarterback Buck Pierce taking over the offensive coordinator reins from Paul LaPolice, who has moved on to Ottawa to take on a head coaching role. LaPolice squeezed every bit of potential he could out of this offense as the season went on in 2019. I simply question whether we'll see an explosive attack right out of the gates here in 2021 with what I would consider a less-than-imposing wide receiving corps at Collaros' disposal.

Defensively, the Bombers are set up well with a cohesive unit that boasts plenty of returning starters keyed by Willie Jefferson - the league's reigning Most Outstanding Defensive Player. This is a group that enters the new season with a chip on its shoulder after some felt it 'fluked' its way to a Grey Cup championship. I'm not on board with that line of thinking - this defense absolutely terrorized Dane Evans in the 2019 Grey Cup, camping out in the backfield and will now face a Hamilton offensive line that no longer has Ryker Matthews protecting Jeremiah Masoli's blind side. With many of the Bombers defensive players training together in the offseason (a long one at that), this is a group that should hit the ground running on Thursday night.

The Tiger-Cats need to restock the cupboard in some sense defensively but there's still plenty of talent to go around, and I don't think this is a bad opening night matchup for them to get their legs back under them. Simoni Lawrence is still on board to lead the defense - we're talking about perhaps the best-coached defense in the entire CFL so I certainly wouldn't expect it to lay an egg on Thursday.

Offensively, there's not a true QB controversy in Hamilton but starter Jeremiah Masoli has to feel a bit of pressure as he opens the campaign with backup Dane Evans breathing down his neck. While the duo of Brandon Banks and Bralon Addison is electric, I expect the Blue Bombers to do what they can to take away the big hitters down the field and Hamilton won't shy away from pounding the football with newly-acquired feature back Don Jackson and Sean Thomas-Erlington back healthy.

There's a lot of familiarity between these two teams with both rosters remaining relatively intact and with so much time to gameplan for the season-opener following no preseason games, I think we'll see a tightly-contested, relatively low-scoring affair on Thursday night. Take the under (10*).

My selection is on the 'under' between Hamilton and Winnipeg at 6 pm et on Sunday.

We missed with the 'under' in the Ti-Cats blowout win over the Eskimos last week (but won with Hamilton) and cashed with the Blue Bombers in their minor upset win over the Riders in Saskatchewan. Here, I see value in the 'under' as the Ti-Cats and Bombers do battle with the Grey Cup on the line in Calgary. The Ti-Cats exploded for 36 points in last week's victory, although it's worth noting that QB Dane Evans actually completed only 21-of-36 passes while throwing only one touchdown and one interception. Their leading rusher in that game was Cameron Marshall with just 31 yards on the ground. They'll be facing a much tougher defense this week. The Bombers have turned the offensive reins over to former Ti-Cats QB Zach Collaros and while he has played well, I really feel he's more of a game manager than the dynamic Chris Streveler, who is still a big part of the offense. Note that it was Streveler who completed 31-of-42 passes for over 300 yards the last time these two teams met. If you've followed my plays regularly, you know that I'm high on the Ti-Cats defense - arguably the best in the CFL. I'm confident they can keep the Bombers offense in check on Sunday. Note that two regular season meetings between these teams totaled just 38 and 46 points. Take the under (10*).

My selection is on Winnipeg plus the points over Saskatchewan at 4:30 pm et on Sunday.

The Riders miserable 1-3 start to the season has long been forgotten as they've been one of the best teams in the CFL for months now, doing it largely on the strength of a stellar defense that has come up big time and time again. Here, however, I believe they're up against it facing a Blue Bombers squad that has really come together over the course of three consecutive battles with the Stampeders, culminating with last week's stunning 35-14 rout in Calgary. QB Zach Collaros has stepped in and given the offense a nice balance with Chris Streveler still contributing as well. Defensively, it doesn't get much better than holding Stamps QB Bo Levi Mitchell to 12-of-28 passing for 116 yards, one touchdown and three interceptions last week. I'm anticipating a tightly-contested affair all the way on Sunday and will gladly take the points with the Bombers. Take Winnipeg (10*).

CFL Total of the Year. My selection is on the 'under' between Edmonton and Hamilton at 1 pm et on Sunday.

