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Edgar Chaput
Elks vs. Roughriders Prediction: CFL Week 9 Point Spread, Odds
As the 2024 season rolls along, it does not appear as if the Edmonton Elks will get out of their funk. At 0-7, they are already as close to done and dusted as can be this early in the campaign. Things are different in Regina, where the Roughriders are enjoying a 5-2 start. However, they need this Week 9 contest as a bounce-back opportunity after falling to the Alouettes 20-16 last week.
Our CFL odds have the host Roughriders pegged as -5.5 favourites.
CFL Odds and Betting
Saturday is already the second time in 2024 that the Elks and Riders square off, which goes to show how quickly the regular season zooms by. Edmonton and Saskatchewan opened their seasons against one another, and although the Elks played relatively well for the better part of the match, the Roughriders made it out of Alberta with a 29-21 victory. Edmonton has won twice against Saskatchewan since 2022, so it isn’t as if they can pull off the upset. Even so, the Regina-based outfit is 5-2 over the past three seasons.
Whatever positivity betters can take away from the Elks this season is against the spread. The club is at least 3-4, which is far from great, but suggests they have it in them to make contests competitive. They have not, however, covered any of their three most recent opportunities.
Conversely, things are looking good for Saskatchewan. Not only are they 5-2 in the standings, but they sport the same results ATS. The one quibble would be that they are only 1-2 ATS in their past three games. The Riders have been excellent at home, posting a 3-0 record thus far.
A few notable Elk absentees from practice this week have been DL Noah Curtis (shoulder), DB Marcus Lewis (foot), and DB Loucheiz Purifoy (knee). As for the Riders, OL Adam Godber (personal), Micah Johnson (personal), RB AJ Ouellette (hip), and DL Anthony Lanier II (knee) have missed practiced.
Edmonton Elks
So far the coaching change that promoted Chris Jones as the leader of this ensemble has not paid dividends. It might be that the entire apple is rotten.
After a handful of close defeats, Edmonton were obliterated by the Hamilton Tiger-Cats 44-28 last week at home. The only bright spot came late when a quarterback change was made. Out was McLeod Bethel -Thompson and in was Tre Ford. Ford did well, tossing a trio of TDs and 121 yards in the fourth quarter and surviving pocket pressure, but by then it was a 41-8 game. Ford was also brought in for some late-season mop-up duty in 2023, yet didn’t get the starting job this year, so who knows where this operation is heading.
Edmonton’s issues run deep. They can’t run the ball (67.0 yards per game, last in the CFL), are second-last in net offence (322.0), give up the second-most points per match (30.1), and have the worst defence with respect to opponents’ net offence (390.1).
Edmonton has 11 games left to make something of their season, but it’s already looking like the best option might be to try and build for 2025.
Saskatchewan Roughriders
It was a battle of first in the West against first in the East last week. For a considerable stretch, it looked as though Saskatchewan had the Montreal Alouettes right where they wanted them.
The Riders silenced the home crowd with a 16-3 halftime time. It wasn’t the most thrilling game to watch, but the visitors did what any visiting team loves: preventing the home side from finding any rhythm. RB Frankie Hickson was also causing plenty of damage with his legs. He bulldozed his way to 117 yards, including a brilliant 20-yard score in the second quarter. The defence tallied a quintet of sacks on Montreal quarterbacks, with Bryan Cox Jr.’s two leading the way.
But the Riders’ attack was stone cold in the final 30 minutes, laying a goose egg. QB Shea Patterson lost his momentum, and as a result so did his top receivers Samuel Emilius and Keesean Johnson. The 16-3 advantage devolved into a 20-16 defeat. Saskatchewan is better than last year but is still learning to win consistently.