2023 CFL Championship Outright Odds: Winnipeg Returns as Top Dog

CFL Outright Odds Favor the Bombers Again

The 2023 CFL Championship outright odds once again favor the Winnipeg Blue Bombers to win the Grey Cup. Despite falling short in the title game, the Blue Bombers will return most of their star players including reigning Most Outstanding Player Zach Collaros. Their continuity is a huge reason why they could do it all over as the other contenders must adjust to their new quarterbacks.

2023 CFL Grey Cup Odds: Winnipeg Stands Above Other Contenders

Even when Collaros got hurt heading to the Grey Cup game, the Bombers were within a few plays of winning a third straight title. Not only does Collaros return but so does his top receiver, Dalton Schoen, along with his linemen and the team’s main defensive stars. Winnipeg is one year older but the team is still in top shape. 

The Bombers can start the season strong with their CFL schedule. Their first four games are against teams with new quarterbacks. Starting fast and going 4-0 will give Winnipeg plenty of leeway of what to do with its starters as it looks to clinch the CFL’s best record, and a first-round bye in the playoffs, for the third straight season. The CFL Championship outright odds peg it as the +225 favorite to win. 

Behind the Bombers at +450 are the BC Lions, the team Winnipeg edged in the West Final. Superstar quarterback Nathan Rourke is gone having left for the NFL. The Canadian shredded the league last season, completing 78.7 percent of his passes and scoring 32 total touchdowns (25 via passing). He leaves big shoes for either Vernon Adams or Dane Evans to fill. 

And at third on the CFL Championship outright odds are the defending champions, the Toronto Argonauts at +500. Toronto was also listed third last season. The team benefits from playing in the East Division, which is not as elite as the West. 

Still, the team has plenty of turnovers. Chad Kelly will take over as the quarterback for McLeod Bethel-Thompson who joined the USFL. Center Justin Lawrence and top cornerback Jamal Peters have also left for Montreal and the NFL, respectively. 

Calgary, like Winnipeg, returns its quarterback and will have plenty of chemistry. Dave Dickenson now has a dual role as both the head coach and general manager. He’ll look to do what John Hufnagel did in 2014 when he had both jobs: win the Grey Cup. The odds price Calgary at +650 to do it.

More Quarterback Changes Could Impact the Middle Field

BC and Toronto are not the only contenders debuting different quarterbacks. Hamilton (+550), Montreal (+1000), and Saskatchewan (+1000) will all have a different man calling the plays on the field. The most notable here is Hamilton, which signed two-time Grey Cup MVP Bo Levi Mitchell. 

The former Stampeder was benched in favor of Jake Maier last season. He returned in the playoffs and outperformed Maier but fell just short of leading Calgary past BC in the West Semifinal. If Mitchell can stabilize the team’s quarterbacking, Hamilton could be a dark horse to come out of the East. 

Or it could be Montreal. The Alouettes signed plenty of star players away from other contenders. But the team has undergone the most changes. Jason Maas enters as the new coach while Cody Fajardo replaces Trevor Harris as the team’s quarterback. Fajardo, in turn, is replaced by Harris in Saskatchewan.

The Roughriders had a rough 2022 (pun intended) thanks to injuries and poor offensive line play. Saskatchewan finished 6-12 and got blown out repeatedly by the top teams in the division per the scores and odds. If the same issues persist, Harris may suffer the same fate as Fajardo.

Worst to First: Can Either Edmonton or Ottawa Do It?

At the tail end of the Grey Cup, outright odds are Ottawa (+1500) and Edmonton (+2000). Thanks to the small league size, it is not unthinkable to see either team improve drastically. 

Bob Dyce gets his first full shot at turning the Redblacks around. He took over for Paul LaPolice last season. This time, he’ll have quarterback Jeremiah Masoli. If he can stay healthy, Ottawa will be more formidable. 

As for Edmonton, they can’t possibly get any worse finishing last in points scored for and against last season. Taylor Cornelius will continue to improve at quarterback so maybe Edmonton can finally win a home game – its first since October 2019. 

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