Both regular season meetings between these two teams went 'over' the posted total we're dealing with on Sunday and the Eskimos are coming off a wild, high-scoring 37-29 win over Montreal last week to earn a spot in this Grey Cup semi-final matchup. I'll gladly take the contrarian route, however, and call for a lower-scoring game than expected as the Eskimos and Tiger-Cats do battle on Sunday afternoon in Hamilton. Eskimos QB Trevor Harris has appeared in just two games since the first week of September but certainly looked to be in excellent form in last week's win over the Alouettes. He was afforded a clean pocket for much of the afternoon and took full advantage, completing 36-of-39 passes for 421 yards and a touchdown. The fact that he was only able to throw one touchdown was telling, however, as the Eskimos have struggled to finish drives with 7's on the board for much of the season. Here, look for Harris to be under duress all afternoon long as the Esks take a big step up in class against the Ti-Cats defense. Hamilton QB Dane Evans has done a tremendous job leading the offense since taking over the starting job for an injured Jeremiah Masoli, but I do wonder how he'll handle the big stage on Sunday. Note that the Eskimos defense will be getting their third look at Evans since September 20th. Take the under (10*).

My selection is on Hamilton minus the points over Edmonton at 1 pm et on Sunday.

The Eskimos have gone winless in two meetings with the Tiger-Cats this season and while it's awfully tough to beat any opponent three times in the same season, I do think Hamilton will be up for the challenge on Sunday. The Ti-Cats defense has really stepped up down the stretch, allowing fewer than 20 points in seven of their last 10 games. With Edmonton struggling to finish drives with touchdown all season long, there's reason to believe the Hamilton defense will thrive once again on Sunday afternoon. Eskimos QB Trevor Harris was afforded a clean pocket all afternoon long in Montreal last week but won't be so fortunate here. The Ti-Cats have proven to have the ability to not only score on offense, but on special teams and defense as well. That could prove to be the difference here. Take Hamilton (10*).

CFL Total of the Week. My selection is on the 'under' between Montreal and Toronto at 12 noon et on Sunday.

I really like the way this total sets up as the Alouettes and Argos do battle in a neutral site game in Moncton, New Brunswick Canada on Sunday. The Als are coming off a wild, high-scoring affair in Calgary last week, ultimately pulling out a 40-34 win in overtime. Keep in mind, Montreal didn't score a touchdown until the third quarter in that game and ultimately scored just two offensive touchdowns in regulation time. In its three previous games it had scored a grand total of just 57 points so this is by no means an offensive juggernaut. Likewise, the Argos failed to score a touchdown until the third quarter in last week's 41-26 loss to the Eskimos. We have seen some positive signs from the Toronto offense in recent weeks but I believe it will be in tough against a somewhat underrated Als defense that has held the opposition to just 26.5 points per game on 313 passing yards and 95 rushing yards per contest. Take the under (10*).

CFL Game of the Week. My selection is on B.C. plus the points over Hamilton at 10 pm et on Saturday.

We won with the Lions in the first matchup between these two teams this season and I won't hesitate to go back to the well with the same play as the scene shifts to Vancouver on Saturday night. There's no question the Lions have had this rematch circled after blowing a huge fourth quarter lead in that narrow 35-34 loss in Hamilton two weeks ago. The Lions were in a tough spot last week, playing on limited rest, and ultimately fell in blowout fashion, but not before putting up a fight for a half. B.C. gave up an early first quarter touchdown in that game but actually held the Bombers out of the end zone until late in the third quarter after that. Here, they'll face a Ti-Cats offense that is still without its best player in QB Jeremiah Masoli. Backup Dane Evans has done an admirable job filling in for Masoli, but has also been turnover prone, tossing four interceptions compared to five touchdowns. Hamilton has played it fairly close to the vest with Evans under center and that doesn't work particularly well here in a road favorite role traveling across the country off an easy win in Ottawa. Take B.C. (10*).

My selection is on Edmonton minus the points over Winnipeg at 9 pm et on Friday.

I'll lay the points with the Eskimos as they host the banged-up Blue Bombers on Friday night. Winnipeg will be forced to go without QB Matt Nichols after he suffered an injury in last week's win over B.C. While Chris Streveler is a fine backup and more of a dual-threat, much of his success came when opponents didn't have tape on him early last season. I'm confident the Eskimos will come up with a gameplan to slow Streveler and the Bombers offense here. It's also worth noting that Bombers RB Andrew Harris is dealing with an elbow injury. Edmonton had a true 'get right' performance last week, as its offense finally broke out in a 41-26 win over the Argos. Expect some carry-over from that game here as the Esks roll past the Bombers. Take Edmonton (10*).

My selection is on the 'over' between Winnipeg and Edmonton at 9 pm et on Friday.

