{"id":24060,"date":"2023-07-13T17:40:17","date_gmt":"2023-07-13T21:40:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.betonline.ag\/news-room\/?p=24060"},"modified":"2023-07-13T17:40:18","modified_gmt":"2023-07-13T21:40:18","slug":"cfl-week-6-preview-picks","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.betonline.ag\/news-room\/cfl\/cfl-week-6-preview-picks\/","title":{"rendered":"CFL WEEK 6 PREVIEW & PICKS"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

BY ADAM GREENE<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Normally we\u2019d be heading into the halfway point of a season, but considering the Canadian Football League plays 18 games across 21 ridiculous weeks, we\u2019ve barely scratched the surface.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Still, there have been some surprises in our young CFL season<\/a>. First, it\u2019s the early emergence of the Saskatchewan Roughriders, a team that won all of six games a season ago opening up with a 3-1 mark and a good chance to make that 4-1 after this week. Second, we have the BC Lions in a pitched battle with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, once again, for the honor of being the league\u2019s second best franchise and to lose to the Toronto Argonauts in the Grey Cup. Last year, Winnipeg took the day. In the early going this year, British Columbia seems to have the edge (though not in this week\u2019s Power Rankings).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As for us, we have a full slate of games this week, minus the squad hit with the bye, and the odds, lines and totals<\/a> with which to make watching the Canadian version of football, if not nearly as entertaining as the American version, then certainly as profitable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

POWER RANKINGS<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. TORONTO ARGONAUTS (3-0)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

We\u2019re six weeks into the season and Toronto has already had two byes. The CFL\u2019s best, most marketable team, the franchise that\u2019s won more Grey Cups than any other, has barely been featured in the first month and a half of the season. I know they do things a little different in Canada, but I\u2019m not sure hiding your best show can lead to ratings success. Of course, that was all before streamers started deleting programs from their servers over the Writer\u2019s Strike. Maybe the CFL is just ahead of the game. Last week:<\/strong> No. 1<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. WINNEPEG BLUE BOMBERS (4-1)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Winnipeg returns to the No. 2 slot after wins in consecutive weeks, mostly thanks to a surprising performance from their defense. The Blue Bombers have a cakewalk schedule before them over the next few games and can really create some real distance between them and the rest of the CFL West. Last week:<\/strong> No. 3<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. BC LIONS (4-1)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Lions can relax heading into their first bye of the season in firm control of their postseason destiny already, having only lost to the CFL\u2019s best team, the Argonauts, this season. They may need it as they host a surprising Saskatchewan team in Week 7. Last week:<\/strong> No. 2<\/p>\n\n\n\n

4. SASKATCHEWAN ROUGHRIDERS (3-1)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In a league that regularly sees teams put up 30 points in a loss, the Roughriders survived the rare defensive struggle last week. It helps that they played that defense against the Edmonton Elks. Last week:<\/strong> No. 5<\/p>\n\n\n\n

5. MONTREAL ALOUETTES (2-2)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Montreal ended their 2022 campaign with a .500 record and has opened up their 2023 title quest the same way. Last week:<\/strong> No. 4<\/p>\n\n\n\n

6. HAMILTON TIGER-CATS (1-3)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Luckily for Hamilton, there are 14 games to go because it took them four contests in five weeks to pick up Win No. 1 of the 2023 season. Last week:<\/strong> No. 8<\/p>\n\n\n\n

7. CALGARY STAMPEDERS (1-3)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

There\u2019s plenty of season to go, but this is not the start a Stampeders team that went 12-6 a year ago and made the playoffs expected to unleash in 2023. Last week:<\/strong> No. 6<\/p>\n\n\n\n

8. OTTAWA REDBLACKS (1-3)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ottawa managed just four wins a season ago and it\u2019s not looking much better this year. Facing a winless Hamilton team, the Redblacks left their offense back at the hotel, managing just 13 points in a loss. Last week:<\/strong> No. 7<\/p>\n\n\n\n

9. EDMONTON ELKS (0-5)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Is there a positive to take from a one-point loss? Not when that loss came with a total of just 11 points scored by the Elks. At this point, you have to think there are USFL and XFL teams that could eat Edmonton\u2019s lunch in front of them and pop the bag in their face. And that should just embarrass everyone.  Last week:<\/strong> No. 9<\/p>\n\n\n\n

WEEK 5<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Byes:<\/strong> BC Lions<\/p>\n\n\n\n

