RedBlacks vs. Roughriders Prediction: CFL Week 1 Point Spread, Odds
Saskatchewan and Ottawa, who both finished last year with a 9-8-1 records, will be expecting improvement in 2025 after revamping their respective rosters in the off-season.
The Roughriders are 3.5-point favourites to win on the CFL odds, with the total set at 49.5.
CFL Odds and Betting
These teams met in Week 17 last year, with Saskatchewan winning 29-16 at home. That result isn’t overly surprising when you consider Ottawa’s atrocious 2-7 record on the road in 2024.
The RedBlacks enter the year with the second-longest odds to win the East Division at +260 on the CFL futures board. Ottawa’s regular season win total is set at 10.5, a number they haven’t surpassed since 2018.
The Riders currently have the second-shortest odds to win the West Division at +275, which makes it a little surprising to see their regular season win total set at just 9.5. Oddsmakers could be looking at the immediate past for reference as Saskatchewan hasn’t finished with 10 or more wins since 2019.
Ottawa RedBlacks
Ottawa finished third in the East Division last year before coming up short against Toronto in the playoffs. It was a step forward after missing the playoffs in each of the previous four seasons, but don’t expect the team to be satisfied until they win in the postseason. The team gambled on quarterback Dru Brown as a first-year starter and it paid off. Brown finished the season third in the CFL in total passing yards (3,959) and fifth in passing TDs (18).
The RedBlacks bolstered their offence in the off-season by signing standout running back William Stanback, a key member of Montreal’s Grey Cup winning team in 2023. They also added receiver Eugene Lewis, who led the league with 10 receiving TDs last season while playing for Edmonton.
The key this year will be Ottawa’s ability to win on the road. The RedBlacks were just 2-7 away from TD Place last season, the second-worst road record in the CFL.
Saskatchewan Roughriders
After a 5-1 start last season, the Riders stumbled in the back half of the season and gave up a good chance to win the division. The team was riddled with injuries, which could explain why the roster wasn’t overly revamped. It all starts with veteran quarterback Trevor Harris, who threw for 3,264 yards and 20 TDs in 2024.
A healthy A.J. Ouelette should be due for a bounce back year after being limited to eight games last season. The receiving corps is also expected to have a big year, led by the likes of Samuel Emilus, KeeSean Johnson and Kian Schaffer-Baker.
The big question for Saskatchewan this season is, can Harris stay healthy? The 39-year-old missed six games last year and 13 the previous season. Harris is a top quarterback in the league, but the Roughriders season will be sunk if he’s not on the field.
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