CFL Odds: Quarterback injuries impacting Week 12 spreads
There’s arguably no position in sports more important than quarterback, so the rash of QB injuries in the CFL is must-know news for fans and bettors alike.
Let’s take a look at quarterback injuries throughout the league and see how they are impacting spreads for Week 12.
Make sure to check out our complete list of CFL game odds, CFL futures and CFL specials and props.
Alouettes hit hardest
Montreal’s quarterback room has been decimated. Starter Davis Alexander (hamstring) and backup McLeod Bethel-Thompson (elbow) are both on the six-game injured list, while Caleb Evans just went down with a season-ending ACL injury.
That leaves a quarterback group of James Morgan, Cameron Dukes (signed on Aug. 13) and Shea Patterson (signed this week). Morgan is starting on Thursday against Winnipeg. The 28-year-old played three quarters last week against the Lions in relief of Evans, completing 20 of 33 pass attempts for 211 yards, one touchdown and one interception.
As expected, the spread continues to grow in the Blue Bombers favour. Winnipeg opened as a 4.5-point favourite, but the line has grown to -6.5 as of Thursday afternoon. Our game preview and score prediction has Winnipeg winning 29-19 and easily covering this number.
Bad luck Brown
RedBlacks pivot Dru Brown has been great when available, but he’s missed time with multiple injuries this season and he’ll be out of the lineup with a knee injury when the team faces Edmonton on Friday. Brown has thrown for 1,842 yards with 12 TDs and five interceptions, with the RedBlacks going 2-6 in his starts.
Dustin Crum is in line for the start against the Elks. Crum is 1-1 in two starts this season, throwing for 625 yards (62.3 per cent completion rate) with two TDs and two interceptions. He’s mostly been used to punch in TDs on the ground, rushing for 199 yards and six short-yardage scores.
Again, it should be no surprise to see this line continue to grow in Edmonton’s favour. The Elks opened as slim 1.5-point favourites and they are listed at -3.5 as of Thursday afternoon. Our game preview and score prediction has Edmonton winning 27-24, which favours Ottawa to cover, but just barely.
Arbuckle or bust
With the worst record in the CFL, it’s been a massively disappointing season for the defending Grey Cup champion Argonauts. Chad Kelly doesn’t look remotely close to returning after suffering a fractured leg in last year’s East Final, so this remains Nick Arbuckle’s team going forward.
Arbuckle has had a good season, ranking second in both total passing yards (3,033) and passing TDs (17), but he still will be no match for Lions pivot Nathan Rourke when the teams meet on Saturday. Rourke has thrown for 790 yards with six touchdowns and two interceptions on the Leos’ current two-game win streak
Arbuckle has done a fine job subbing in as Toronto’s starting quarterback, but fine won’t be good enough to match an offence as hot as the Lions. With no question Arbuckle would be the Argos starter in this game, the line hasn’t shifted at all since opening at B.C. -3.5. Our Week 12 betting odds and picks has the Lions covering this number.