The last time these two teams met in late June, we saw a closing total in the high-50's. Now we're dealing with a much lower number - too low in my opinion. The big reason for the total drop is the injury to Blue Bombers QB Matt Nichols. Backup Chris Streveler is certainly capable even if he hasn't passed the ball as well this season as he did a year ago when he was pressed into action early in the season. Note that Streveler has 15 rushing touchdowns going back to the start of last season. The Eskimos offense finally exploded, just as we've been expecting them to for weeks, in last week's blowout win over the Argos. Now they're back home eager to exact a little revenge against the Bombers after settling for seven field goals in their last meeting. Eskimos QB Trevor Harris continues to march the football up and down the field and last week he finally started connecting in the end zone. Expect some carry-over from that performance. Take the over (10*).

CFL Total of the Week. My selection is on the 'over' between Edmonton and Toronto at 7:30 pm et on Friday.

We missed the mark with the 'over' the last time these two teams met back on July 25th but I won't hesitate to go back to the well with the same play in the rematch. Since posting that 26-0 win over the Argos, the Eskimos have struggled to put points on the board, scoring just 34 points in splitting games against the Stampeders and Redblacks. With that being said, they do continue to march the football up and down the field with QB Trevor Harris completing 62-of-82 passes for over 700 yards over the last two games alone. I'm confident the Eskimos can get their groove back offensively against a weak Argos defense here. On the flip side, we saw Toronto gain a ton of confidence in a come-from-behind 28-27 win over the Blue Bombers two weeks ago. QB McLeod Bethel-Thompson broke loose in that game, throwing for 343 yards and three touchdowns while also rushing for 44 yards. There's no question the Eskimos are a formidable defensive opponent, but are they as good as they've been in the last three games, where they have given up just 36 points? I'm not so sure. Take the over (10*).

My selection is on the 'under' between B.C. and Winnipeg at 8:30 pm et on Thursday.

We're working with a higher total than the last time these two teams met back in June, due in part to 56 points being scored in that contest, and also the fact that the Lions are coming off a wild 35-34 loss in Hamilton last week (we won with B.C. in that game). Here I'm anticipating a lower-scoring game than most are expecting. B.C. has actually fared well defensively for extended stretches lately. Last week we saw the Lions give up an early first quarter touchdown, but then didn't allow another offensive touchdown until the final four minutes of the fourth quarter. The Blue Bombers offense has been lagging a bit lately. Despite pulling out a 26-24 win over Calgary last week, they didn't score a single offensive touchdown. While the Winnipeg defense has also let up somewhat in recent weeks, it catches a favorable matchup here as the Lions have never really figured things out with Mike Reilly at the helm. He continues to pad the stat sheet but too many mistakes have kept the Lions from truly breaking out offensively. The last time B.C. faced Winnipeg it didn't manage an offensive touchdown until three minutes into the third quarter and then never found the end zone again. Take the under (10*).

My selection is on B.C. plus the points over Hamilton at 7 pm et on Saturday.

The Lions have been absolutely dreadful this season but I believe they're being given way too many points as they travel across the country to face the Ti-Cats on Saturday. Keep in mind, Hamilton has already lost its starting QB Jeremiah Masoli to injury. Without him, it struggled to accomplish anything offensively last week in Calgary. Now the Ti-Cats are being asked to lay double-digits. The Lions are actually one of the healthiest teams in the league and they're coming off their bye week. RB Brandon Rutley will miss, but other than that, they've got away generally unscathed. We don't need an outright win from the Lions here, or anything close. I believe QB Mike Reilly will will them into a ball game on Saturday night. Take B.C. (10*).

My selection is on the 'over' between Ottawa and Edmonton at 10 pm et on Friday.

We missed the mark with the 'over' in the Eskimos loss in Calgary last week but I won't hesitate to go back to the well with the same play here. Edmonton actually marched the football up and down the field at times in that game, with QB Trevor Harris throwing for 373 yards and a pair of touchdowns. This is an offense that has been somewhat snake-bitten this season with a number of potentially game-changing plays called back due to penalties, as well as drives ending with untimely turnovers. Here, I do see this as a smash spot for the Eskimos offense against a weak Redblacks defense. Ottawa has proven it can hang, however, and welcomed QB Dominique Davis back from injury in last week's overtime win over the Alouettes. That victory snapped a four-game skid in which the Redblacks hadn't scored 20 points. Needless to say, they should enter this game with a renewed sense of confidence. The 'under' has cashed in each of Edmonton's last five games, but that only serves to give us a more reasonable total to work with here. Take the over (10*).

CFL Game of the Month. My selection is on Edmonton minus the points over Ottawa at 10 pm et on Friday.

