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RedBlacks vs. Elks Prediction: CFL Week 6 Point Spread, Odds
The Edmonton Elks benefited from a bye in Week 5 and, hopefully, the break helped head coach Chris Jones and his ensemble regroup and refocus. Much like the past few seasons, 2024 has gotten off to a slow start, with the Elks staring at a 0-4 record. As for the visiting Ottawa Redblacks, they would like to finish their two-game road trip with a win after losing in Winnipeg in Week 5. It would also allow Ottawa to have the edge in this upcoming home-and-home series with the Elks.
Believe it or not, the CFL odds favour the Elks, if only slightly. Edmonton is -3.5 and the total is 49.5.
CFL Odds and Betting
Perhaps fond memories will inspire Edmonton on Sunday night. The last time these sides clashed at Commonwealth Stadium, the hosts earned the spoils courtesy of a 30-20 win. That, however, was only one of two wins for the Albertan side against the Redblacks in their previous six matches.
Outright wins and losses directly correlate with how the Redblacks are handling the spread this season. When they win they cover and vice versa. Of note, both their losses have been away and Edmonton has been a notoriously bad home side in recent seasons, so this could be the game for Ottawa to finally earn a win on the road. Hurting their chances is that they are a banged-up side. A plethora of players were limited in practice Thursday: DB Brandin Dandridge (knee), DB Alijah McGhee (foot), DB Justin Howell (calf), LB Tyron Vrede (hip), and Frankie Griffin (hip).
As discussed in our CFL Week 6 Power Rankings earlier this week, the bright spot with the Elks is that they’ve handled the spread relatively well this season (3-1 ATS) despite their disappointing outright tally. There are subtle signs that things are improving, namely that they haven’t been blown out once. Their worst defeat was in Week 1 and it was only 29-21. Since then the Elks fell by three points in three consecutive games. Some Elks might miss Week 6 action, such as DL Antonio Alfano (knee, did not practice Thursday), LB Michael Brodrique (groin), DL J-Min Pelley (knee), and LB Jake Taylor (wrist).
Ottawa RedBlacks
Five weeks into the 2024 CFL regular season, the Ottawa Redblacks are a mystery wrapped in a riddle. When they win they look rather decent. Conversely, in defeat, they clearly look like the second-best team on the field. As the old expression goes, they are what their record says they are (2-2).
For every strength there is a weakness with Ottawa. They have one of the best running backs of the young season in Ryquell Armstead. He leads the league with 68.3 yards per match and earns a healthy 5.6 yards per touch. On the flip side, QB Dru Brown is eighth in the CFL in passing yards (819) and has the second-worst completion percentage (59.3 per cent). His favourite target has been WR Justin Hardy, who hauls in 16.9 yards per catch, although he’s outside the top five in receptions.
One thing is for sure, they need to get their lowly offence going at some point (21.0 points per game).
Edmonton Elks
Unlike last season when it seemed as if almost everything surrounding the Elks was doom and gloom, this winless team doesn’t look too bad.
Had a couple of plays gone their way, we may be talking and either 1-3 or even a 2-2 Edmonton side. They put in genuinely decent efforts in their last three games, only to lose by a field goal each time, including once at the end of the game (Week 3 against the Argonauts). The team’s defence is still lacking (28.8 points against per match, seventh-best), but on offence, they have good players like QB McLeod Bethel-Thompson, WR Dillon Mitchell, and fellow receiver Kurleigh Gittens Jr.
When teams knock on the door as often as Edmonton has, sooner or later things start to pan out in their favour.