Winnipeg’s nightmare start to the season continued in Week 4 as they dropped to 0-4 with a 22-19 overtime loss in Calgary. Ottawa squeaked out a 24-22 home win last week, vaulting them to a tie with Toronto for second in the East Division.

The Bombers opened as 2.5-point favourites to win on the CFL odds, with the total set at 46.5.

CFL Odds and Betting

These teams met back in Week 2, with the RedBlacks winning 23-19 at home. Ottawa easily covered as 7.0-point underdogs and they now sit 2-1 against the spread on the season. It’s a different story for Winnipeg, who have failed to cover in five straight games dating back to last season.

Head-to-head matchups have been low scoring between these teams, with the Over hitting in just one of the last six games. Overall, the total has gone under in two of three games for the RedBlacks in 2024 and all four Bombers games have finished below the total.

Winnipeg’s season-opening losing streak has caused their Grey Cup odds to plummet. After starting the season as +200 favourites to win the Grey Cup on the CFL futures board, the Bombers enter Week 5 at +900. Ottawa began the year with the longest Grey Cup odds at +2000, but have moved to +1200, ahead of both Hamilton (+5000) and Edmonton (+5000).

Ottawa RedBlacks

It took a field goal as time expired, but the RedBlacks picked up their second win of the season last week. Lewis Ward, who had missed a convert earlier in the game, redeemed himself with a 46-yard kick to win the game and also finished with three field goals from 34, 36 and 42 yards out. Amazingly, the win was Ottawa’s first against an East Division opponent at TD Place since November 2018. Dru Brown completed 24 of 39 pass attempts for 265 yards and a touchdown. Through three games, Brown has thrown for 795 yards, three TDs and one interception.

At this point, it should still be considered ‘buyer beware’ when it comes to the RedBlacks. Ottawa’s two victories have come against opponents with a combined 0-8 record this season and they were torched for 47 points in their blowout loss against Montreal. The numbers aren’t encouraging for the RedBlacks as they rank in the bottom third of the league in average total yards (350.0), passing yards (265.0) and points (22.7) per game. Defensively, they also give allow the most yards per game in the CFL (402.7) and the third-most points per game (29.3).

Winnipeg Blue Bombers

Zach Collaros finished with just 55 passing yards and one interception in last week’s loss against the Stampeders before leaving the game in the first half after taking a hard hit. Collaros, who did not practice on Tuesday for what was described as “precautionary reasons”, has struggled this year. The two-time CFL Most Outstanding Player has thrown for 796 yards with no touchdowns and four interceptions while posting a 62.3 completion percentage. Backup Chris Streveler, who threw for 170 yards with one touchdown and one interception in relief last week, will start against Ottawa if Collaros can’t play.

The Blue Bombers have the opposite problem as Ottawa, in that they are likely better than their record shows. If you look past Winnipeg’s season-opening loss to the red-hot Alouettes, in their last three games they have lost by four points, two points and three points in overtime. The offence is what’s sinking the Bombers. They rank dead-last in the CFL in average total yards (320.0), passing yards (241.5) and points (18.5) per game.

CFL Prediction: Who Will Win RedBlacks vs. Blue Bombers?