THURSDAY<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

HAMILTON TIGER-CATS AT EDMONTON ELKS (+2.5, O\/U: 43)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

It only took more than a month, but Hamilton decided to finally show up and play football, knocking off the Ottawa Redblacks 21-13 last week. Matthew Shiltz, the most dangerous name in sports, was 19 of 26 for 233 yards, one touchdown and an interception. He rushed five times for 30 yards. James Butler finished with 17 carries for 62 yards. Tyreik McAllister caught one pass for a 64-yard touchdown. Richie Sindani caught seven balls for 59 yards. Jameer Thurman had nine tackles and two sacks. Malik Carney, Simoni Lawrence, Richard Leonard and Dexter Lawson, Jr all finished with four tackles, with Carney and Leonard adding a sack, Leonard and Lawrence grabbing a pick and Carney getting a fumble recovery. Lawrence had a tackle for a loss. Chris Edwards had three tackles and a pick. Jarrod Hewitt and Mason Bennett both had two tackles and a sack.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For whatever reason the CFL likes to open their football weekends with a humiliating Elks loss and last week that worked out perfectly, as Edmonton fell 12-11 to the Saskatchewan Roughriders. Taylor Cornelius wrapped his evening 17 of 29 for 226 yards, a touchdown and an interception. He rushed 11 times for 58 yards and a score. Kevin Brown finished with 15 carries for 65 yards. Steven Dunbar, Jr. caught three passes for 49 yards and a TD. Kyran Moore hauled in five balls for 47 yards. Mark McLaurin finished with six tackles and a forced fumble. Dwayne Thompson II, Adam Konar, AC Leonard and Nyles Morgan all had four tackles apiece, with Leonard adding three sacks, a fumble recovery and a tackle for a loss. Marcus Lewis had two tackles and an interception. Noah Curtis recorded a tackle and a sack.  <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Well, the schedule makers have been kind to Hamilton. After an 0-3 start, the Tiger-Cats should be right back in the mix after facing Ottawa last week and Edmonton this week. Tiger-Cats 24, Elks 13<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

FRIDAY<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

TORONTO ARGONAUTS AT MONTREAL ALOUETTES (+5.5, O\/U: 48)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Before they shuttered operations again for a second bye in less than two months of football, the Argonauts put a solid beat down on the BC Lions in Week 3, winning 45-24. Chad Kelly was efficient, going 23 of 29 for 249 yards a touchdown and no interceptions. He scrambled three times for 25 yards. AJ Ouellette led the team with 14 carries for 70 yards and a score. Cam Phillips caught six passes for 76 yards. Dejon Brissett had three receptions for 54 yards. DaVaris Daniels caught four passes for 47 yards and a TD. Jonathan Jones led the defense with six tackles, one sack and an interception. Adarius Pickett finished with five tackles. Robertson Daniel had three tackles and three interceptions. Jamal Peters and Qwantez Stiggers both had three tackles and a pick. Folarin Orimolade recorded two tackles and a sack. Shawn Oakman had a tackle and a sack and Tarvaris McFadden had a tackle, an interception.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Montreal showed up in every quarter on offense, but couldn\u2019t put up enough points on the board to overcome the BC Lions, falling 35-19 last weekend. Cody Fajardo went 25 of 40 passing for 297 yards, no touchdowns and no interceptions in the loss. He led the team in rushing with eight carries for 57 yards and a score. Austin Mack caught eight passes for 72 yards. Kaion Julien-Grant caught six passes for 66 yards. Tyler Snead had four receptions for 61 yards and Quartney Davis caught two passes for 50 yards. Wesley Sutton finished his day with six tackles and a fumble recovery. Marc-Antoine Dequoy, Tyrice Beverette and Kabion Ento all had five tackles apiece, with Beverette adding a sack and Dequoy an interception and a forced fumble.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While the Alouettes may have ended last year at .500 and started this year the same, they\u2019ll miss that even record after this week. I can\u2019t see any way they stand toe-to-toe with Toronto and this line looks like a gift. Argonauts 34, Alouettes 17<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

