Week 9 of the 2021 season season kicks off with a Tuesday night matchup between the Edmonton Elks and Ottawa Redblacks.  The Elks are heading to Ottawa rested after their Week 8 bye.  The Redblacks, on the other hand, are banged up and will need to rely on a rookie quarterback following injuries to their No. 1 and No. 2 quarterbacks last week.

Edmonton is a 6.5-point favourite to win on the CFL odds, with a total of 43.5.

CFL Odds and Betting

These teams haven’t met since they opened their respective seasons against each other in Edmonton back in Week 1.  It was Ottawa’s first, and to this point only, win of the season.  The Redblacks downed the Elks 16-12.  It was a sloppy game all around.  Ottawa’s Matt Nichols finished 12-for-20 for 71 passing yards with no touchdowns or interceptions.  Edmonton’s Trevor Harris was 33-for-44 for 333 yards, but he had no TDs and threw three INTs.  The total has gone Under in seven straight games between these teams.

It’s been a tale of two teams for the Elks this season, as they’ve lost all four of their home games, but have still managed to go 2-0 on the road.  They’re 17-6 straight up in their last 23 games against Ottawa, but they’ve failed to cover in four of their last five against the Redblacks.  Edmonton is 4-12-1 against the spread in their last 17 games overall. The total has gone Under in 13 of the Elks’ last 18 road games.

Any thoughts of Ottawa improving in 2021 after a rough season in 2019 have been erased after their 1-5 start to the season.  They’ve now dropped 11 straight home games, dating back to July 2019.  The Redblacks have struggled just as much to cover.  They’re 1-7 ATS in their last eight home games and 0-5 ATS in their last five games overall.  The total has gone Under in nine of Ottawa’s last 13 games overall and four of their last six at home.

Edmonton Elks

Following last week’s bye, Edmonton will have had plenty of rest as they try to get back in the win column after their 37-22 Week 7 loss to Winnipeg.  Quarterback Taylor Cornelius made his CFL debut, starting in place of the injured Harris.  Cornelius went 19-for-33, finishing with 243 passing yards and three interceptions.  He also rushed twice for 23 yards, but lost a fumble that was returned for a touchdown.  There was some good news this week, as Harris was placed back on the active roster after dealing with a neck injury.  Harris returned to practice on Saturday, although Cornelius still took starters reps and is expected to get his second career CFL start against Ottawa.

Cornelius wasn’t the only player making his Elks debut last week.  Veteran offensive lineman SirVincent Rogers looked good starting at left tackle in his return from a chest injury suffered in the first week of training camp.  Linebacker and former CFL All Star, Derrick Moncrief, also made his Edmonton debut, finishing with two total tackles.  Moncrief was cut by the NFL’s L.A. Rams in August after splitting the 2020 season between the Rams and Las Vegas Raiders.

Ottawa RedBlacks

Things are only getting worse for Ottawa after they dropped a 24-7 decision to Hamilton last week.  Not only was it their 11th straight home loss, they also lost their first and second string quarterbacks.  Dominique Davis started the game for the Redblacks, finishing 6-for-14 with 50 passing yards and an interception.  His night ended when he threw a pick-six and injured his leg chasing down the eventual 87-yard touchdown.  Nichols came in and went 7-for-10 with 68 passing yards before leaving after appearing to injure his left wrist.  Receiver Nate Behar, who hadn’t played QB since high school, finished the game.  Behar successfully threw for three yards on his only pass attempt.

Caleb Evans will start at quarterback against Edmonton.  The 23-year-old signed with Ottawa last December, although this will be his first CFL start.  In 42 games with the University of Louisiana Monroe, Evans threw for 9,520 yards, 58 touchdowns and 34 interceptions.  He also added 2,162 rushing yards and another 36 TDs on the ground.

CFL Prediction: Who Will Win Elks vs. RedBlacks?