Football bettors across the continent eagerly await the start of the 2023 NFL season, but there is no need to wait until September to bet on football games. Bettors can find the latest CFL Week 8 odds at top US sportsbooks. Let’s look at the betting lines and make some predictions.
CFL Week 8 starts Friday with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats taking on the Ottawa Redblacks. Saturday features a double-header with the Saskatchewan Roughriders facing the undefeated Toronto Argonauts, followed by the Edmonton Elks trying to win their first game of the season against the BC Lions. Week 8 concludes with the Calgary Stampeders and Montreal Alouettes on Sunday.
Odds & Picks for Week 8 of the 2023 CFL Season
The 2023 season is shaping up to be a lot like last year. Winnipeg and BC are the dominant teams in the West Division, while Toronto leads a mediocre East. The Argonauts are the only undefeated team in the CFL at 5-0 (BC is 5-1).
However, in a 21-week season where every team plays 18 games, there is time for even the winless Elks to turn the season around.
Let’s review the odds for each game offered on the top sports betting apps, starting with Tiger-Cats vs. Redblacks.
Hamilton Tiger-Cats (2-4 SU, 2-4 ATS) vs. Ottawa Red Blacks (3-3 SU, 3-3 ATS): Moneyline, Point Spread, and Total
Fans can stream the game Friday at 7:30 p.m. ET via the league’s online platform, CFL+.
CFL · Fri (7/28) @ 7:30 pm ET
| Hamilton Tiger-Cats | at | Ottawa Redblacks |
| TD Place Stadium, Ottawa, CA | ||
BetMGM Sportsbook: Use Bonus Code 'TODAY' to Claim $1,000 First Bet Offer
The Ticats got some good news on Monday with the return of quarterback Bo Levi Mitchel to practice but as a limited participant. It is too soon to say whether he’ll be ready to go by Friday. Taylor Powell struggled in his first start last week, but he still passed for 283 yards and got the team within one score late in the game.
But if Mitchel can go, he represents Hamilton’s best shot at winning and starting to work its best shot to start moving up the standings.
Ottawa is coming off its second straight overtime win, a 43-41 victory over Calgary. Dustin Crum accounted for 300+ yards of offense, the running game tallied 184 yards (5.6 YPC), and the defense held Calgary to just 38 yards on the ground.
But the Redblacks did give up 450 yards in the passing game, which would play to Mitchel’s strengths.
Tiger-Cats vs. Redblacks Prediction: It All Depends on Who Plays QB for Hamilton
The Redblacks are on the verge of becoming one of the better teams in the CFL, but to reach that status, they need to win the games they should win. This game is one of those, as long as Mitchel is on the bench. With Mitchel, the Hamilton passing game could keep the Ticats in it.
Otherwise, Crum will keep the good times rolling against a weak Tiger-Cats defense.
Our Pick: Ottawa +100
Saskatchewan Roughriders (3-3 SU, 3-3 ATS) vs. Toronto Argonauts (5-0 SU, 5-0 ATS) vs.): Moneyline, Point Spread, and Total
The game will be broadcast Saturday night on CBSSN at 4 p.m. ET. Fans can stream the game via the league’s online platform, CFL+. They can also stream it at CBSSports.com or on CBS Sports App.
CFL · Sat (7/29) @ 4:00 pm ET
| Saskatchewan Roughnecks | at | Toronto Argonauts |
| Huskies Stadium, Halifax, CA | ||
Mason Fine had a rough day last week in his first start since taking over for an injured Trevor Harris. He did complete an impressive 77.5% of his passes, but he only had 278 yards, no touchdowns, and threw a pair of interceptions. It certainly didn’t help that the team could not establish the run game (16 carries for 14 yards).
The Roughriders failed to get into the endzone during a game for the first time this season.
They need to score every chance they can to keep pace with the best offense in the CFL. Chad Kelly is on fire and fresh off his second 300+ yard game in a row. Passing yards get that high for some teams because their run game is terrible. But the Argos had 112 total yards on the ground. A.J. Ouellette led the way with 84 yards on ten carries.
