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The 2022 CFL season begins Thursday night when Montreal travels to Calgary to take on the Stampeders.
2021 Grey Cup champion Winnipeg will be in action on Friday night against Ottawa. The Blue Bombers became the first repeat CFL champion since Montreal in 2009-10 when Winnipeg QB Zach Collaros threw a touchdown pass in overtime to beat Hamilton.
Here is a look at the 2022 CFL Week 1 odds and predictions.
Montreal Alouettes vs. Calgary Stampeders
Odds: CAL -3.5 / 48.5
Montreal was a good team on paper in 2021. The Alouettes had the CFL’s second-best offense, but only finished 7-7 overall. They went 2-4 in one-score games, which is something they will have to improve on in 2022.
Vernon Adams is a very good dual-threat quarterback, but the edge goes to Calgary’s Bo Levi Mitchell who is one of the league’s best. He was hurt for most of 2021 and now fully healed is the reason why Calgary has moved from a 3-point favorite to a 3.5-point chalk.
The Stampeders have won six of the last ten against Montreal. They own a point differential of +6.8 against Montreal in those ten games. Montreal went 2-4 against Western Conference teams last year. Calgary won last year’s game by six, 28-22, and they are 6-2 ATS in their last eight games. They win and cover again in the season opener.
PREDICTION: CALGARY -3.5
Ottawa Redblacks vs. Winnipeg Blue Bombers
Odds: WPG -9.5 / 48
Winnipeg is the defending Grey Cup champion and is heavily favored against Ottawa in the season opener. The Redblacks lost four of their last five games last season and failed to break 20 points in any of the five games.
Ottawa went 3-11 last year and was outscored by 160 points. The Redblacks have actually only won three times in their last 25 games. They did make a move for QB Jeremiah Masoli, but he’s aging and Winnipeg QB Zach Collaros is the best in the league.
The Blue Bombers also play great defense, which has played a role in a trend to the Under. The total has gone Under in 12 of Winnipeg’s last 18 games. The Under is also 5-0 in Ottawa’s last five games. The Redblacks will struggle in this one and keep the score in the 30s or low 40s.
PREDICTION: UNDER 48
Hamilton Tiger-Cats vs. Saskatchewan Roughriders
Odds: SSK -1 / 47.5
Saskatchewan is favored, just barely, at home against a Hamilton team that lost in the Grey Cup final last season. Dane Evans takes over at quarterback for the Ticats.
The Roughriders, on the other hand, will have Cody Fajardo under center. His 7.4 yards per attempt is a good indication of the Saskatchewan offense. It’s not very explosive and is mostly conservative.
Saskatchewan is 13-3 SU in its last 16 home games and has covered the spread in seven of the last nine against Hamilton. The Ticats are 4-2 SU and 4-1-1 ATS in their last six road games.
In a tight matchup with a strong defense (Hamilton) and a mediocre offense, (Saskatchewan), the Under is the play.
PREDICTION: UNDER 47.5
Edmonton Elks vs. British Columbia Lions
Odds: BC -3.5 / 48
The final game of Week 1 features Edmonton and the favored BC Lions. Neither team had a great 2021 campaign. BC capped off last season with a 43-10 win over the Elks.
Edmonton gave up 27.4 points a game over their last five at the end of 2021. That defense isn’t likely to be much better.
BC may be better at quarterback where Nathan Rourke takes over for the retired Mike Reilly. Rourke averaged 9.2 yards per attempt last year and if he’s anywhere near good, BC wins and covers at home.
PREDICTION: BRITISH COLUMBIA -3.5
