Last week’s Canadian Football League action did not come close to matching the wild week that was Week 10, but there was still plenty of action and excitement in Week 11. A big matchup in the West Division is the highlight in CFL Week 12, but the Saskatchewan Roughriders’ trip to Calgary to face the Stampeders isn’t the only contest worth tuning into or betting on.
Ahead of the start of Week 12 tomorrow night in Montreal, let’s take a look at the four games on this week’s schedule and the odds for each courtesy of BetOnline, one of the best U.S. sportsbooks for CFL bettors.
CFL Week 12 Schedule and Odds
Thursday, August 21
Winnipeg Blue Bombers (5-4, 1-3 away) vs. Montreal Alouettes (5-5, 2-3 home), 7:30 p.m. ET, CBS Sports Network
| Team | Spread | Moneyline | Over/Under |
|---|---|---|---|
| Winnipeg Blue Bombers | -6 (-110) | -260 | Over 48.5 (-110) |
| Montreal Alouettes | +6 (-110) | +215 | Under 48.5 (-110) |
After blowing a 17-0 lead against the Stampeders in Week 10, the Blue Bombers very nearly threw away a 20-0 lead against the Ottawa Redblacks last Thursday. But after losing on a last-second field goal in Calgary, they flipped the script on Ottawa to pull out the win after a wild fourth quarter.
The Blue Bombers have been at their best at Princess Auto Stadium this season, but if they are to make a move in the West Division, it’s time to start performing on the road, where five of their next seven games will be.
That stretch starts in Week 12 in Montreal, where the Blue Bombers will hope to inflict more misery on the Alouettes.
Is Montreal cursed? It’s not a far-fetched thought, given the team’s absolutely rotten luck with quarterbacks this season. In the second quarter of last Saturday’s game at BC, Caleb Evans suffered a torn ACL, ending his season and his stint as starting quarterback as soon as it began.
Now the reins are in the hands of James Morgan, who was 20 for 33 for 211 yards with a touchdown and an interception after taking over for Evans. The Alouettes certainly need wins to keep pace with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in the East Division, but more than that, they need to keep a quarterback healthy until Davis Alexander returns. Right now, that looks like anything but a certainty.
Friday, August 22
Edmonton Elks (3-6, 1-3 away) vs. Ottawa Redblacks (3-7, 1-3 home), 7:30 p.m. ET, CFL+
| Team | Spread | Moneyline | Over/Under |
|---|---|---|---|
| Edmonton Elks | -3 (-107) | -162 | Over 53.5 (-110) |
| Ottawa Redblacks | +3 (-113) | +142 | Under 53.5 (-110) |
A lot must happen from here for the Elks to make the CFL playoffs for the first time since 2019, but some hope may be stirring as they enter Week 12.
Edmonton followed up a thrilling win at Montreal with a 28-20 win over Toronto last week, with QB Cody Fajardo (25 for 31, 273 yards, TD, INT) having another solid start. One can’t help but wonder if the Elks would have a better record had Fajardo been the starter all season, even though the offense was only part of the problem in the first several weeks.
The lone bright spot in those first several weeks of the CFL season was a 39-33 win at home against the team that they will match up with in Week 12.
With the fight that both teams have shown in recent weeks, this could prove to be the most exciting game in Week 12. After overcoming a 22-1 deficit at Toronto in Week 10, the Redblacks very nearly came all the way back from 20-0 down in Winnipeg but couldn’t move the ball after a late pick of Zach Collaros, which set the stage for the Blue Bombers’ game-winning drive.
The rally against Winnipeg came with backup quarterback Dustin Crum, who is set to draw the start this week with Dru Brown likely out with a lower body injury suffered during last Friday’s game. While losing Brown briefly is unfortunate, there can be encouragement from Crum’s contributions (11 for 17, 125 yards, TD, 6 carries, 21 yards, TD) last week. Can he carry that into this start?
Saturday, August 23
BC Lions (5-5, 3-2 away) vs. Toronto Argonauts (2-8, 1-4 home), 3:00 p.m. ET, CFL+
| Team | Spread | Moneyline | Over/Under |
|---|---|---|---|
| BC Lions | -3.5 (-110) | -185 | Over 55.5 (-110) |
| Toronto Argonauts | +3.5 (-110) | +161 | Under 55.5 (-110) |
The Lions enter Week 12 still on the outside of the CFL playoff picture, but things are looking up in Vancouver after consecutive wins over the Tiger-Cats and Alouettes.
The Blue Bombers and Stampeders can ill-afford to get complacent about their place in the CFL standings, as the schedule is now breaking favorably for the Lions. They are in Ontario for the next two weeks to face the Argonauts and Redblacks, then four of their following five games will be at BC Place.
With Nathan Rourke currently chucking it up and down the field with great gusto, the Lions look like a very, very dangerous team right now. After throwing for 408 yards at Hamilton, Rourke was 26 for 34 for 382 yards and four scores against the Alouettes.
This week, he will be going up against a defensive unit that enters Week 12 eighth in the CFL in both completion percentage (72.3%) and pass efficiency (107.3) and has given up 19 pass plays of 30+ yards, which is tied with Ottawa and Winnipeg for second worst in the league.
Who is the only team that has given up more 30+ yard completions this season? That would be BC, which means that Nick Arbuckle could be in for yet another prolific day after throwing for 382 yards in last week’s loss at Edmonton.
Saskatchewan Roughriders (8-1, 4-0 away) vs. Calgary Stampeders (6-3, 3-2 home), 7:00 p.m. ET, CFL+
| Team | Spread | Moneyline | Over/Under |
|---|---|---|---|
| Saskatchewan Roughriders | PK (-110) | n/a | Over 50.5 (-110) |
| Calgary Stampeders | PK (-110) | n/a | Under 50.5 (-110) |
While there is something to look forward to in the first three games on the Week 12 slate, the most anticipation will be around this week’s finale featuring the best team in the CFL and a team with a stout argument to be next in line, even if the Ti-Cats currently have the second-best Grey Cup odds.
Last week, the Ti-Cats were no match for the Roughriders, who shut down Bo Levi Mitchell (16 for 31, 201 yards, 2 INT) and Hamilton’s high-octane offense in a highly impressive 29-9 victory.
After hurling Hamilton aside with ease, the Riders will roll into Calgary to try to do the same to Vernon Adams Jr. and the Stampeders, who were off last week.
Revenge will be on the agenda for the Riders, who suffered their lone loss to date against the Stampeders in Regina in Week 5.
As impressive as Calgary’s 24-10 win at Mosaic Stadium was at the time, it is even more impressive now, especially the performance that Adams (28 for 36, 428 yards, 3 TD, 2 INT) had. Can he do it again, this time at home?
Other CFL Week 12 Betting Information
At Betting News, you can find predictions and expert picks for the top matchups on the CFL schedule each week.
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