Bettors will likely be hesitant to back the Eskimos here after they fell as a road favorite in Calgary last week, not to mention the Redblacks overtime victory in Montreal. With that being said, I see this as a smash spot for the Eskimos offense against a very beatable Redblacks defense. Edmonton QB Trevor Harris continues to light it up even if his offense has been somewhat snake-bitten as far as finding the end zone goes. Harris threw for 373 yards and two touchdowns in last week's narrow loss to the Stamps. The Redblacks didn't score an offensive touchdown until the third quarter against the Alouettes last week. They've had a tough time with consistency on offense due in large part to a depleted backfield that has seen a lot of moving parts. RB Mossis Madu remains sidelined. When these two teams squared off in Edmonton last year, the Eskimos pasted the Redblacks 34-16. Trevor Harris will certainly be highly-motivated to hand it to his former squad. The Eskimos are 3-4 ATS on the season but 3-0 SU and 2-1 ATS at home, where they've won their last two games by a combined 65-23 score. Take Edmonton (10*).

My selection is on the 'over' between Edmonton and Calgary at 7 pm et on Saturday.

I can't help but think this low posted total is an overreaction to some low-scoring games involving these two teams lately. The Eskimos cruised to a 26-0 win over the Argos last week and have seen each of their last three games total less than 40 points. Last week, the Edmonton offense really didn't have to force the issue at all, jumping ahead early and never looking back. I'm not sure that will be the case here. The Stampeders are coming off back-to-back wins - games that totaled just 42 and 33 points. QB Nick Arbuckle has seemed a little tentative at times in place of the injured Bo Levi Mitchell but he undoubtedly has big shoes to fill. I do think we'll see a better performance from the Stamps offense playing on an extra long week here, having not played since last Thursday. This isn't the same explosive Calgary offense we've seen in years' past, but it is still capable of busting out here at home. Keep in mind, while the Stamps managed only 17 points last week, Arbuckle did complete 30-of-37 passes for 370 yards while RB Kadeem Carey rushed for 70 yards on only nine carries. Take the over (10*).

CFL Total of the Week. My selection is on the 'under' between Hamilton and Saskatchewan at 9:30 pm et on Thursday.

I really like the way this one sets up as a relatively low-scoring affair in Regina on Thursday night. The Riders have seen back-to-back games play 'over' the total, scoring 83 points themselves in the process. Keep in mind, those two contests came against the one-win Lions (their only victory came against winless Toronto). Here, the Riders face a much tougher challenge as they welcome the Ti-Cats. Hamilton absolutely manhandled a previously rolling Blue Bombers offense last week, holding them to only 15 points in a hard-fought victory. I don't envision much of a letdown here as Saskatchewan will certainly have the Ti-Cats attention off back-to-back strong offensive showings. Note that Hamilton lost QB Jeremiah Masoli to injury last week so it will be up to Dane Evans to steer the offense now. Playing on a short week I can't see Hamilton really opening up the playbook for Evans. The Riders defense hasn't been great by any means, but they do catch the Ti-Cats in a favorable spot after losing Masoli. Saskatchewan, of course, lost its starting QB Zach Collaros in the first game of the season and has been going with Cody Fajardo ever since. He has been good, but not great, throwing seven touchdowns compared to four interceptions. The Riders have faced a rather soft schedule with three of their first six games coming against the Argos and Lions. Take the under (10*).

My selection is on the 'over' between Winnipeg and Toronto at 7 pm et on Thursday.

The first meeting between these two teams totaled 69 points in Winnipeg back on July 12th. We're actually dealing with a lower posted total than we saw for that one, largely due to the ineptitude of the Argos offense. Toronto's last two games have totaled just 42 and 26 points with the Argos held off the scoreboard entirely in their loss in Edmonton last week. The Argos were able to move the football somewhat consistently in their first matchup against the Blue Bombers, however, and I do feel they catch Winnipeg in a letdown spot here, coming off its first loss of the season in a showdown with the Ti-Cats last week. Toronto's defense has seemingly gotten better lately, but it also hasn't really been involved in any close games to really test its mettle. Winnipeg had no trouble at all terrorizing the Argos defense earlier in the season and while I'm not counting on the Bombers to hang another 40+ spot on the board, I am confident they can have continued success. The 'over' has cashed in seven straight meetings and this is the lowest posted total we've seen over that stretch. Take the under (10*).

CFL Game of the Year. My selection is on B.C. plus the points over Saskatchewan at 7 pm et on Saturday.

