Roughriders vs. Elks Prediction: CFL Week 18 Point Spread, Odds
The Elks return home in the wake of a brutal 55-27 loss in Winnipeg last weekend that extended their current slide to two games and leaves them trailing the third-place BC Lions by four points with just three games remaining on their schedule. The Roughriders won two in a row for the first time since early July after topping Ottawa 29-16 last weekend, and can clinch a playoff spot with a victory over the Elks combined with either a loss or tie by Hamilton and Calgary in their respective CFL Week 18 matchups.
The Roughriders arrive in the Alberta capital perched as 2.5-point road favourites on the CFL Week 18 odds. The Elks trail as +110 home underdogs on the CFL moneyline and the total is pegged at 50.5.
CFL Odds and Betting
Saturday night’s matchup marks the third and final meeting of the regular season between these CFL West rivals. The road team has emerged victorious each of their previous two clashes this season including the Riders’ 29-21 win when they last visited Edmonton in this year’s season opener. Overall, these squads have split their past six contests, ending the Roughriders’ impressive 9-1 run in their previous 10 dates. The Elks have covered in three of their past four meetings with the Riders, all on the road, but have failed to produce a win against the spread at home against Saskatchewan in seven matchups at Commonwealth Stadium since 2018. Recent tilts involving these teams have been high scoring, with the total reaching 50 in three straight, generating a 3-0 run for the OVER.
Saskatchewan Roughriders
It looked as if the Roughriders would fall short of a playoff spot while enduring a seven-game winless streak that started in late July, but the squad has turned things around with decisive victories over the Stampeders and RedBlacks that has returned them to postseason contention and even a s shot at first place in the CFL West. The Riders have leveraged a stingy defence in their two recent wins, surrendering just 12 total points before the half in those contests while also giving up just two touchdowns outside garbage time. However, this team could benefit from more consistent offensive production, especially in the early going. With Trevor Harris connecting on just one total scoring pass over the past two games, the Riders have scored more than 10- first-half points just once in their past three outings.
Edmonton Elks
The Elks looked to have gotten past their recent and lengthy woes while winning five of six starting in early August but have fallen back into old habits during their current two-game swoon. After surrendering just 19 points per game in their previous five contests, the Elks have been lit up for 41 points per game in their two recent defeats at the hands of Winnipeg, and must likely claim victory in their final three contests to have any hope ending their current three-year playoff drought. Indeed, this team dug deep holes for themselves early in their two recent dates with the Blue Bombers. In addition to score just six total points before the half in those games, the Elks spotted the Bombers an early 31-0 advantage in last week’s loss. While McLeod Bethel-Thompson mustered two scoring passes in garbage time last week, he has completed just 24 of 44 passes over the past two games. However, the Elks pivot went 33-for-42 for 336 yards and two scores when the Riders came to town in Week 1.
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