3DownNation CFL picks straight-up & against the spread: Week 12

3DownNation

Week 12 in the Canadian Football League is officially upon us, and there’s no point in wasting any time — let’s get straight to the picks.

We have ten 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, August 20: Ottawa Redblacks at Montreal Alouettes (-12.5) at 7:30 p.m. EDT

Nyles Morgan is a game-time decision for the Redblacks at middle linebacker, while Sione Teuhema will make his Ottawa debut following his release from the B.C. Lions. Meanwhile, the Alouettes are getting four defensive starters back from injured reserve, including Mustafa Johnson, Geoffrey Cantin-Arku, Najee Murray, and Wesley Sutton. These two teams have met twice previously this season, with Montreal winning a close game at home in June and getting a blowout victory on the road in July.

ABBOTT: Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me. Fool me three times, I’m clearly not too bright.

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

BALLANTINE: 12.5 seems ridiculously high against a Jake Maier team that loves its garbage time points.

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

BORDIGNON: The Redblacks have to win eventually and beating the league’s best would be peak CFL.

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

FILOSO: The spread is disrespectful, but simultaneously not unwarranted. That said, the Redblacks (normally) keep it close.

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

GASSON: I’ve taken my swings. Time to get caught looking at this point.

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

HERRERA-VERGARA: There might be some rust in the Alouettes game after a bye week, but it won’t matter.

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

HODGE: This is so many points, but I’m still taking ’em.

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

HOSKINS: This might be the first time a double-digit spread is too low.

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

KLEIN: I don’t know how big the spread would have to be for me to take Ottawa, but I do know that it isn’t 12.5.

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

McINNIS: The Alouettes has a history of beating up on Ottawa, and now they’re fresh off a bye week. Montreal in blowout fashion.

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

TOTALS STRAIGHT-UP: Montreal 9, Ottawa 1.

TOTALS AGAINST THE SPREAD: Montreal 6, Ottawa 4.

Friday, August 21: Winnipeg Blue Bombers at Edmonton Elks (-5.5) at 9:30 p.m. EDT

The Blue Bombers are coming off a win, though it came over the lowly Redblacks and included a fair number of mistakes, including a dropped touchdown catch from Ontaria Wilson. Brady Oliveira is still dealing with a nagging ankle injury, though he’s expected to play. It appears the Elks won’t have strong-side linebacker Kenneth Logan Jr. back in the lineup as he has yet to practice due to the knee injury that kept him out last week, though the club romped over the Argonauts 42-12 in his absence.

ABBOTT: Hell hath no fury like Mark Kilam with a chip on his shoulder.

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

BALLANTINE: Winnipeg’s win total seems very inflated.

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

BORDIGNON: The Elks got right against Toronto and they continue to win and cover this week.

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

FILOSO: Winnipeg looked underwhelming last week, the Elks did not.

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

GASSON: If the Elks are great like Cody says, then they need to win this game.

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

HERRERA-VERGARA: The Elks figured it out last week.

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

HODGE: Winnipeg can’t hang with the Elks.

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

HOSKINS: Winnipeg isn’t the same as past years but Edmonton always seems to let them hang around.

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

KLEIN: Winnipeg hasn’t played well against good teams this year, and we have established that this is a really good Elks team.

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

McINNIS: I really thought I’d seen it all when it comes to overvaluing the Elks, but this takes the cake.

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

TOTALS STRAIGHT-UP: Edmonton 9, Winnipeg 1.

TOTALS AGAINST THE SPREAD: Edmonton 8, Winnipeg 2.

Saturday, August 22: Hamilton Tiger-Cats at Toronto Argonauts (-4.5) at 7:00 p.m. EDT

It appears Tre Ford will start under centre for Hamilton, as Harrison Frost has been limited in practice with a back injury. Head coach Scott Milanovich has also been away from the team due to personal reasons, though the club wrote a statement to 3DownNation saying they anticipate he’ll rejoin the team in time for Saturday’s game. On the flip side, the Argonauts appear ravaged by injury, as starters Kevin Mital, Makai Polk, Ryan Hunter, Jonathan Kongbo, DaShaun Amos, Bubba Bolden, Benjie Franklin are all on the injury report this week.

