Week 3 of the 2023 CFL regular season gets underway on Thursday night with a full slate of action across the country.
The Winnipeg Blue Bombers, B.C. Lions, and Toronto Argonauts are hoping to remain unbeaten, while the Edmonton Elks and Hamilton Tiger-Cats are still looking for their first wins.
3DownNation contributors JC Abbott and Peter Klein are looking to build off red-hot 8-0 starts straight-up, while Klein remains perfect against the spread at 8-0.
If you think you have the chops to match our experts, try 3DownNation’s new Pick’em game. It’s free to play with a $50 Amazon gift card up for grabs each game. All residents of Canada and the U.S. are eligible to participate, excluding Quebec.
Thursday, June 22: B.C. Lions at Winnipeg Blue Bombers — 8:30 p.m. EDT
The league’s only 2-0 teams will battle in this one as the Lions look to prove they can hang with the three-time reigning West Division champions. Lucky Whitehead is back after missing last week with a hamstring injury, though Dominique Rhymes will not dress due to an issue with his foot. Winnipeg has scored a sensational 87 points through two games this season, though running back Brady Oliveira has been listed as a game-time decision due to a thorax injury he sustained in last week’s win over Saskatchewan.
DUNK: The big, bad Bombers are beasts at IG Field, but the Lions can keep it close.
Straight-up: BOMBERS. Against the spread: LIONS.
HODGE: This is a large spread but Winnipeg is head and shoulders above every other team in the league right now. They should cover it.
Straight-up: BOMBERS. Against the spread: BOMBERS.
ABBOTT: B.C. is good but they aren’t good enough to unseat a juggernaut without Dominique Rhymes in the lineup.
Straight-up: BOMBERS. Against the spread: LIONS.
BALLANTINE: Winnipeg’s receivers will be in tough against a Lions defensive backfield that is possibly the league’s best. Look for the Leos to keep it close.
Straight-up: BOMBERS. Against the spread: LIONS.
FILOSO: Winnipeg is the best team in the league but that’s too big of a spread against an explosive Lions offence.
Straight-up: BOMBERS. Against the spread: LIONS.
GASSON: We’ll learn a lot about this year’s Lions in this game. The Bombers always come ready for the big games.
Straight-up: BOMBERS. Against the spread: LIONS.
[embedded content]
GRANT: Both teams opened the season with back-to-back double-digit wins, but Winnipeg did it against better competition.
Straight-up: BOMBERS. Against the spread: BOMBERS.
HOSKINS: B.C. will put up a good fight but the Bombers are on another level right now.
Straight-up: BOMBERS. Against the spread: BOMBERS.
KLEIN: The Bombers are the best team in the league but B.C. is coming for that number one spot. Winnipeg takes it but the Lions will keep it close.
Straight-up: BOMBERS. Against the spread: LIONS.
MCGUIRE: This seems like a widespread for a couple of 2-0 teams but the home side should still get the win.
Straight-up: BOMBERS. Against the spread: LIONS.
SMITH: The Bombers have won their first two games by an average of 14.5 points. They need less than half that to cover this spread.
Straight-up: BOMBERS. Against the spread: BOMBERS.
TOTALS STRAIGHT-UP: Winnipeg 11, B.C. 0
TOTALS AGAINST THE SPREAD: B.C. 7, Winnipeg 4
Friday, June 23: Montreal Alouettes at Hamilton Tiger-Cats — 7:30 p.m. EDT
Bo Levi Mitchell will not play in what would have been his regular season debut in Steeltown due to an adductor injury he suffered in last week’s loss to Toronto. Matthew Shiltz will get the start and played well in spot duty last season, leading the team to a 2-1 record as a starter. Meanwhile, the Alouettes are looking to improve to 2-0 after opening the season with a win over Ottawa before enjoying a Week 2 bye.
DUNK: If Matthew Shiltz protects the football, his Tabbies win.
Straight-up: TICATS. Against the spread: TICATS.
HODGE: Are we sure that Matthew Shiltz is a downgrade from Bo Levi Mitchell?
Straight-up: TICATS. Against the spread: TICATS.
ABBOTT: Sorry Montreal, but a tight win over a bad Ottawa team does not impress me much.
Straight-up: TICATS. Against the spread: TICATS.
BALLANTINE: No Mitchell and Montreal coming off of a bye has me picking the Alouettes in a snoozer.
Straight-up: ALS. Against the spread: ALS.
FILOSO: If alarm bells aren’t going off in the Hammer yet, they soon will be.
Straight-up: ALS. Against the spread: ALS.
GASSON: I still think Hamilton will eventually figure it out but not quite yet.
Straight-up: ALS. Against the spread: ALS.
GRANT: Hamilton’s offensive line is a mess and they’re already onto their second quarterback. This is as much of a “must-win” game as there can be this early.
Straight-up: TICATS. Against the spread: TICATS.
HOSKINS: Shiltz provides a spark and Ticats get it done at home.
Straight-up: TICATS. Against the spread: TICATS.
KLEIN: Hamilton didn’t get strong quarterback play from Mitchell anyway and they’re better than the Als everywhere else on the field.
Straight-up: TICATS. Against the spread: TICATS.
MCGUIRE: I’m rolling with Shiltz on home turf even with an improving Als crew.
Straight-up: TICATS. Against the spread: TICATS.
SMITH: It’s the Hamilton way to have the backup come in and play well.
Straight-up: TICATS. Against the spread: TICATS.
