CFL Week 1 Odds Preview: Season Kicks Off Thursday

Defending Champs Sit as Week 1 Odds Favor Contenders

There is nothing quite like getting an extra week of “vacation”. At least, that’s what the Toronto Argonauts find itself in. The 2022 Grey Cup champions open the 2023 CFL season on the sidelines. But there is still plenty of CFL football action with each day from Thursday to Sunday featuring one game. The CFL Week 1 odds favor the other contenders.

What’s New with the CFL in 2023?

The CFL returns with a slew of changes both on and off the field. Some minor rule changes were installed as a means to improve the players’ “health and safety” and to “make refinements” to parts of the game. Among these changes are:

• Balls do not need to be touched prior to ruling a rouge (a one-pointer)
• A safety will now be added for a “holding” penalty in the team’s own goal area
• Defensive formations are restricted on kick plays
• Avoidable contact with an official
• The drive start position will be moved up five yards in additional scenarios
• Players cannot wear ‘0’ and ‘00’

The league has also mandated that teams wear Guardian caps (namely defensive linemen, running backs, and linebackers) during training camps and practices. There are also medical tents now on the sidelines plus a pre-game medical meeting prior to games.

With these changes, injuries could be avoided. Or on the flip side, injured players may be further barred from participating. This could affect both CFL scores and odds.

Additionally, the CFL partnered with the CBS Sports Network, which will broadcast 34 games in the United States. The remaining games not aired can be found on the CFL’s new FREE streaming service: CFL+.

This is a rematch of the Division Semi-finals, which BC won. However, it won’t be superstar quarterback Nathan Rourke leading the Lions now. Vernon Adams Jr. takes over. He had a 6-2 record as a starter with the Lions as he also posted a 100.3 passer rating. Still, the CFL Week 1 odds favor Calgary by 3.5 points in the second-highest-scoring game with a total of 46.

The Blue Bombers may have fallen short of the Grey Cup, but they remain the favorites to win it all in 2023. They start their 2023 by facing their Grey Cup rivals: the Tiger-Cats. Two-time Grey Cup MVP Bo Levi Mitchell debuts for Hamilton, who struggled in 2022 partly due to inconsistent quarterbacking. The CFL Week 1 odds expect this to be the week’s highest-scoring game (46.5) with Winnipeg (-4.5) coming out on top.

The Redblacks finished last in the 2022 CFL standings with just four wins. But in its only win under new coach Bob Dyce, they defeated the Alouettes. In fact, Ottawa is 4-1 against the spread (ATS) in its last five games versus Montreal. The odds are tight here with Montreal slightly favored at -1.5. Montreal has a new coach in Jason Maas, who was Edmonton’s coach the last time it won at home.

Edmonton has not won at the Commonwealth Stadium since Week 18 of the 2019 season. The team will look to snap its CFL-record 17-game losing streak at home. The odds are against it happening and have Saskatchewan favored at 3.5 points. The Roughriders went undefeated in the preseason with new QB Trevor Harris. But this team has lost four of its last five road games. So, maybe there’s a chance for Edmonton…

Can’t get enough? Here’s more!

• 2023 CFL Championship Outright Odds: Winnipeg Returns as Top Dog
  
• 2022 CFL Grey Cup Odds: Greatness Awaits Winnipeg or Toronto
  
• 2022 CFL Division Odds: Division Finals Favor Home Teams
  
• CFL 2022 Playoff Odds: Divisional Semi-Finals Features Even Matchups
  
• CFL Power Rankings 2022: Down Goes Winnipeg