2025 CFL Week 19 Picks, Betting Odds: Playoff race is in full swing
The race for the postseason is in full swing around the CFL and all four Week 19 games have potential playoff implications.
Let’s dive in with our Week 19 picks and betting odds.
Make sure to check out Sports Interaction’s complete list of CFL game odds, CFL futures and CFL specials and props.
Toronto Argonauts at Saskatchewan Roughriders
It’s been a turning of the tides in the West this year as for the first time in four seasons a team other than the Blue Bombers is poised to take the division.
Saskatchewan can officially clinch the West this week, which would be their first division title since 2019 and just the third since 1976. The league-leading (11-4) Riders, who are coming off a 20-13 win in Ottawa last week, will also move one step closer to clinching the CFL’s top seed.
It’s a different story for the defending Grey Cup champion Argonauts. Toronto sits third in the East Division with a 5-11 record and they just saw their playoff hopes officially dashed with last week’s 47-29 loss against Hamilton.
At this point, quarterback Chad Kelly clearly isn’t returning to the field this season and now the Argos are shutting down Nick Arbuckle for the rest of the year because of a wrist injury he suffered last week.
Famous last words, but this is a no-brainer. It’s a home team with the best record in the CFL, who is also looking for playoff positioning, versus a non-playoff team with a third-string quarterback.
Pick: Saskatchewan
Calgary Stampeders at Hamilton Tiger-Cats
At 10-6, Hamilton continues to chase down the Roughriders in the standings and they have a comfortable two-game cushion over Montreal in the East Division.
The Ti-Cats are coming off a blowout victory over Toronto that saw Bo Levi Mitchell throw for 320 yards, four TDs and one interception. Mitchell now comfortably leads the CFL in both passing yards (4,726) and passing TDs (32).
Meanwhile, the Stampeders are imploding at the wrong moment. Calgary has dropped four straight games and they were surpassed by the Lions for second place in the West Division with last week’s 38-24 blowout loss in BC.
Vernon Adams Jr. threw for 303 yards and two TDs against his former team last week, but he also had three picks for his second multi-interception performance over his last three games.
I’m going to keep it simple again and not overthink things. You have a home team with the best record in the division playing a team that essentially falling apart.
Pick: Hamilton
Winnipeg Blue Bombers at Edmonton Elks
Winnipeg (8-7) and Edmonton (6-9) are the bottom two teams in the West Division, but they’re each coming in off Week 17 wins and Week 18 byes. The Bombers laid a 40-3 beatdown against Hamilton, while the Elks snuck past Saskatchewan 27-25.
It’s still very much a three-way race for second in the West Division between 8-7 Winnipeg, 8-7 Calgary (Stamps hold the tiebreaker) and 9-7 BC. Zach Collaros returned to the lineup against Hamilton, throwing for 367 yards and a TD and he’ll be key in the Bombers’ fight for second place in the division.
Edmonton’s slim playoff hopes are still alive, but this week is clearly a must-win game. Quarterback Cody Fajardo continues to play steady, but not spectcular football, while running back Justin Rankin was just rewarded with a contract extension after rushing for 82 yards and two TDs against the Ti-Cats.
Both teams are rested and playing desperate football, but Winnipeg is a veteran team that I trust more to perform late in the season when it matters most.
Pick: Winnipeg
Ottawa RedBlacks at Montreal Alouettes
This is an interesting matchup as 8-7 Montreal has already clinched the second seed in the East Division and Ottawa has already been eliminated from playoff contention. However, the Als have an outside shot at catching Hamilton for first in the division, so they still have something to play for.
With Davis Alexander back under centre, Montreal is surging with three straight wins. Alexander threw for 350 yards and a TD in last week’s blowout win over the Stamps, connecting with Tyler Snead eight times for 115 yards.
Ottawa has now missed the playoffs in five of the last six seasons following last week’s loss to Saskatchewan. The RedBlacks have shut down Dru Brown for the season and plan on starting Dustin Crum at quarterback this week.
Ottawa has nothing to play for this week and they’re starting a backup QB. Montreal should crush the RedBlacks.
Pick: Montreal