TOTALS STRAIGHT-UP: Hamilton 8, Montreal 3
TOTALS AGAINST THE SPREAD: Hamilton 8, Montreal 3
Saturday, June 24: Saskatchewan Roughriders at Calgary Stampeders — 7:00 p.m. EDT
Brothers Craig and Dave Dickenson will face off as the head coaches of these two teams, bringing about another edition of the Dickie Bowl. Trevor Harris was sensational in a losing effort last week as he threw for 413 yards and three touchdowns in his home regular season debut in Riderville. Meanwhile, Calgary’s defence was stifling in the club’s first win of the season over Ottawa, allowing only seven offensive points and 247 net yards.
DUNK: Saskie has appeal as a sexy underdog to give you moneyline value.
Straight-up: RIDERS. Against the spread: RIDERS.
HODGE: If Saskatchewan can hang with Winnipeg for almost four full quarters, they might just win in Cowtown.
Straight-up: STAMPS. Against the spread: RIDERS.
ABBOTT: There aren’t enough yards-after-catch in the world to make Jake Maier a better quarterback than Trevor Harris.
Straight-up: RIDERS. Against the spread: RIDERS.
BALLANTINE: Calgary got into a rhythm last week against Ottawa. Saskatchewan looked good against Winnipeg but almost lost to Edmonton, so who knows what they are.
Straight-up: STAMPS. Against the spread: STAMPS.
FILOSO: Calgary has the better coaches, but Saskatchewan has the better roster.
Straight-up: RIDERS. Against the spread: RIDERS.
GASSON: The Riders are putting it together.
Straight-up: RIDERS. Against the spread: RIDERS.
GRANT: Saskatchewan would be 2-0 if they played anyone other than Winnipeg last week. I haven’t seen anything yet to convince me Calgary is a good football team.
Straight-up: RIDERS. Against the spread: RIDERS.
HOSKINS: Harris is playing better than Meier right now. This one should be close.
Straight-up: STAMPS. Against the spread: RIDERS.
KLEIN: The Riders are better than people think and Calgary isn’t as good as people give them credit for.
Straight-up: RIDERS. Against the spread: RIDERS.
MCGUIRE: Dump-pass king Jake Maier isn’t capable of challenging Saskatchewan’s secondary enough to give me confidence in Calgary.
Straight-up: RIDERS. Against the spread: RIDERS.
SMITH: This line makes no sense to me. If Harris is on, the Riders could win this one easily.
Straight-up: RIDERS. Against the spread: RIDERS.
TOTALS STRAIGHT-UP: Saskatchewan 8, Calgary 3
TOTALS AGAINST THE SPREAD: Saskatchewan 10, Calgary 1
Sunday, June 25: Toronto Argonauts at Edmonton Elks — 7:00 p.m. EDT
The Elks have lost 18 consecutive home games dating back to 2019 and things aren’t looking up after the club was shut out for the first time in 47 years last week. The reigning Grey Cup champion Argos played well in their season-opener at BMO Field as Chad Kelly rushed for three touchdowns to win his second career CFL start. All the pressure is on Edmonton in this one, though head coach Chris Jones gave quarterback Taylor Cornelius a vote of confidence despite a poor start to the year.
DUNK: If Taylor Cornelius showed any signs of life in the opening two weeks, I’d jump on the Elks but it’s just not smart right now.
Straight-up: ARGOS. Against the spread: ARGOS.
HODGE: I’d usually jump on a heavy home underdog but how can you possibly trust Edmonton at this point?
Straight-up: ARGOS. Against the spread: ARGOS.
ABBOTT: Incompetence, thy name is Taylor Cornelius.
Straight-up: ARGOS. Against the spread: ARGOS.
BALLANTINE: I’m not sure which number will be lower, Kevin Brown’s carries or Edmonton’s points. Toronto thumps the Elks here.
Straight-up: ARGOS. Against the spread: ARGOS.
FILOSO: Toronto’s defence might single-handedly outscore Edmonton’s offence.
Straight-up: ARGOS. Against the spread: ARGOS.
GASSON: I want to take Edmonton but if Jones is going to stick with Cornelius, I can’t.
Straight-up: ARGOS. Against the spread: ARGOS.
GRANT: These teams are heading in opposite directions. This has “trap game” written all over it but I’m not picking a team that just got blanked.
Straight-up: ARGOS. Against the spread: ARGOS.
HOSKINS: Kelly proves that last week wasn’t a fluke. Meanwhile, I’m not sure where Cornelius’ confidence is.
Straight-up: ARGOS. Against the spread: ARGOS.
KLEIN: Anything can happen in the CFL but I haven’t seen one thing from Edmonton that makes me think they can hang with the Argos.
Straight-up: ARGOS. Against the spread: ARGOS.
MCGUIRE: This has to be Taylor Cornelius’ last shot. I’m struggling to see him do any better against Toronto’s defence than Bo did last week.
Straight-up: ARGOS. Against the spread: ARGOS.
SMITH: I cannot and will not pick the Elks until they do the right thing and make a change at quarterback.
Straight-up: ARGOS. Against the spread: ARGOS.
TOTALS STRAIGHT-UP: Toronto 11, Edmonton 0
TOTALS AGAINST THE SPREAD: Toronto 11, Edmonton 0
Records to date (straight-up)
ABBOTT — 8-0
KLEIN — 8-0
FILOSO — 6-2
HODGE — 6-2
HOSKINS — 6-2
MCGUIRE — 6-2
BALLANTINE — 5-3
DUNK — 5-3
GRANT — 5-3
SMITH — 4-4
GASSON — 3-5
Records to date (against the spread)
KLEIN — 8-0
ABBOTT — 6-2
FILOSO — 6-2
BALLANTINE — 5-3
GASSON — 4-4
GRANT — 4-4
HODGE — 4-4
HOSKINS — 4-4
DUNK — 3-5
MCGUIRE — 3-5
SMITH — 2-6
