Tonight, Week 9 of the 2025 CFL season will kick off with the Calgary Stampeders (5-2) visiting the Ottawa Redblacks (1-6) in a matchup between one of the league’s best teams and one of the league’s worst teams (7:30 p.m. ET, CFL+).
Last week, it looked like the Calgary Stampeders were on their way to a fourth consecutive win and a 6-1 record. Then star quarterback Vernon Adams Jr. went down late in the quarter and did not return, and the Montreal Alouettes rallied in the fourth quarter to win in Calgary.
Adams will be a spectator for tonight’s game, but can backup P.J. Walker successfully step in and lead the team to victory? Read on for Stampeders vs. Redblacks odds, as well as a prediction and expert picks for the first of this week’s four games. Will Ottawa back up their position at top online sportsbooks?
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Adams Out, Walker In for Stampeders in Week 9
When Adams was injured near the end of the third quarter last Thursday, Calgary held a 21-14 lead over Montreal. It came during another efficient performance for the former Oregon QB, who was 15 of 25 for 193 yards and a touchdown when he exited for the night.
His exit ultimately opened the door for the Alouettes to come back in the fourth quarter. Walker, who was throwing his first passes in competitive action since November 26, 2023, was 3 for 7 for only 20 yards and in four fourth-quarter possessions, on which the Stampeders managed a solitary first down.
In the meantime, the Alouettes got three Jose Maltos field goals on four possessions, including a 58-yard game-winning kick with 1:10 left, to win 23-21.
Walker is in line for much more game time tonight, as Adams has been ruled out with what has been reported as a neck injury. It will be Walker’s first start since Week 8 of the 2023 NFL season, a start for the Cleveland Browns against the Seattle Seahawks, who he was with briefly last summer before signing with the Stampeders last October.
Calgary Stampeders vs. Ottawa Redblacks Odds
Odds are courtesy of BetOnline.
| Team | Spread | Moneyline | Over/Under |
|---|---|---|---|
| Calgary Stampeders | +3.5 (-110) | +165 | Over 49.5 (-110) |
| Ottawa Redblacks | -3.5 (-110) | -190 | Under 49.5 (-110) |
Stampeders vs. Redblacks Prediction and Picks
As noted in our CFL Week 9 preview, Adams is not the only notable absence for Calgary. Defensive back Adrian Greene, who leads the CFL in interceptions with four, and rookie receiver Damien Alford, will also miss tonight’s game.
The Redblacks’ lone win this season came in Calgary in Week 3, a 20-12 victory that is, to be frank, hard to explain when you look at what both teams have done otherwise this season.
For example, if you take out the 239 rushing yards that the Redblacks racked up in that game, they have averaged only 75 rushing yards in their other six games. And in their other six games, they have given up an average of 31.8 points.
That said, that loss might have served as the catalyst for Calgary’s ascendance into the thick of the Grey Cup conversation. And even last week’s loss to Montreal doesn’t alter that, especially given that it took the loss of Adams and a career-long kick for Maltos for the Alouettes to leave McMahon Stadium with a win.
But can Walker lead them to a win on the road tonight? He was thrust into a tough spot last week, but on the flip side, he received reps in a meaningful moment. That should serve him well for tonight’s game.
With the Stampeders shorthanded, it is understandable that the Redblacks are favored at home. However, there’s no real reason to back them as a favorite. Calgary possesses one of the league’s best defenses, and underdogs have been on fire as of late.
Stampeders vs. Redblacks Prediction: Stampeders to win
Stampeders vs. Redblacks Picks: 1) Stampeders +3.5 (-105 at Bovada) 2) Stampeders ML
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