2025 CFL Week 4 Betting Odds and Picks: The Alouettes are wreaking havoc throughout the CFL
With three weeks in the books, we’re starting to see which teams look like legit threats and which teams could be in for a long season.
With that in mind, let’s take a look at all the Week 4 matchups and make some picks.
Edmonton Elks at Winnipeg Blue Bombers
Winnipeg clearly has BC figured out after beginning the year 2-0 against the Lions, but I need to see the Bombers face other opponents before I get a better idea of what the team is all about. Unfortunately, Winnipeg is facing an 0-2 Elks squad that won’t be much of a challenge on Thursday.
Quarterback Zach Collaros was suspended for the first game of the season, so it’s going to take him some time to get up to speed with Winnipeg’s offence. Luckily, the defence has carried the load. The Bombers are allowing a league-low 17.0 points per game while holding BC’s quarterbacks to just a 54.3 completion percentage.
On the opposite end of the spectrum is Edmonton’s defence, which ranks dead-last in opponent points, while producing only one sack and no interceptions. And offensively, Tre Ford has been one of the least productive quarterbacks in the league.
This is the biggest spread of the week for a reason, it’s just a huge mismatch and I would be very surprised if Winnipeg doesn’t win by double-digits.
Pick: Blue Bombers -9.5
Montreal Alouettes at Hamilton Tiger-Cats
At 3-0 with a league-best plus-49 point differential, the Montreal Alouettes have been the clear-cut best team in the CFL to begin the season, It’s a different story for the Ti-Cats, who sit at 0-2.
The big question for the Als this week is the status of quarterback Davis Alexander, who missed practice on Monday and Tuesday with a hamstring injury. Alexander has been fantastic to start the season, sitting third in passing yards (803) and tied for first in passing TDs (five). If he can’t go on Friday, McLeod Bethel-Thompson will start under centre.
Hamilton has been a mess to start the year. They’re giving up the second-most points per game in the league and despite playing one less game than Montreal, they’ve still allowed more points than the Alouettes. And with the offence failing to perform any better, this could be a long season in Steeltown.
This week’s situation is a perfect example of why you keep a veteran quarterback like Bethel-Thompson on your roster. There shouldn’t be much of a drop-off in offence under Bethel-Thompson and Montreal easily boasts the best defence in the league. It’s a no-brainer to take the Als to cover this week.
Pick: Alouettes -2.5
BC Lions at Saskatchewan Roughriders
It’s doesn’t matter the opponent, BC will just be happy to see another team after beginning the year 0-2 against Winnipeg. Meanwhile, Saskatchewan will look to prove they’re the real deal after starting the year 3-0 against three East Division opponents.
The Lions have been middle-of-the-pack in most major statistical categories to begin the year, but keep in mind they’ve only faced a very tough Blue Bombers team. The real question is whether quarterback Nathan Rourke will play and what BC can get out of him if he does start.
The Riders’ perfect record is deceiving as they’ve been incredibly inconsistent in games against Ottawa, Hamilton and Toronto. Sure, Trevor Harris is second in passing yards (806) and tied for first in passing TDs (five), but he’s also thrown a pick in every game, while running back A.J. Ouellette has been most responsible for carrying the offensive load.
I’m going to give you a double-whammy for this game. Anytime two unpredictable teams, particularly teams with the offensive firepower BC and Saskatchewan boast, face each other, it’s always safer to lean toward the Over. I’m also taking the Lions to cover as underdogs simply because I don’t think the Riders deserve to have a perfect record and I don’t think BC deserves to be winless.
Pick: BC +5.5, Over 51.5
Toronto Argonauts at Ottawa RedBlacks
Toronto began the year as Grey Cup favourites, so it’s definitely a bit shocking to see them at 0-3. Provincial-rival Ottawa began the year 0-2, but bounced back with a rare road win in Calgary last week.
The Argos have been decimated with injuries to begin the year and it starts with quarterback Chad Kelly, who is still recovering from a gruesome leg injury suffered in last year’s East Division Final. Nick Arbuckle has stepped in for Kelly, ranking first in the CFL in passing yards (841) and tied for third in passing TDs (four), but there’s only so much he can do with multiple receivers and offensive linemen on the shelf.
The RedBlacks are dealing with their own injury issues at quarterback. Dru Brown had a monster game for Ottawa in the season-opener against Saskatchewan, throwing for 413 yards and two TDs, but he’s missed the last two games with a hip injury. Matthew Shiltz and Dustin Crum have split QB duties in Brown’s absence, but neither quarterback has managed to gain any traction.
It’s still to be determined whether Brown will be ready to return to action on Sunday, but there is a strong possibility this will be a game played between backup quarterbacks. With that much uncertainty, I’m staying away from the spread and banking on a low scoring affair.
Pick: Under 52.5 points
