The undefeated Winnipeg Blue Bombers put their perfect record on the line Thursday night when they travel to Montreal to face the Alouettes in Week 9 CFL action.  The Bombers improved to 8-0 on the year with a 35-28 victory in Calgary last week.  Montreal, on the other hand, fell to 2-5 following a 24-17 Week 8 loss in Hamilton.

Winnipeg opened as a 3.5-point favourite to win on the CFL odds, with a total of 47.5.

CFL Odds and Betting

The home side has come out on top in the last five meetings between these teams.  They met in back-to-back weeks last year, with the Blue Bombers winning 31-21 in Week 14 and the Alouettes winning 28-14 in Week 15.

Winnipeg hasn’t slowed down regardless of where they play this season as they are 5-0 on the road.  They’re 6-2 against the spread overall, including 4-1 ATS on the road.  The total has gone Over in three of the Bombers’ five road games this year.

This will be just the third home game for Montreal this season after splitting the previous two.  They’re 4-3 ATS overall in 2022 and 3-9 ATS in their last 12 home games.  The total has gone Over in five of the Alouettes’ seven games this season.

CFL Week 9 starts Thursday night in #Montreal! pic.twitter.com/8STmlXv64o

— Sports Interaction (@SIASport) August 4, 2022

Winnipeg Blue Bombers

Winnipeg once again lived up to the hype in a back-and-forth battle with Calgary last week.  Quarterback Zach Collaros completed 22 of 30 pass attempts for 270 yards and four touchdowns.  The Bombers trailed four different times in the game and retook their final lead with Collaros’ 25-yard touchdown pass to Dalton Schoen with just over four minutes left in the fourth quarter.  Schoen finished the game with 80 receiving yards and two touchdowns.  Nic Demski also hauled in two touchdowns and 69 receiving yards.  Demski, who suffered an ankle injury in Week 3, was a surprise addition to the lineup after being pulled off the six-game injured list two games early.  Brady Oliveira led all running backs with 110 rushing yards on 15 carries.

There’s been no update on the status of defensive end Jackson Jeffcoat or wide receiver Greg Ellingson ahead of Week 9’s battle in Montreal.  Both players have missed the last two games with hip injuries.  In five games this season, Jeffcoat has recorded seven tackles, one interception and one forced fumble.  Ellingson is second on Winnipeg in both receiving yards (518) and touchdowns (3).

Montreal Alouettes

Montreal outscored the Ti-Cats 11-0 in the fourth quarter in a last-ditch effort for a comeback in Hamilton last week, but it wasn’t enough and they now sit tied with the Tiger-Cats for second in the East Division with matching 2-5 records.  Quarterback Trevor Harris completed 25 of 41 pass attempts for 288 yards and a touchdown.  Harris was pulled by a concussion spotter from the final play of the game after he took a hard hit following a 17-yard rush.  Dominique Davis replaced Harris and immediately threw a game-ending interception.  Geno Lewis was Harris’ favourite target on the night, making eight catches for 154 receiving yards.

Harris, who was obviously upset about being pulled from the game last week, is expected to start against Winnipeg.  Another boost to the lineup will be the return of linebacker Chris Ackie, who has been activated from the six-game injured list.  Ackie has missed the last five games with an ankle injury.

CFL Prediction: Who Will Win Blue Bombers vs. Alouettes?