The Calgary Stampeders are hot off an overtime win against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in Week 4, 22-19. Despite that the 2024 Blue Bombers don’t look like their usual selves, Calgary can still feel good about its 2-1 start to the season. One thing is for sure, they are entering the lion’s den, as the Montreal Alouettes battered the Toronto Argonauts 30-20 last week to improve to a perfect 4-0.

The CFL odds have strong faith that the Alouettes will defend their nest, pegging them as -9.5 favourites.

CFL Odds and Betting

Montreal earned a clean, two-game sweep of Calgary in 2023, winning both the home and away matches, 25-18 and 28-11. That followed up from a two-game winning streak for the Stamps, which spanned both 2022 and 2021.

Through four tilts the Als have done rather well with the spread. At 3-1, they’ve provided betters with reason to believe in them, although -9.5 is by far their steepest number yet.

The Stampeders’ 2-1 outright record is mirrored by their 2-1 efforts ATS. Straight-up wins translated to covered spreads and the lone defeat (Week 2 at BC) resulted in a failure to cover.

Of note for those who pay attention to totals, this Week 5 bout features the CFL’s top two defences. Montreal only coughs up 18.3 points per game (1^st) and Calgary only 23.0 (2^nd). A more significant difference is in the number of yards allowed per match. The Alouettes rank first in that category (332.0) but the Stampeders lag behind in seventh (372.7).

As for injuries, Montreal continues to sport a mostly healthy bill – usually an element that translates to winning football games. Only DB Cre’Von Leblanc (hamstring) did not participate in practice this week. Calgary has been less fortunate. DL Kwadwo Boahen (back), DL Elliot Graham (hamstring), and DB Demerio Houston (ankle) have been absent from the practice sessions so far.

Calgary Stampeders

It’s early in the 2024 CFL season to judge where the Stampeders land in the mix. They’ve also already benefitted from a bye and have stepped onto the field only three times.

That said, there were a lot of positives to take away from the 22-19 overtime victory over the Blue Bombers last Saturday. Nitpickers will point to the fact that Winnipeg QB Zach Collaros did not finish the game, but the Bombers are replete with offensive weapons. Short of a late fourth-quarter defensive lapse that sent the game to OT, the Stampeders put on an excellent display.

QB Jake Maier had good chemistry with WRs Marken Michel (nine receptions, 75 yards and one TD) and Reggie Begelton (seven catches for 50 yards). Demerio Houston haunted his former team with a pick in the end zone in the overtime session. Never bet against kicker Rene Paredes. He’s perfect on the season, and hit four more in Week 4, including the 52-yard OT winner.

Montreal Alouettes

Our prognostics for last week’s rematch between the Alouettes and Argonauts proved grossly off base. Not only did Montreal win (we picked Toronto), but they won easily. Don’t be fooled by the final score of 30-20.

Through four contests, this season’s Als are similar to last season. In 2023 their defence paved the way to a successful campaign before the club caught fire during the postseason. It’s like a rinse and repeat but everyone is performing better. Week 4’s tilt versus the Argos exemplified that brilliantly. Discipline also helps. Montreal was flagged only five times for 65 yards, whereas Toronto imploded with 11 penalties for 120 yards.

QB Cody Fajardo remains steady at the helm (33-for-41, 284 yards, one TD) and head coach Jason Maas keeps coming up with trick plays, such as the surprise toss from Caleb Evans to WR Cole Spieker in the third quarter that basically iced the game. Spieker corralled eight balls for 113 yards and a major. WR Tyson Philpot also leads the CFL in yards after the catch (YAC) with 194.

Who Will Win Stampeders vs. Alouettes?