Saskatchewan defeated B.C. just last week but that was a strange game as the Lions actually outgained the Riders in terms of total yardage and had a decisive edge in first downs as well. Save for a stinker against the Eskimos two weeks ago, Lions QB Mike Reilly has looked more and more comfortable running the offense, last week completing 31-of-40 passes for 346 yards while also running for 32 yards and a score. RB Brandon Rutley enjoyed a breakout performance of sorts against the Riders, running for 73 yards on 13 carries. While the Lions did give up a whopping 38 points in last week's loss, they actually held the Riders offense out of the end zone from just over midway through the first quarter until the final two minutes of the third quarter. Things came unglued in the fourth quarter but B.C. can hang its hat on the fact that it allowed Riders QB Cody Fajardo to complete only 17 passes and picked him off twice. Outside of that victory, Saskatchewan's only other win this season came against the lowly Argos, who are arguably worse than the Lions. B.C. has now outgained three of its last four opponents and I believe it's only a matter of time before it all comes together for this squad. While Saskatchewan has owned this series recently, it's been a long time since the Riders were last favored in a game played here in Vancouver. I simply feel the oddsmakers are undervaluing what will be a desperate Lions squad on Saturday. Take B.C. (10*).

CFL Total of the Week. My selection is on the 'over' between Toronto and Edmonton at 9:30 pm et on Thursday.

We won with the 'under' in the Eskimos 20-10 loss in Montreal last Saturday but I expect a different story to unfold as Edmonton returns home to host the winless Argos on Thursday night. Edmonton has been held out of the end zone in each of its two losses this season but that hasn't been for lack of trying. The Eskimos had plenty of opportunities to punch it in last week and even had a touchdown called back due to a holding penalty. QB Trevor Harris threw an uncharacteristic two interceptions in last week's loss but should bounce back against a weaker opponent here. Note that Harris threw for nearly 400 yards and a pair of touchdowns the last time he faced the Argos as a member of the Redblacks last season. He's had plenty of success against Toronto over the course of his career. On the flip side, the Argos came up short once again last week, falling by a 26-16 score in Calgary. QB McLeod Bethel-Thompson did march the football up and down the field in that game, throwing for 343 yards and a pair of touchdowns, but also turned the football over a whopping four times. The Eskimos defense can get after opposing quarterbacks but certainly isn't the same type of ball-hawking unit as the Stamps possess. With RB James Wilder Jr. injured, Brandon Burks will take over backfield duties for Toronto and I do feel he's better-suited for the CFL game as a true scat back. We saw a pair of low-scoring games between these two squads last year but prior to that their last four meetings had reached 57 points or more. Expect a return to 'normal' in this series here. Take the over (10*).

My selection is on the 'under' between Calgary and Ottawa at 7 pm et on Thursday.

I'm not anticipating a lot of offensive fireworks when the injury-plagued Stampeders and Redblacks do battle on Thursday night in Ottawa. Calgary's offense continues to lag with elite QB Bo Levi Mitchell sidelined. Keep in mind, they're still missing their best running back in Don Jackson as well. If anything, we've seen regression from the Stamps offensive unit over the last couple of weeks, after QB Nick Arbuckle had shown some flashes of brilliance in his first appearance this season. As much as they would like to open up the offense here, I'm still not sure Arbuckle has a complete grasp of the playbook. The Redblacks put up just a single point in last week's loss against arguably the best team in the league in Winnipeg. QB Jonathan Jennings was truly awful in his first start in the absence of Dominique Davis. Ottawa got off to a tremendous start this season but that was largely due to the arm (and legs) of Davis. Here, I expect the Redblacks to take a rather conservative approach against a Stampeders defense that leads the league in turnovers and racked up four interceptions last week. These two teams combined to put up 60 points back in Week 1 but the key players in that game were Davis, Mitchell and Redblacks RB Mossis Madu, who is also now sidelined due to injury. None of last year's three meetings between these two teams, including the Grey Cup, reached more than 43 total points. Take the under (10*).

CFL Total of the Year. My selection is on the 'under' between Edmonton and Montreal at 4 pm et on Saturday.

