3DownNation CFL picks straight-up & against the spread: Week 9

3DownNation

Week 9 in the Canadian Football League is officially upon us, featuring a rematch between two West Division powerhouses, one team still looking for its first win of the season, and a rookie quarterback making his first career start.

We have nine contributors making picks straight-up and against the spread, and they’ll do so all season long. Enjoy.

Eligible sports bettors in Ontario and Alberta can find relevant information for wagering on the games by clicking on their respective jurisdiction. Please bet responsibly.

Thursday, July 30: B.C. Lions at Winnipeg Blue Bombers (-6) at 8:30 p.m. EDT

The Lions will start rookie Kaidon Salter at quarterback after he impressed in relief of Chase Brice last week. The 23-year-old started nine games at the University of Colorado last year, going 3-6 as a starter. The team has made several other changes to the starting lineup, as running back James Butler and veteran defensive back T.J. Lee III will not play. The Blue Bombers will be without right tackle Jarell Broxton due to a knee injury. Micah Vanterpool, who started six games last year, will fill his place.

ABBOTT: Embrace the chaos!

Straight-up: B.C. Against the spread: B.C.

BALLANTINE: A rookie QB getting welcomed to the CFL by Willie Jefferson? Sorry, kid.

Straight-up: Winnipeg. Against the spread: Winnipeg.

BORDIGNON: Last week, the Lions were chased out of BC Place. This week, it’s Salter in the wound.

Straight-up: Winnipeg. Against the spread: Winnipeg.

FILOSO: Losing to a rookie quarterback on a short week will send the Bombers into a full blown crisis.

Straight-up: B.C. Against the spread: B.C.

GASSON: Both teams are heading in the wrong direction but one’s got more horses to turn things around.

Straight-up: Winnipeg. Against the spread: Winnipeg.

HERRERA-VERGARA: Both teams have big issues right now. However, Winnipeg has the best QB.

Straight-up: Winnipeg. Against the spread: Winnipeg.

HODGE: B.C. is starting a rookie quarterback on a short week. If the Blue Bombers can’t win this one, they may as well not bother for the rest of the season.

Straight-up: Winnipeg. Against the spread: Winnipeg.

HOSKINS: Welcome, Salter! It’s nice to see a new face. It’s a sad face, but it’s new.

Straight-up: Winnipeg. Against the spread: Winnipeg.

KLEIN: Both teams are riding the struggle bus in a big-time way right now. All signs point to a Winnipeg win, but I don’t trust them to run away with it.

Straight-up: Winnipeg. Against the spread: B.C.

McINNIS: Fading backup QBs has been profitable all season, that won’t change this week. Dru Brown and the Bombers bounce back in a big way.

Straight-up: Winnipeg. Against the spread: Winnipeg.

TOTALS STRAIGHT-UP: Winnipeg 8, B.C. 2.

TOTALS AGAINST THE SPREAD: Winnipeg 7, B.C. 3.

Friday, July 31: Montreal Alouettes at Ottawa Redblacks (+7) at 7:30 p.m. EDT

Davis Alexander and Tyson Philpot had uncharacteristically quiet performances during last week’s win over the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, though the Alouettes still managed to cover a wide spread. This week, they’ll look to do the same thing on only four days of rest. The Redblacks look to be getting healthier, though kicker Lewis Ward looks like he’ll be back in the lineup as Brett Lauther has been ruled out due to an injury to his quad. Ottawa is the CFL’s last remaining winless team.

ABBOTT: Ottawa has to win at some point.

Straight-up: Ottawa. Against the spread: Ottawa.

BALLANTINE: Montreal’s crazy backdoor cover gave me a perfect week. I’m not sure I’ll need the heroics this time.

Straight-up: Montreal. Against the spread: Montreal.

BORDIGNON: The Alouettes opened the backdoor last week, they’ll slam it shut this week.

Straight-up: Montreal. Against the spread: Montreal.

FILOSO: With 70-odd alumni in town to celebrate 150 years of Ottawa football history, the Redblacks (finally) get their first win of the season.

