How to Bet on the Grey Cup

Betting on the Grey Cup, the pinnacle of Canadian football, offers tons of exciting betting options for both seasoned bettors and newcomers.

Here’s a little history of the CFL’s big game, as well as a comprehensive guide to help you navigate Grey Cup betting.

A Short History of the Grey Cup

The Grey Cup is the championship trophy awarded annually to the winning team of the Canadian Football League. Its origins date back to 1909, when it was donated by Albert Grey, the 4th Earl Grey and then-Governor General of Canada, to recognize the amateur rugby football champion of Canada. The trophy was initially intended for teams competing in the Canadian Rugby Union.

The first Grey Cup game was played on December 4, 1909, with the University of Toronto Varsity Blues defeating the Toronto Parkdale Canoe Club 26-6. Over the next several decades, the Grey Cup evolved alongside Canadian football, gradually shifting from an amateur competition to the professional sport you know and love today. The CFL was officially established in 1958, and the Grey Cup became its definitive championship game.

The game has endured various challenges, including World War I and World War II, during which the competition was suspended. The 2020 Grey Cup was also canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, marking a rare interruption in its storied legacy.

Types of Grey Cup Bets

Moneyline Bets

A moneyline bet is the simplest form of betting, where you simply pick which team will win the game.

Let’s say the moneyline on a game between Winnipeg and Montreal reads:

Winnipeg Blue Bombers -340

Montreal Alouettes +260

This means that a $340 bet on the Blue Bombers would net $100 if they win, while a $100 bet on the Alouettes would yield $260 if they win. The negative number (-) indicates the favourite and the positive (+) number indicates the underdog.

Point Spread Bets

In point spread betting, you bet on the margin of victory. The favourite must win by more than the spread, while the underdog must lose by less than the spread or win outright.

If the Blue Bombers are favoured by -7.5 points against the Alouettes, they must win by 8 points or more for a bet on them to pay out. Conversely, a bet on Montreal would win if they lose by 7 points or fewer or win the game outright.

Click here for more on point spread betting.

Over/Under (Totals) Bets

This bet involves predicting whether the total combined score of both teams will be Over or Under a set number.

If the Over/Under for the Grey Cup is set at 48.5 points, you can bet on whether the total points scored will be 49 or more (over) or 48 or fewer (under).

Grey Cup Prop Bets

Proposition bets, or prop bets, are wagers on specific events during the Grey Cup that don’t necessarily affect the final outcome. These can include bets on the first team to score, the total number of touchdowns, or individual player performances such as passing yards for the quarterback.

Examples of Player Props

Player props are bets centred around individual player statistics and performances. Popular player props include:

Passing Yards: Bet on whether a quarterback will throw for over or under a specified number of yards.

Rushing Yards: Wager on a running back’s total rushing yards.

Receiving Yards: Predict if a receiver will exceed or fall short of a set yardage.

Pass Attempts: Bet on the number of passing attempts a quarterback will make.

Receptions: Wager on the number of catches a receiver will have.

Touchdowns: Bet on whether a player will score one or more touchdowns in the game.

Examples of Team Props

Team props focus on specific outcomes related to the performance of individual teams. Examples include:

Home/Away Team Totals: Bet on the total points scored by the home or away team, either for the full game, a half, or a quarter.

Total Touchdowns by a Team: Wager on how many touchdowns a specific team will score in the game.

Examples of Game Props

Game props involve bets that are not tied to a specific team but rather focus on overall game events. Examples include:

Total Field Goals: Bet on the over/under for the total number of field goals made in the game. Total Touchdowns: Wager on the over/under for the total number of touchdowns scored by both teams combined.

Same Game Parlays

Bettors are well-acquainted with parlay betting, a style of wagering that can be as exciting as it is frustrating. Enter same-game parlays, a slight twist on the traditional parlay that offers more flexibility and has quickly become a fave among football bettors in Canada.

Same-game parlays allow bettors to combine multiple types of bets within a single game. This means you can mix and match moneylines, spreads, totals, and various prop bets to create a parlay that revolves around one specific game, such as the Grey Cup. For instance, you might combine a bet on the winning team with a bet on the total points scored and a player-specific prop, such as the number of touchdowns scored by a particular player.

People love same-game parlays because of their customizability and of course, because of their potential for high payouts. Bettors can tailor their bets to match their risk tolerance, whether aiming for a high-risk, high-reward payout or opting for a safer, more conservative approach. This flexibility makes same-game parlays particularly enticing for standalone events like the Grey Cup.