Roughnecks vs. Argonauts Prediction: Play the Under
Last year’s Touchdown Atlantic game (a game played at a neutral site in one of the maritime provinces of Canada) between the Roughriders and Argonauts was a close, hard-fought contest that ended with Toronto coming out on top, 30-24.
But this season’s edition will not be nearly as close.
Saskatchewan’s defense is solid, but it shouldn’t expect much help from the offense. They may be able to slow Kelly down in the first half, but the Argonauts will pull away in the second half for an easy win.
Toronto can put up some points, but the Saskatchewan defense may slow them down a little. The Argonauts defense is not good enough to shut the Roughriders out, but they could keep them out of the end zone. Toronto will win the game, but the spread is too high against a solid defensive team like Saskatchewan.
Our Pick: Under 47.5
BC Lions (5-1 SU, 4-1-1 ATS) vs. Edmonton Elks (0-7 SU, 2-5 ATS): Moneyline, Point Spread, and Total
The game will be broadcast Saturday night on CBSSN at 7 p.m. ET. Fans can stream the game via the league’s online platform, CFL+. They can also stream it at CBSSports.com or on CBS Sports App.
CFL · Sat (7/29) @ 7:00 pm ET
| BC Lions | at | Edmonton Elks |
| Commonwealth Stadium, Edmonton, CA | ||
If you missed BC’s game last week and saw the box score before hearing anything about the game, the 19-9 score must have been confusing. The Roughriders have a solid defense, but the Lions have one of the most explosive offenses in the CFL. What happened?
Quarterback Vernon Adams was injured in the first quarter and had to leave the game. Dane Evans had an efficient day in his place (16-25 for 219 yards, one touchdown, and one interception). However, the run game was almost non-existent (34 yards on 13 carries).
It was the defense that saved the day.
Edmonton put up a better fight than expected against the Blue Bombers last week, playing them to a 6-6 tie at the half. But Winnipeg eventually pulled away in the second half and won by a comfortable margin.
Lions vs. Elks Prediction: First Win for the Elks?
No. Edmonton will not record its first win this week. But with Vernon Adams out and Dane Evans getting the start at quarterback for BC, the game may not be as explosive as fans may hope for. It will, however, be another win for the Lions.
It’s a large spread, but BC will score at least ten points, and their defense could certainly shut the Elks struggling offense down and record a shutout like they did when these teams met in Week 2 (22-0, Lions).
Our Pick: Lions -7.5
Calgary Stampeders (2-4 SU, 2-4 ATS) vs. Montreal Alouettes (2-3 SU, 2-3 ATS): Moneyline, Point Spread, and Total
Fans can stream the game Sunday at 7 p.m. ET via the league’s online platform, CFL+.
CFL · Sun (7/30) @ 7:00 pm ET
| Calgary Stampeders | at | Montreal Alouettes |
| Percival Molson Memorial Stadium, Montreal, CA | ||
The Alouettes enter the game fresh off a bye week and ready to put their close loss to Toronto behind them. Cody Fajardo had a decent day against the Argos with 281 yards and three touchdowns, but he also threw two costly interceptions. The run game only had 88 yards on 22 carries.
Their defense had no answer for Chad Kelly or Toronto’s run game, but Calgary’s offense will not be nearly as good. The Stampeders struggled to run the ball last week against Ottawa, but Jake Maier did throw for 450 yards and four touchdowns but had two interceptions.
Stampeders vs. Alouettes Prediction: Points Aplenty
The Alouettes do not have one of the more potent offenses in the league, but it is an efficient one that will look better than ever against a lackluster Calgary defense. But if Jake Maier can carve up the Montreal secondary like he destroyed Ottawa’s last week (28-38 for 450 yards, four touchdowns, and two interceptions), this could turn into an entertaining ball game.
The winner will be whoever makes the fewest mistakes.
Both teams have things they do well, but they also have holes in their lineup, especially on the defensive side. Look for the secondaries to get a workout as both teams air it out.
Our Pick: Over 47
Read More: Football Betting Promo Codes | Super Bowl Odds | NFL MVP Odds | NFL Game Betting Lines | NFL Spread Calculator | How to Bet on NFL | Best NFL Betting Sites
About the Author