ABBOTT: Tre Ford proved he could beat the Argos once. I think he does it again against a banged-up Double Blue defence.

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

BALLANTINE: I’m confused as to why Tre Ford is so much better off the bench than as a starter. He should be enough against a depleted Argo squad.

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

BORDIGNON: Toronto wins, but the Tiger-Cats keep it close.

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

FILOSO: If Chad Kelly can avoid giving this game away, the Argos should be fine.

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

GASSON: Tre Ford off the bench doesn’t translate to Tre Ford starting.

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

HERRERA-VERGARA: When you least expect it, that’s where the Argos play their best football. This game means a lot to them.

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

HODGE: The Boatmen should have won last month’s meeting, and they narrowly make up for it here.

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

HOSKINS: This pick became tougher after Hamilton’s play last week. Kelly’s been too erratic for me as of late.

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

KLEIN: The Tiger-Cats should play well enough to keep this close, but I still think the Argos can take home this win.

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

McINNIS: This is the overreaction game of the week based on recent results, plus this QB matchup clearly favours one team.

Straight-up: Toronto. Against the spread: Toronto

TOTALS STRAIGHT-UP: Toronto 7, Hamilton 3.

TOTALS AGAINST THE SPREAD: Hamilton 7, Toronto 3.

Sunday, August 23: Saskatchewan Roughriders at B.C. Lions (+1.5) at 7:00 p.m. EDT

The Roughriders got good news in the injury department this week, as star receiver Samuel Emilus returned to practice after missing three games with a foot injury. James Letcher Jr. also appears ready to return from an elbow injury, which could give Saskatchewan a boost in the return game. The Lions could be without defensive back Deontai Williams, who missed practice on Wednesday with a knee injury. The 29-year-old may also be facing suspension for this game, as he reportedly had a hearing with the CFL regarding his high hit on Dedrick Mills last week.

ABBOTT: Saskatchewan will be okay in the end, but they don’t deserve to be road favourites with their injury situation.

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

BALLANTINE: We know what Saskatchewan brings, the question is which Rourke shows up?

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

BORDIGNON: One green team got right last week, another one gets right this week.

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

FILOSO: Rourke and company continue to roll.

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

GASSON: If the Riders are the team we think they are, then they should rebound. I don’t expect Harris to be below average two weeks in a row.

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

HERRERA-VERGARA: The Riders have to answer, right?

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

HODGE: The Lions are rolling and the Roughriders are banged up.

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

HOSKINS: This feels like a coin-flip game.

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

KLEIN: The Riders have rebounded well from bad performances in the past, I expect them to do the same here.

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

McINNIS: I’m bullish on the Lions. They’ll build on last week with a win against the defending champs.

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

TOTALS STRAIGHT-UP: Saskatchewan 5, B.C. 5.

TOTALS AGAINST THE SPREAD: B.C. 6, Saskatchewan 4.

2026 records (straight-up)

ABBOTT — 31-11
HERRERA-VERGARA — 29-13
HODGE — 29-13
HOSKINS — 25-17
BALLANTINE — 24-18
FILOSO — 24-18
KLEIN — 24-18
GASSON — 23-19
BORDIGNON — 22-20
McINNIS* — 8-4

2026 records (against the spread)

ABBOTT — 25-17
HERRERA-VERGARA — 24-18
HODGE — 24-18
BALLANTINE — 20-22
KLEIN — 20-22
GASSON — 20-22
BORDIGNON — 18-24
FILOSO — 18-24
HOSKINS — 16-26
McINNIS* — 5-7

Editor’s note: Andrew McInnis began picking in Week 9.