The season truly begins on Labour Day weekend, or at least that’s what a lot of die-hard CFL fans will tell you. One thing is for certain, this is one of the great Canadian rivalries as these two teams clash once again this Sunday afternoon.

Sports Interaction odds makers have made the Roughriders -3.5 point favourites in this game.

Betting Analysis

Playing in Regina has been a house of horrors for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. Since the 2005 season, the Roughriders are 12-1 in 13 games, with the only Bombers victory in 2016 (28-25). In the 12 losses over the span of 13 years, the Bombers have lost by an average of 19.7 points, including the worst loss in the history of the Labour Day Classic (between these two teams); a 52-0 Roughriders win in 2012. Overall, the Roughriders lead the Labour Day series (in Regina) 35-18 in 53 career games.

Winnipeg Blue Bombers

The Blue Bombers enter this game on a two game losing streak after losses to Ottawa and last week in Calgary. In that time the defence has allowed a whopping 83 points against and hasn’t been competitive in those losses. In their most recent loss, they allowed Stampeders quarterback Bo Levi Mitchell to throw for over 400 yards (452 yards) for the first time in his career.

The Stamps torched the Bombers defence for 27 points in the second half of that game, including 20 alone in the 4^th quarter. Head Coach Mike O’Shea says there isn’t a quarterback controversy in Bomber land, as he was quick to tell the media Matt Nichols will start the Labour Day Classic in Regina.

Saskatchewan Roughriders

Quarterback Zach Collaros got off to a fast start last week in B.C. going 7 of 8 for 113 yards in the 1^st quarter; he’s been a team leader since returning from injury. The Labour Day Classic is arguably the biggest regular season game on the schedule for the Roughriders; Collaros has been through a good one as a member of both the Ti-Cats and Argos, but he may have said it best when he told the Regina Leader-Post, “(The Riders-Blue Bombers) game seems to be a whole different animal,” and it will be just that.

The Riders defence has been playing exceptionally well as of late, forcing two fumbles against the Lions, and shutting down multiple drives. Last week receiver Rob Bagg was a scratch, showing how good the receiving core has been for the Green and White. Included in that,  is Jordan Williams-Lambert who hauled in 14 catches for 165 yards total, the last two games.

Blue Bombers vs. Roughriders Prediction