This is a bit of a tough spot for the Eskimos as they stay on the road for a third straight game and travel east to face the upstart Alouettes in Montreal. Having allowed 28 points or less in all four games so far this season, I do expect the Esks defense to hold up well. The Als are fresh off back-to-back breakout offensive performances, scoring exactly 36 points in wins over the Ti-Cats and Redblacks. I do think the Als offense caught both of those defenses flat-footed, but that isn't likely to be the case against a better defensive squad in the Eskimos here. Note that Edmonton held Mike Reilly and the B.C. Lions to only six points in last week's blowout victory. Much of the Montreal's offensive success has come on the legs of RB William Stanback. With that being said, Edmonton has done a tremendous job of keeping its opponent's top rushers at bay, holding John White (twice) and Andrew Harris under 50 yards on the ground in its last three contests. The Esks did allow Stanback to gain 76 rushing yards in their first meeting with the Als this season but that was on the strength of one 42-yard run. You can be sure they'll be keying on slowing down the Als lead back this week. Montreal is certainly familiar with Eskimos QB Trevor Harris from his days with the Redblacks. Note that the Als three games against Ottawa last year totaled just 46, 41 and 32 points. Montreal has certainly improved defensively as this season has gone on with a knack for turning the football over. With that in mind, we can expect Edmonton to employ a smart offensive gameplan with a focus on taking care of the football. The first matchup between these two teams totaled 57 points this season, but it's worth noting that game saw a wild 31-point fourth quarter. We're dealing with a considerably higher posted total this time around, and I'm not sure the shift is warranted. Take the under (10*).

My selection is on Calgary minus the points over Toronto at 9 pm et on Thursday.

The Argos are off to one of the worst starts we've seen in recent CFL memory and I don't envision a turnaround in Calgary on Thursday night. Toronto lost by "only" 27 points last week in Winnipeg but the damage could have been far worse were it not for the Blue Bombers taking their foot off the gas at halftime. Winnipeg jumped ahead 31-0 before the Argos staged a mini-rally (if we can even call it that) in that game. While Toronto's offense has shown some improvement, it will run into a tough opponent in Calgary this week. The Stampeders have been doing an excellent job of getting after opposing quarterbacks, racking up nine sacks over their last two games alone. While they did give up 30 points in a loss in Hamilton last week, they actually held Ti-Cats Jeremiah Masoli to under 200 yards passing and limited the Hamilton ground game to fewer than 70 rushing yards. They should feast on a one-dimensional Argos offense that hasn't shown any ability whatsoever to run the football. Offensively, the Stamps aren't at full strength with QB Bo Levi Mitchell and RB Don Jackson sidelined. QB Nick Arbuckle did settle in last week, however, throwing for 368 yards on 24 pass completions. There's reason to believe they'll be able to get their ground game going here as well, considering Toronto is allowing over six yards per rush this season. Take Calgary (10*).

My selection is on Hamilton minus the points over Calgary at 7 pm et on Saturday.

It's been a long time since the Ti-Cats defeated the Stampeders but it's also been a long time since they've been favored in this matchup. Injuries on Calgary's side have opened the door for the Ti-Cats to be favored here, and I look for them to take advantage. The Stampeders are coming off a blowout win in Saskatchewan last week as they caught the Riders flat-footed. Keep in mind, QB Nick Arbuckle completed just 19 passes in that victory. The defense did most of the heavy-lifting. The Ti-Cats are coming off a tough loss in Montreal last week. They certainly weren't sharp in that one, perhaps suffering a letdown following three straight wins to open the season. I do look for them to bounce back here. It's worth noting that they're expected to have WR Bralon Addison back on the field. He's been a breakout star this season but was injured and missed last week's loss. Take Hamilton (10*).

My selection is on the 'under' between Calgary and Hamilton at 7 pm et on Saturday.

Calgary is missing a number of key cogs on offense right now but its defense has certainly stemmed the tide, including a stellar performance last week in Saskatchewan - a game in which it allowed just 10 points. The Stamps defense will need to be good again this week as I'm not sure it's offense is good enough right now to win a shootout with the Ti-Cats. Hamilton did not play well on either side of the football in last week's loss in Montreal. I look for the Ti-Cats to bounce back here, noting their defense catches a break not having to face Stamps QB Bo Levi Mitchell or RB Don Jackson. In their two previous home games this season, the Ti-Cats gave up a grand total of just 27 points. Take the under (10*).

CFL Game of the Week. My selection is on B.C. plus the points over Edmonton at 10 pm et on Thursday.

I'll grab the points with the Lions in this one as they look to avenge a 39-23 loss suffered against the Eskimos earlier this season (we won with Edmonton in that game). We successfully faded the Lions last week as well, grabbing the points with the Argos in a game that went right down to the wire. It wasn't a stellar performance from B.C., but it did manage to string together a pair of second half touchdown drives and didn't allow an offensive touchdown until the final minute of the fourth quarter. Now the Lions return home for the first time since their season-opening loss to the still-undefeated Blue Bombers. I'm not sure the Eskimos bye week came at the best time as they were off their first loss of the season - a game in which they failed to score an offensive touchdown. Keep in mind, Edmonton hasn't won here in Vancouver since October of 2017, when it needed overtime to secure the victory. QB Mike Reilly is getting more comfortable in the Lions offense with each passing week. I like the Lions chances here. Take B.C. (10*).

