CFL Grey Cup Odds: Alouettes, Lions Open Campaign as Favourites
There is a two-way race atop the Grey Cup odds as the 2026 CFL season gets underway, with the Montreal Alouettes leading the way as slim +310 favourites, closely followed by the BC Lions at +350.
The Als open the campaign atop the Grey Cup futures board after making two appearances in the big game over the past three years including a championship victory in 2023, while the Lions look to claim their first Grey Cup title since last raising the trophy back in 2011.
With kickoff on CFL Week 1 just hours away, here’s look at how this year’s Grey Cup favourites compare, along with dark horse picks worthy of a value bet.
Make sure to check out Sports Interaction’s complete list of CFL game odds, CFL futures and CFL specials and props.
CFL Grey Cup favourites
The Alouettes look to atone for their loss to Saskatchewan in the 2025 Grey Cup as the new season gets underway, and there is plenty of reason for optimism in Montreal. The Als return with their core largely intact, and should benefit significantly from having a healthy Davis Alexander under centre after the talented pivot endured an injury-riddled campaign in 2025. Indeed, if Alexander can stay health and continue to develop under the tutelage of offence co-ordinator and QB coach Anthony Calvillo, the sky is the limit for these team. Stability is the theme in Montreal, with Jason Maas coming back for his fourth season as bench boss, and Alexander set to enjoy the protection of a vaunted offensive line led by Pier-Olivier Lestage and the support of a talented backfield anchored by Stevie Scott III, who was a standout for the squad late in the campaign.
Out west, hope springs eternal for the Lions, who are led by reigning MOP Nathan Rourke, who opens the season as the favourite to claim the award for a second straight season. However, the Lions face two major obstacles in their bid tom return to glory. In addition to a 15-year Grey Cup drought, this squad has failed to claim a division crown since 2012 and are winless in five West final appearances since their last championship in 2011. In addition to the daunting task of rewriting a losing narrative, the Lions must also contend in a very competitive CFL West division that features the defending champion Roughriders and a Winnipeg Blue Bombers squad eager to atone for their fall from grace last season after winning four straight regular-season division titles.
CFL MOP dark horses
In fact, it is Saskatchewan and Winnipeg that deserve consideration as dark horse picks on the Grey Cup odds. The Riders return as defending Grey Cup champs after knocking off the injury-hobbled Alouettes in last season’s big game, and offer intriguing value as a +600 bet. But as the Als will tell you, repeating as CFL champions is easier said than done. Indeed, the squad’s success will likely hinge on the performance of veteran pivot Trevor Harris, who just celebrated his 40th birthday, and a fast start to the campaign that feature crucial dates with BC and Calgary.
The Blue Bombers sport the depth to make another Cup run, and are an attractive pick at +750, but have plenty of work to do. For starters, this squad needs to find a way to shake off their dismal performance against CFL West rivals after going 1-6-0 in their final seven divisional contests last season. The Bombers also need a healthy Zach Collaros to rediscover the form that earned him back-to-back MOP awards in 2022 and 2023 after seeing his TD production taper off dramatically in the past two years.
Prediction: Montreal Alouettes (+310)