The Ottawa Redblacks are two losses away from becoming the first team in CFL history to go 0-18.
After spending the year highlighting Ottawa as the easiest team to fade in the CFL, the stakes couldn’t be much higher for yours truly tonight.
It’s been 406 days since the Redblacks won a game.
Ottawa will host the Toronto Argonauts in its final home game of the season.
The Redblacks will wrap up their regular season against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats next Saturday.
When FanDuel introduced its market for the Redblacks next regular season win back in August, I recommended plays on Ottawa to go 0-18 at +1500 and to record its first win in Hamilton in Week 21 at +2500.
With an Argonauts win tonight, one of those bets will be guaranteed to cash, which leaves me with an interesting question to consider.
Should I hedge my bets one last time and play the Redblacks to win outright tonight at +390 at FanDuel?
Or should I let it ride and bank on the drought to continue against Toronto?
Hit me up @Domenic_Padula on X and let me know your thoughts on Ottawa’s chances.
In the meantime, I’ll temporarily shift my focus to the second half of tonight’s CFL double-header between the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and the Edmonton Elks.
While the Redblacks are the CFL’s most disappointing team, the Elks have been the league’s most pleasant surprise this season.
Edmonton clinched a home playoff game with a win over Hamilton in Week 19 and can lock up first place in the CFL’s West Division with a win tonight.
Meanwhile, Zach Collaros returned from injury to deliver a vintage performance in a Week 19 win over the Calgary Stampeders to keep Winnipeg’s playoff hopes alive.
The Bombers are locked in a battle for third place in the West Division with the Saskatchewan Roughriders and the Stampeders with two games remaining.
Can Collaros lift Winnipeg to a win over Edmonton?
How will Saskatchewan and Calgary fare this weekend?
Let’s set the stage for Week 20 in the CFL in this Morning Coffee column for Friday October 16th, 2026.
Stampeders Could Use A Little Help From Alberta Rival Elks In CFL Playoff Race
The Elks entered the 2026 CFL season with the longest odds to win the Grey Cup at +1900 at FanDuel.
Fast-forward 19 weeks later, Edmonton is the second choice to win the Grey Cup at +250 at FanDuel.
Only the Montreal Alouettes (+160) have shorter odds.
The Elks have soared over their regular season win total (7.5) with a 12-4 record.
Now their focus shifts to locking up first place in the West, which will happen with one more point or a BC Lions loss to Calgary or Winnipeg the next two weeks.
With a first-round playoff bye and home field advantage for the Western Final within reach, Edmonton versus Montreal remains the most likely matchup for the 113th Grey Cup in Calgary on November 20th.
However, a lot can change over these next few weeks.
BC entered the season as the second choice to win the Grey Cup at +380 at FanDuel.
The Lions are still +380 to win it all at FanDuel as the third choice behind the Alouettes and Elks this morning.
Nathan Rourke and company have won nine of their last 10 to secure a playoff spot, and it will be interesting to see how they approach Saturday’s game in Calgary once tonight’s results are officially locked in.
BC has a 99.36 per cent chance to host a playoff game.
If Edmonton wins tonight, the Lions won’t be able to catch them for first place in the West Division.
If the Elks lose, BC could close the gap on Edmonton and eliminate Calgary with a win on Saturday.
The Lions will host the Blue Bombers in Week 21.
Edmonton is a 3.5-point favourite versus Winnipeg at FanDuel this morning.
Then there’s Saskatchewan, which hosts Montreal and Edmonton to close out the regular season.
The Riders have lost four in a row and suddenly seem like an afterthought in the Grey Cup conversation at +1600 – longer odds than any team still in contention outside of the Stampeders (+2200).
Even if Corey Mace’s team finds a way in, it’s hard to imagine them turning things around and making another Grey Cup run at this point.
Then again, stranger things have happened.
Saskatchewan is a 5.5-point favourite versus Montreal.
As for Calgary, last week’s loss to Winnipeg has them sitting in fifth place heading into tonight’s finale.
If the Stampeders can win on Saturday and get a little help from its provincial rival Edmonton tonight, they will have a shot to get in heading into Week 21.
BC is a 2.5-point road favourite at Calgary.
Finally, Winnipeg can control its own path to the postseason with wins over Edmonton and BC.
While the Stampeders need the Elks to win tonight to bolster their playoff chances, the Bombers will aim to pull off the upset and then cheer for the Lions on Saturday.
https://x.com/CFLonTSN/status/2108292021031194943
There’s a lot left to be decided in terms of seeding on the road to the 113th Grey Cup in Calgary.
It all comes down to the final two weeks of the season.
Selfishly, I’ve circled Ottawa versus Toronto as my official “Game of the Week” based on the massive implications it will have on my bankroll.
However, I’m fascinated to see how the West playoff race plays out, especially after the Elks made things that much more interesting on that side of the bracket this season.
Enjoy the football, everyone!