2025 CFL Week 13 Picks and Betting Odds: Labour Day Weekend rivalry matchups
Labour Day weekend is back with three stellar matchups. The festivities kick off in Saskatchewan on Sunday night, with the Roughriders hosting the Blue Bombers before Monday’s double-header that sees Toronto visit Hamilton and Calgary host Edmonton.
Let’s break down all three Week 13 games and dig for some picks.
Make sure to check out Sports Interaction’s complete list of CFL game odds and CFL futures.
Winnipeg Blue Bombers at Saskatchewan Roughriders
If last week proved anything, it’s the unpredictability of the CFL. The league-leading Roughriders lost just their second game of the season, while the Bombers won their second in a row.
At 8-2, it’s certainly not time to panic in Saskatchewan. The Riders are still undefeated against every team but Calgary and they clearly have the deepest roster in the CFL. Trevor Harris remains an elite level quarterback, while the defensive unit ranks within the top two in points allowed, offensive yards allowed, rushing yards allowed, sacks and interceptions.
Brady Oliveira was an absolute monster for Winnipeg last week, posting 210 total yards in the air and on the ground. It’s quarterback Zach Collaros, however, who is key to this offence. Collaros leads the CFL in interceptions and ranks just seventh in passing yards and passing TDs. That doesn’t bode well this week as the Bombers’ receiving group is decimated by injuries.
Winnipeg has dominated this head-to-head matchup in recent years with three straight victories, but Saskatchewan is clearly the better team in 2025. I like the Riders to win outright, but 5.5 isn’t a number I’m comfortable with considering two of those last three games were decided by five and two points respectively.
Pick: Winnipeg +5.5
Toronto Argonauts at Hamilton Tiger-Cats
Toronto salvaged any hope they have of making the playoffs with a massive win over BC last week, but they still have a lot of work to do while sitting at 3-8 on the year. The Ti-Cats are coming off a much-needed bye after dropping their last two games, but still sit atop the East Division standings at 6-4.
With Chad Kelly seemingly nowhere close to returning to action, Nick Arbuckle has performed as well as you could ask. Arbuckle leads the CFL in passing yards and sits second in passing TDs. The seven-year veteran is coming off a career-high 430 passing yards last week and he’s topped 300 passing yards in five straight games. He’s also posted an elite 11-2 TD-INT ratio in that stretch.
Hamilton absolutely spanked the Argos in Week 5, torching Toronto’s revamped defence for 51 points. Bo Levi Mitchell had 332 passing yards and five TDs in that game, while Kenny Lawler turned six catches into a ridiculous 207 yards and two TDs.
This seems like a get-right game for the Ti-Cats. They’re plenty rested and they have a history of beating up on Toronto on Labour Day. Hamilton is 30-13 all-time against the Argos on Labour Day, including 10-3 in the last 13 contests.
Pick: Hamilton -4.5
Edmonton Elks at Calgary Stampeders
The finale of the Labour Day Classic should be…well classic. Calgary just beat the class of the CFL in Saskatchewan last week and continue to nip at the Riders’ heels in the standings at 7-3. Meanwhile Edmonton has put a dreadful start to the season behind them on an impressive three-game win streak that keeps their playoff hopes alive.
Cody Fajardo has almost single-handedly breathed life back into the Elks’ season. Over the last five weeks, Fajardo has completed 77.4 per cent of his passes for 1,435 yards with six TDs and three interceptions. Justin Rankin has picked up the rest of the slack on offence, rushing for 494 yards and four TDs over his last four games and he currently leads all running backs in total receiving yards (485).
Calgary’s offence has been very effective, with Vernon Adams Jr. ranking fifth in the CFL in passing yards and passing TDs, but it’s been the defence that has really bolstered this team. The Stamps are allowing the lowest number of points per game (20.7), the lowest number of big plays (18) and they have allowed the second-fewest offensive yards (3,568).
Labour Day generally belongs to Calgary. The Stamps have won 10 of the last 12 Labour Day matchups and they’re led by Adams, the favourite to win Most Outstanding Player. But, 7.5 is a big number, especially when you consider the Elks have actually won the last four meetings between these teams.
Pick: Edmonton +7.5