My selection is on Toronto plus the points over B.C. at 7 pm et on Saturday.

We cashed a ticket fading the Argos on Monday in Regina but I won't hesitate to go the other way and back Toronto as it returns home to host winless B.C. The Lions should bounce back here, but should is the operative word. The transition to Mike Reilly hasn't really been a smooth one and let's face it, the B.C. defense has been awful when it's mattered most. Last week the Lions gave up two touchdowns in the final two minutes to fall by a 36-32 score in Calgary, after the Stamps lost QB Bo-Levi Mitchell to injury earlier in the game. Toronto hasn't looked good through two games and now it will have to go without QB James Franklin for a while. I still think the Argos have enough talent to compete, however, and it's surely worth noting that they were at least competitive here at home last season, going 4-5 SU. That included a victory over the Lions in an underdog role. The underdog has gone 7-2 ATS in the last nine meetings in this series. Take Toronto (10*).

CFL Total of the Week. My selection is on the 'over' between Winnipeg and Ottawa at 7:30 pm et on Friday.

We won with the 'under' in Winnipeg last week as the Blue Bombers defeated the Eskimos. I won't hesitate to switch gears here as the Bombers play outside the West Division for the first time this season, traveling to Ottawa to face the upstart Redblacks. The Bombers are in midseason form offensively, having scored 61 points through their first two games with QB Matt Nichols throw for six touchdowns and just one interception. Last week against Edmonton they scored a pair of offensive touchdowns in both the first and third quarter. They did let the Eskimos back in the game in the fourth quarter but I look for them to do a better job of keeping their foot on the gas offensively on the road this week. The Winnipeg defense bent but didn't break against Edmonton, allowing a whopping seven field goals. It has actually allowed just one offensive touchdown through two games, but keep in mind, the Bombers season-opener came against a Lions offense that was still working out the kinks with new QB Mike Reilly. Ottawa has come storming out of the gates offensively this season, scoring 76 points in wins over Calgary and Saskatchewan. Unlike the Eskimos, who ran the football just four times on the Bombers last week, we can expect the Redblacks to pound the football with some success on Friday night. Dual-threat quarterbacks have long had success in this league and now it's Boston College alum Dominique Davis' turn. After a shaky debut that saw him throw four interceptions against Calgary, he bounced back to throw for 354 yards and three touchdowns (and no interceptions) last time out. I'm not sure the Bombers defense is as good as it has shown so far. The Redblacks won't shy away from a shootout here. Take the over (10*).

My selection is on Winnipeg plus the points over Ottawa at 7:30 pm et on Friday.

I think the Redblacks will be hard-pressed to win this game let alone cover the number. Both teams check in with flawless records but the Blue Bombers have a lot more upside in my opinion. I actually think Winnipeg could have inflicted a lot more damage against Edmonton last week but because it succeeded in holding the Eskimos to field goals on most drives, it didn't need to really keep its foot on the gas offensively. QB Matt Nichols didn't have a great game, completing only 13 passes, but again he didn't need to be perfect. I expect a much bigger game from him stat-wise on Friday night. The Redblacks two victories have masked the fact that they've allowed a whopping 69 points through two games. They've allowed at least 29 points in four of their last five meetings with the Bombers and haven't defeated Winnipeg here at home since 2015. Take Winnipeg (10*).

My selection is on the 'over' between Hamilton and Montreal at 7:30 pm et on Thursday.

We won with the 'under' in this matchup last week but I'll go the other way and back the 'over' as the scene shifts to Montreal this week. The Tiger-Cats scored 41 points in that rout but the damage could have been far worse were it not for three interceptions thrown by QB Jeremiah Masoli. The Ti-Cats have now put up a whopping 105 points through two games and while they're not going to keep up that torrid pace I do believe they can hang another crooked number on the board against an undermanned Alouettes defense here. On the flip side, the Als offense was stymied last week but has the potential to bounce back here with QB Vernon Adams Jr. making his second consecutive start. It's easy to forget that two weeks ago the Als did put up 25 points against a good defense in Edmonton. RB Will Stanback has been a bright spot for the Als, gaining seven yards per rush through two games. Take the over (10*).

My selection is on Montreal plus the points over Hamilton at 7:30 pm et on Thursday.

