CFL Week 8 action kicks off on Thursday and I'm picks three wagers from three different games.
The pregame narrative: I'm fading offence and taking the under in both Montreal and Toronto. Elsewhere, I like the Hamilton Tiger-Cats to cover against the Edmonton Elks.
Check out the best CFL Week 8 picks for July 25-28.
CFL Week 8 picks
Best Bet: Roughriders/Alouettes under 49 points (-110)
I like backing the under when the CFL's best defences clash.
Both of these units have been fantastic to start the year. The Montreal Alouettes' defence sits atop most per-game defensive categories including points (22.7), passing yards (223.3) and total yards (316).
The Saskatchewan Roughriders have excelled on defence, too — especially against the run. Saskatchewan has allowed the fewest rushing yards through the first six games in franchise history (302) and has held its opponents under 100 yards rushing in each of its first six games for the first time ever.
The Als will be forced to lean on their run game more this week with starting quarterback Cody Fajardo hitting the six-game injured list. The Riders also will have a backup quarterback, Shea Patterson, making his fourth start.
The combination of elite defences plus backup pivots on both sides is enough for me to expect a low total.
Key stat: The Alouettes have only allowed more than 23 points twice since Week 14 of 2023.
Quick picks
Blue Bombers/Argonauts under 49.5 points (-110): While I'm taking the under in Montreal because of strong defence, I like the under in Toronto because of poor offence.
The Winnipeg Blue Bombers' offence has not been pretty to watch, leading to the team's 2-5 record. After surpassing the 25-point mark two weeks ago for the first time this season, Winnipeg followed that up with a nine-point, no-touchdown performance against the Riders last week.
Overall the Bombers sit in the bottom two in scoring, net offence and passing yards.
A team that joins Winnipeg at the bottom of those categories is the Toronto Argonauts.
To improve those numbers, the Argos made a change at the quarterback position last week. Nick Arbuckle relieved Cameron Dukes midway through the fourth quarter and nearly finished with the same production.
Arbuckle and Dukes have split first-team reps at practice all week and it's still uncertain who will get the start.
Tiger-Cats +3.5 (-110): I like the Tiger-Cats to cover against the worst team in the CFL.
Aside from the BC Lions, Hamilton has been the most aggressive passing team in the CFL. Despite being 1-5, the Ti-Cats boast the second most offensive yards (377.7) and passing yards (325.5) per game.
The Ti-Cats claimed their first win of the 2024 season last week (27-24 over the Argos). The Elks, meanwhile, are still searching for that elusive first win.
Despite being in tight games with some of the league's best, Edmonton's statistics are about as poor as it can get.
The Elks are dead last in net offence per game (332.7), yards allowed per game (385.8), and rushing yards per game (61.7).
I would consider backing Hamilton to win straight up based on Edmonton's recent performances, but to be a bit more conservative, I'll just take the Ti-Cats to cover.
Picks made at 10:00 a.m. on 07/25/24.