Straight-up: Ottawa. Against the spread: Ottawa.

GASSON: The Redblacks have to win eventually.

Straight-up: Ottawa. Against the spread: Ottawa.

HERRERA-VERGARA: The Redblacks will win eventually, but I don’t think it will be Friday.

Straight-up: Montreal. Against the spread: Ottawa.

HODGE: This one could be close with Ottawa coming off a bye, and Montreal on a short week.

Straight-up: Montreal. Against the spread: Ottawa.

HOSKINS: Not many teams are beating Montreal these days. I want it for Ottawa fans, but I just can’t get there this week.

Straight-up: Montreal. Against the spread: Montreal.

KLEIN: Montreal is the better team offensively, but at least Ottawa is significantly worse defensively.

Straight-up: Montreal. Against the spread: Montreal.

McINNIS: The Alouettes have let teams hang around all season. A well-rested, and slowly improving Redblacks team will do enough to cover, but not win.

Straight-up: Montreal. Against the spread: Ottawa.

TOTALS STRAIGHT-UP: Montreal 7, Ottawa 3.

TOTALS AGAINST THE SPREAD: Ottawa 6, Montreal 4.

Saturday, August 1: Calgary Stampeders at Hamilton Tiger-Cats (+5.5) at 3:00 p.m. EDT

Calgary laid the wood against Winnipeg last week, putting up 52 points as Vernon Adams Jr. continued his M.O.P-like start to the season, Tyreik McAllister scored three touchdowns, and Benjamin Labrosse intercepted three passes. Hamilton’s offence experienced quite the opposite in a loss to Montreal, as the unit managed only 228 yards of net offence. The Tiger-Cats will need to get more production offensively if they hope to knock off the Stampeders and improve to 3-2 at home.

ABBOTT: V.A. prevails, but this one will be closer than you think.

Straight-up: Calgary. Against the spread: Hamilton.

BALLANTINE: Pick against the Stamps at your peril.

Straight-up: Calgary. Against the spread: Calgary.

BORDIGNON: The Stampeders will ruin Hamilton’s white out.

Straight-up: Calgary. Against the spread: Calgary.

FILOSO: Not only do the Stamps have the better quarterback, they have a better roster all the way through.

Straight-up: Calgary. Against the spread: Calgary.

GASSON: V.A. is the QB Tre Ford wants to be.

Straight-up: Calgary. Against the spread: Calgary.

HERRERA-VERGARA: VA is playing very well while Tre Ford isn’t.

Straight-up: Calgary. Against the spread: Calgary.

HODGE: The Tiger-Cats have been quietly brilliant on defence the last two weeks, which should keep things close.

Straight-up: Calgary. Against the spread: Hamilton.

HOSKINS: Who knew horses could outrun Tiger-Cats? Almost everyone this week, I guess.

Straight-up: Calgary. Against the spread: Calgary.

KLEIN: The Stamps are getting better each week. I can’t exactly say the same for Hamilton right now.

Straight-up: Calgary. Against the spread: Calgary.

McINNIS: Being asked to win is different than winning by a TD. I can’t stomach that with a team giving up 30 points a game. Hamilton keeps it close, but falls short.

Straight-up: Calgary. Against the spread: Hamilton.

TOTALS STRAIGHT-UP: Calgary 10, Hamilton 0.

TOTALS AGAINST THE SPREAD: Calgary 7, Hamilton 3.

Saturday, August 1: Saskatchewan Roughriders at Edmonton Elks (-1.5) at 7:00 p.m. EDT

These two teams met in Regina last week, where Vincent Blanchard kicked a 57-yard game-winner in walk-off fashion. Carter O’Donnell may return from a knee injury that kept him out of last week’s contest, which would be a significant boost to Edmonton’s offensive line. It appears unlikely that A.J. Ouellette will be available for the Riders, which would likely leave rookie Quali Conley to start at running back. Nelson Lokombo, Saskatchewan’s starting safety, appears set to return after missing two games due to an ankle injury.

ABBOTT: These two teams are too good not to split the back-to-back.