This line hasn't budged here on gameday so I'll go ahead and jump in with a play on the Alouettes now as I do expect them to turn in a far better showing than we saw last week in Hamilton. The Tiger-Cats haven't started a season with four straight wins since way back in 1989. The Als will certainly be highly-motivated to keep that streak going, noting that they're off to an 0-2 start and playing their home opener here on Thursday. Of note, the Ti-Cats will be without one of their best weapons on offense in WR Bralon Addison. Look for the Als to show up and hang inside the inflated number. Take Montreal (10*).

My selection is on Saskatchewan minus the points over Toronto at 7 pm et on Monday.

I'll lay the points with the Riders as they aim for their first win of the season against Toronto on Monday. The Riders may be 0-2 but they've been competitive in both losses, both coming on the road against quality opponents in Hamilton and Ottawa. Now they get a chance to face one of the East's weakest teams in the Argos. Toronto was handed a 64-14 beatdown against the rival Ti-Cats last week. It was a truly terrible showing for the Argos in their home-opener and while they'll undoubtedly turn in a better effort on Monday, I'm still not sure it will be enough to stay inside the number. The Riders simply have more upside on both sides of the football right now, even with QB Zach Collaros sidelined. Cody Fajardo is no rookie north of the border, and he certainly showed his ability in last week's shootout with the Redblacks. Take Saskatchewan (10*).

My selection is on the 'over' between B.C. and Calgary at 7 pm et on Saturday.

We're getting a discounted total here thanks to the fact that these two teams have looked unimpressive in dropping their first three games combined. The Lions have yet to top 23 points, scoring that identical total in each of their first two contests. I do think it's only a matter of time before their offense gets rolling, however. Keep in mind, they brought in one of the league's best quarterbacks in Mike Reilly during the offseason. There were going to be some kinks to be worked out to be sure. Defensively, the Lions have certainly struggled. Last week they allowed four offensive touchdowns against the Eskimos - a team we saw Winnipeg hold at bay last night. The Stampeders fell by a 32-28 score at home against the Redblacks in their season-opener two weeks ago. They gave up north of 30 points in that contest despite racking up four interceptions which is more than a little concerning. The Stamps offense will be fine, even after losing some key pieces from last year's team. Bo Levi Mitchell threw for 275 yards and a score against Ottawa, but didn't get much help at all from the ground game. I'm confident we'll see RB Don Jackson bounce back with a big performance here. Take the over (10*).

CFL Total of the Week. My selection is on the 'under' between Montreal and Hamilton at 7:30 pm et on Friday.

Coming off a 64-point explosion against the Argos last week, the Ti-Cats enter this game with some serious momentum. Keep in mind, that was a complete collapse from the Argos. In Hamilton's first game this season it scored just one offensive touchdown in a relatively low-scoring 23-17 win over Saskatchewan. We've only seen the Alouettes play one game - a 32-25 loss in Edmonton. In that game, Montreal scored a touchdown late in the first quarter but then didn't find the end zone again until the game was already out of hand in the fourth quarter. It wasn't a great defensive showing from the Als, but they did turn in a couple of solid stretches in the game, not allowing the Eskimos to score a touchdown until over midway through the second quarter and then giving up just a safety in the entire third quarter. I don't expect the Als offensive to thrive in this contest, noting that the Ti-Cats have allowed just three offensive touchdowns through their first two games. Take the under (10*).

My selection is on Winnipeg minus the points over Edmonton at 8:30 pm et on Thursday.

We've cashed tickets with both the Eskimos and Blue Bombers this season but I believe Winnipeg is the way to go as it hosts Edmonton on Thursday night. The Blue Bombers were certainly undervalued entering the season as they were installed as short underdogs in B.C. to open the campaign. The Bombers turned in about as complete of an effort as you could possibly expect in that game. After enjoying their bye week, they'll have no shortage of motivation here as they face the 2-0 Eskimos. Edmonton has had the benefit of playing its first two games at home, and against a pair of squads working out some major kinks in the Alouettes and Lions. In their lone previous contest, we didn't see the Bombers allow an offensive touchdown until well into the third quarter. Look for another superb effort from Winnipeg here. Take Winnipeg (10*).

My selection is on the 'under' between Edmonton and Winnipeg at 8:30 pm et on Thursday.

Most are expecting a shootout between the Eskimos and Blue Bombers on Thursday night and why not after we saw a ton of points scored with all three games going 'over' the total last week. I simply have a lot of respect for both of these defenses and believe we'll see this one played a little closer to the vest with both Edmonton and Winnipeg checking in undefeated - even if it is still very early in the season. The Eskimos have benefited from playing their first two games at home. Meanwhile, the Bombers will be suiting up for the first time in two weeks. It all adds up to a lower-scoring affair than most are anticipating on Thursday. Take the under (10*).