Alouettes vs. Roughriders Prediction: CFL Week 15 Point Spread, Odds
The Montreal Alouettes look to put the brakes on a five-game losing streak that has threatened to dump them out of the playoff picture in the CFL East standings when they visit the league-leading Saskatchewan Roughriders on Saturday night in CFL Week 15 betting action at Mosaic Stadium.
One of the hottest teams at the start of the season, the Alouettes have gone into free-fall since seeing their top three quarterbacks get sidelined by injury, but hope to get a lift from the return of veteran pivot McLeod Bethel-Thompson on Saturday night.
The Roughriders return home after sweeping a home-and-home series with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, capped by last week’s 21-13 Banjo Bowl victory that leaves them with a comfortable four-point lead atop the CFL West standings.
The Roughriders have vaulted to lofty 7.5-point home favourites on the CFL Week 15 odds. The Alouettes trail as +280 underdogs on the CFL moneyline and the total sits at 50.5.
CFL Odds and Betting
Saturday night’s matchup wraps up the two-game season series between these squads. The Riders stormed to a crushing 34-6 victory when they visited Montreal last month, snapping a three-game head-to-head losing streak.
The Riders have enjoyed moderate success when hosting the Als, winning six of their past nine, but have been a betting disappointment when facing Montreal on home turf, going 3-8 against the spread in their past 11 overall and covering just twice in their past 10 head-to-head meetings as home chalk.
That shaky trend extends to the Roughriders’ recent overall performance, with the squad going just 4-4 ATS since opening the season on a 4-0 ATS run and going a dismal 2-8-1 ATS in their past 11 when favoured at home by six or more points.
Things have gone no better for the Alouettes during their current slide. The Montral attack has steadily tapered off since their injuries under centre started to pile up.
In addition to losing seven of their past nine, the Als have covered just once over that stretch and have scored an average of just 13.6 points during their current 0-5 SU and ATS run.
Montreal Alouettes
The Alouettes hope that the return of McLeod Bethel-Thompson can snap them out of the funk that has left them just two points up on Toronto in the race for second place in the underachieving CFL East. Bethel-Thompson suffered an elbow injury three weeks ago but has been removed from the team’s six-game injury list well ahead of schedule.
The 37-year-old has produced middling results in limited action, compiling 957 passing yards and four touchdowns while making nine appearances and five starts, but has also tossed five picks to date.
While Bethel-Thompson has progressed quickly in his recovery, he may have to shake off some rust. That could mean a steady diet of carries for rushers Sean Thomas-Erlington and Travis Theis.
However, the Alouettes ground game must find a way to solve a Riders rush defence that has surrendered just 75.2 yards per game and just 4.65 yards per carry, both league bests.
Saskatchewan Roughriders
The Roughriders can become the first CFL team to clinch a playoff spot this season with a win on Saturday, but with three of their final five games coming on the road, they cannot afford to look past their date with the Als.
The Riders have built their league-leading record on stingy defence and have surrendered just 19.3 points per game during their current 6-1 SU run and have allowed just 15 total points in their past two dates with CFL East opponents.
On the other side of the ball, quarterback Trevor Harris has been steady but unspectacular, averaging 221 yards over the past three games but finding the end zone just once in the past two games.
However, the Saskatchewan ground game led by AJ Ouellette has impressed. Ouelette has topped 70 rushing yards in four of his past six outings and has produced scoring runs in each of the past two games, adding value to his -135 odds as anytime touchdown scorer on Saturday.
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