Elks vs. Roughriders Prediction: CFL Week 8 Point Spread, Odds
Week 8 around the CFL kicks off with a Thursday night standalone game and first place in the West Division on the line as the Edmonton Elks visit Saskatchewan. The Roughriders are 4.5-point favourites on the CFL odds with a total of 57.5.
CFL Odds and Betting
Edmonton at Saskatchewan certainly could be a playoff preview with the Elks atop the West Division at 5-1 and +600 third favourites to win the Grey Cup. The Roughriders sit 4-1 and are +380 second favourites to repeat as Grey Cup winners behind Montreal (+210).
Thursday is the first of three regular-season meetings with the teams turning right around and playing at Commonwealth Stadium next Saturday and then closing the regular season vs. one another back at Mosaic Stadium.
They split two close games last year with Saskatchewan holding serve at home, 21-18. That defence sacked former Roughriders quarterback Cody Fajardo eight times. Malik Carney, Shane Ray and Micah Johnson each had two sacks. The unit also held Edmonton to 25 rushing yards. Riders QB Trevor Harris was 25 for 33 for 268 yards with touchdown passes to Samuel Emilus and KeeSean Johnson.
Edmonton is 5-0 ATS in its past five visits to Saskatchewan. The over is 4-1 in those five.
Edmonton Elks
Edmonton was -1.5 last week vs. the B.C. Lions and prevailed 19-17 to get payback for a 36-24 road loss in Week 5. This time, kicker Vincent Blanchard was the main source of offence as he was 4-for-5 on field-goal tries. Cody Fajardo completed 27 of 37 passes for 282 yards and a touchdown to TJ Luther.
No doubt the Elks caught a big break when Lions starting quarterback and reigning CFL Most Outstanding Player Nathan Rourke was injured very early and unable to return. Edmonton picked off backup Chase Brice threw four picks and the Elks scored 16 points off turnovers; they lead the CFL in forcing 20 turnovers. Edmonton also had four QB sacks.
The offence left a bit to be desired with only 286 total yards. Star running back Justin Rankin was a non-factor with nine yards rushing. There was hope that wideout Joe Robustelli would make his season debut off injury, but he was not able to do so.
This game will mark the third time in seven games the Elks will face a team with that extra rest. Edmonton is 7-3 ATS in its past 10 games.
Saskatchewan Roughriders
The Roughriders last played in Week 6 when they were -8.5 at home and routed Hamilton 38-7. Each of Saskatchewan’s first four games had been decided by five points or fewer. Josh Woods had a 107-yard pick-six in the win over the Ticats, which was the third-longest in Roughriders history but longest by a linebacker. The CFL record for longest INT return by a linebacker is 117 yards by Calgary’s Keon Raymond against Saskatchewan on Aug. 12, 2011.
James Vaughters (two sacks) and Jameer Thurman (eight tackles) also led a dominant Roughriders’ defence vs. Hamilton. Saskatchewan forced four turnovers after producing only three over the first four games combined. It’s the third year in a row the Roughriders are 4-1.
QB Trevor Harris’ 1,629 passing yards are the fourth-highest passing yardage total in franchise history at the five-game mark, while his 12 TD passes are tied for second most. The team’s 170 points scored are the third-most through five games when including OT. Wideout Jaylen Johnson, who has been out injured since Week 4, is likely to return for this one. Saskatchewan is 4-2 ATS in its past six.
EDM
SSK