| Record | Last Week | Season |
|---|---|---|
| Game Picks | 1-2 | 6-3 |
| Player Props | 0-1 | 2-2 |
| Overall | 1-3 | 8-5 |
A plethora of points! Scoring is up almost ten points per game from last season. There has been an average of 62.2 points scored per contest, compared to 52.9 during the 2025 regular season. 14 of 18 games have gone over the total. We’ve had rule changes, warm weather, healthy quarterbacks (until now), and I was aware of all these factors a week ago, but I still took the under for the Argos and Stamps on Thursday night. Vernon Adams punished me for my prediction with seven total touchdowns.
The Stamps QB is now saddled up next to Davis Alexander as the second choice to win MOP. He’s followed by Justin Rankin of the Elks. The stars are aligned for Fanduel’s Alberta arrival next week. Both ‘Berta fanbases have reason to be bullish. Each team is rising with a bullet in the Grey Cup market, and wouldn’t you know it, the 113th big game is being held in Calgary, Alberta. But first, week 6 begins in the provincial capital.
Ottawa Redblacks at Edmonton Elks
Ryan Dinwiddie ripped his Redblacks after last week’s loss to the Riders. It’s a move we’ve seen him make several times over the last few years at the Argos helm. His criticism was widespread, including his quarterback. Dinwiddie, somewhat surprisingly, chose Jake Maier as his starter, then shipped backup Dru Brown to Winnipeg, where he will start this week. Meanwhile, the Redblacks are 0-4 and their coach is calling for better quarterback play, tighter special teams, and more discipline. There have been some encouraging signs. Their last two losses were to the reigning Grey Cup finalists by a combined seven points, but they’re still 1-3 against the spread. We’ve also seen this matchup already with the Elks winning by eight points in Ottawa week one. Edmonton is coming off its first loss of the season and the herd should be hungry to remain undefeated at home.
THE PICK: ELKS -6.5
PLAYER PROP: JUSTIN RANKIN OVER 80.5 RUSHING YARDS
Rankin was held to just 19 rushing yards in last week’s loss but still accounted for 100 receiving yards. He had over 100 rushing yards in each of his first three games, all wins. No surprise that his rushing attempts decreased when his team was playing from behind. Against the Redbacks in week 1, he had over 100 rushing yards on just 13 carries, including a 61-yard touchdown run. He regularly reaches the second level, and he has the potential break free for a big one every time he touches the ball. If the Elks are playing with the lead, most of those touches will be handed to him the backfield. Ottawa has allowed over 100 rushing yards in each of their four losses and they’re allowing a league-worst 8.1 yards on first down. The most explosive running back in the league is a tough assignment for a defence that’s just trying to stop the bleeding.
Toronto Argonauts at Winnipeg Blue Bombers
This line has moved in favour of the Argos with the confirmation that Dru Brown will start in place of Zach Collaros. Collaros is out with what’s being a called a neck injury, or an upper body injury, but considering the quarterback’s injury history, it feels like an attempt to label it anything other than the ‘C’ word. In other words, it could be an extended absence for Collaros, one that Winnipeg was preparing for when they acquired Dru Brown. After all, he broke into the league with the Bombers and gave them a boost when Collaros suffered a similar injury in 2023. His stats were so good, with 9 touchdowns and no interceptions, that the Redblacks wanted him as their starter. Not only is Brown familiar with Winnipeg’s offensive weapons, he’s also reunited with Tommy Condell, his offensive coordinator from last season. It’s the best possible situation for a starting QB who’s only been with the team for two weeks.
Brown also has the best possible matchup on paper. The Argos are allowing the most points and the most yards in the league. They just gave up 58 points to the Stamps, and while Chad Kelly’s arm is dangerous and his receivers are deep, he continues to turn the ball over with frustrating frequency.
THE PICK: BLUE BOMBERS +2.5
Hamilton Tiger-Cats at Saskatchewan Roughriders
Bo Levi Mitchell was playing as well as he ever has in his CFL career. He was picking apart defences and racking up yards, touchdowns and wins with impressive efficiency. He was doing the same to the Bombers on Sunday when Hamilton’s hopes came crashing to a halt on one play. It would appear the Alouettes can cruise to an East division title. With the Stamps riding hot into Montreal, I’ll steer clear of Saturday’s matchup, though I’d lean toward the Stamps +3.5
Bo wasn’t ruled out for the season after surgery, but if the Ti-Cats are going to make the playoffs, it will be with someone else under centre. There are currently two options, neither of whom looked up to the task in limited action last week. Jake Dolegala will start in Saskatchewan, but don’t be surprised if Tre Ford sees some snaps. Neither will command the offence or read the defence like Bo was doing.
THE PICK: ROUGHRIDERS -7.5
