Week 12 of the CFL season kicks off tonight with a big game in Montreal, as two teams who need a win for different reasons meet at Molson Stadium. Tonight’s Blue Bombers (5-4) vs. Alouettes (5-5) matchup is set for 7:30 p.m. ET, and viewers in the U.S. can catch the action on CBS Sports Network.
Winnipeg’s season has been an adventure, but it pales in comparison to what has happened in Montreal, where a fourth different quarterback is now taking starting snaps. Can James Morgan stay upright tonight? Read on for our Blue Bombers vs. Alouettes prediction and expert picks and get the best value odds from BetOnline and other top U.S. sportsbooks.
Winnipeg Blue Bombers vs. Montreal Alouettes Odds
| Team | Spread | Moneyline | Over/Under |
|---|---|---|---|
| Winnipeg Blue Bombers | -6 (-115) | -270 | Over 48.5 (-110) |
| Montreal Alouettes | +6 (-105) | +222 | Under 48.5 (-110) |
Blue Bombers vs. Alouettes Prediction and Picks
Can Morgan Give Montreal’s Offense a Lift?
Quarterback issues have played a role in why Winnipeg is only a game over .500 at the halfway point of its season, but the Blue Bombers do at least have a healthy starting quarterback now.
As for Montreal, the worst-case scenario has not transpired, but things are nothing short of a disaster. The worst-case scenario would be Davis Alexander not returning this season. He will at least return at some point, though it certainly can’t be soon enough with how things are going.
Last week, Caleb Evans joined Alexander and McLeod Bethel-Thompson on the laid-up list as he suffered a torn ACL in the second quarter of Montreal’s 36-18 loss at BC. Fourth-stringer Morgan (20 for 33, 211 yards, TD, INT) performed admirably in his stead and now takes over starting duties for the Alouettes vs. the Blue Bombers.
Morgan faces the unenviable task of trying to breathe some life into an offense with all of three touchdowns to its name in four games since Alexander went on the six-game injured list a month ago.
The leg of kicker Jose Maltos has gotten a decent workout, as he is 14 for 15 on field goals in the last four games, including 4 for 5 against the Lions. In fact, Maltos (32 for 35 FG this season) is on pace to break the CFL’s single-season field goal record (currently 60, by Justin Medlock in 2016).
Can Collaros Tone Down the Turnovers?
But field goals alone will not save the Alouettes, especially vs. the Blue Bombers. Winnipeg’s offense is certainly not whizzing and whirring perfectly, as Zach Collaros threw multiple interceptions for the fifth time this season last week against Ottawa. Collaros has only 49 incompletions in 184 attempts this season, but 10 of them are interceptions, which is less than ideal.
But the Blue Bombers have taken big leads in each of their last three games, and if the Alouettes find themselves down 21, 17, or 20 like the Argonauts, Stampeders, and Redblacks, they are not currently equipped to mount the kind of comebacks that those three teams did against Winnipeg.
Offensive struggles ramp up the pressure on the defense to perform, and Montreal’s D has not been up to the task against some talented quarterbacks in recent weeks. Last week, BC’s Nathan Rourke lit up the Alouettes for 382 yards and four touchdowns while completing 26 of 34 passes.
If Collaros can collar his penchant for generosity, he should have one of his better performances of the season tonight. If he does, it will likely be another long night for Montreal.
Blue Bombers vs. Alouettes Prediction: Blue Bombers to win
Blue Bombers vs. Alouettes Picks: 1) Blue Bombers -6 (-115 at BetOnline) 2) Blue Bombers team total over 27.5 (-110 at Bovada)
Other CFL Week 12 Betting Information
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