SATURDAY<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

WINNIPEG BLUE BOMBERS AT OTTAWA REDBLACKS (+9.5, O\/U: 44.5)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Winnipeg trailed 10-1 after a quarter but allowed only one point the rest of the way on defense, knocking off the Calgary Stampeders 24-11 in Week 5. Zach Collaros was 20 of 28 for 231 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions in the win. Brady Oliveira rushed 15 times for 73 yards. Greg McCrae caught two passes for 73 yards and a score. Rasheed Bailey had four grabs for 40 yards and a TD. Adam Bighill finished with seven tackles and one for a loss. Brandon Alexander, Deatrick Nichols and Abu Daramy-Swaray and had four tackles, with Nichols adding three for a loss. Demerio Houston had three tackles and an interception. Willie Jefferson had two tackles and two sacks. Brian Cole had three tackles, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Redblacks outscored three other teams in Week 5 but managed to play none of them. Instead, they fell 21-13 to the previously winless Hamilton Tiger-Cats. Dustin Crum was 14 of 21 for 149 yards, no touchdowns and two interceptions in a stat line that would make a USFL team sign him in a second. He led the team in rushing with six carries for 91 yards and a touchdown, which would also have the XFL calling. Justin Hardy caught seven passes for 58 yards. Jaelon Acklin had four receptions for 51 yards. Tyron Vrede led the defense with 11 tackles and two for a loss. Frankie Griffin had five tackles. Cleyon Laing had three tackles and a sack. Bandin Dandridge had three tackles, one forced fumble and a fumble recovery. Ty Cranston had a tackle and a pick. Lorenzo Mauldin IV had a tackle and a sack.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Winnipeg opened the season as an offensive juggernaut, but that\u2019s slowed down over the last three weeks. That\u2019s my only concern for them in this game with Ottawa. Can they cover? I\u2019m saying they do. Blue Bombers 27, Redblacks 17<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

CALGARY STAMPEDERS AT SASKATCHEWAN ROUGHRIDERS (pk, O.U: 44.5)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Our second team to manage just 11 points on offense this past week also managed to lose to no one\u2019s surprise, as the Stampeders were overrun by the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, 24-11. Jake Maier was mostly ineffective at QB, finishing 14 of 25 for 122 yards, no touchdowns and an interception. Dedrick Mills led the team rushing with 14 carries for 97 yards and a TD. Reggie Begelton caught four passes for 51 yards. Tre Odoms-Dukes had five receptions for 44 yards. Micah Awe wrapped his afternoon with 10 tackles. Brandon Dozier and Julian Howsarehad six tackles, with Dozier notching a tackle for a loss and Howsare recording two. Cameron Judge and Titus Wall had five tackles apiece, with Judge getting a tackle for a loss and Wall adding two of his own.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Saskatchewan was the third worst team in the CFL a season ago but has already matched half their 2022 season win total after surviving a defensive clash with the Edmonton Elks, 12-11, last Thursday. Trevor Harris ended his night 19 of 29 passing for 292 yards, one touchdown and a pick. He scrambled once for 13 yards. Jamal Morrow rushed 11 times for 52 yards. Mitchell Picton caught four passes for 76 yards and a score. Samuel Emilus had three receptions for 63 yards and Tevin Jones caught four balls for 60 yards. Larry Dean recorded nine tackles. CJ Reavis had eight tackles. Nick Marshall recorded three tackles, one tackle for a loss and an interception.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It seems as if these two teams have switched records and fortunes. I see no reason to buck that trend when making this pick. Roughriders 24, Stampeders 20<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Last week<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Straight up:<\/strong> 4-0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Against the spread:<\/strong> 3-1<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Season<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Straight up:<\/strong> 15-4<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Against the spread:<\/strong> 13-6<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Follow Adam Greene on Twitter <\/em>@TheFirstMan<\/em><\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Connect with us our socials on <\/em>Twitter<\/em><\/a> and <\/em>Instagram<\/em><\/a> for the latest sports news, viral moments, betting odds and the occasional memes.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

BY ADAM GREENE Normally we\u2019d be heading into the halfway point of a season, but considering the Canadian Football League…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":16,"featured_media":24061,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[169],"tags":[168],"class_list":["post-24060","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-cfl","tag-cfl"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.betonline.ag\/news-room\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24060","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.betonline.ag\/news-room\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.betonline.ag\/news-room\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.betonline.ag\/news-room\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/16"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.betonline.ag\/news-room\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=24060"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.betonline.ag\/news-room\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24060\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":24062,"href":"https:\/\/www.betonline.ag\/news-room\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24060\/revisions\/24062"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.betonline.ag\/news-room\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/24061"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.betonline.ag\/news-room\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=24060"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.betonline.ag\/news-room\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=24060"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.betonline.ag\/news-room\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=24060"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}