The 2024 CFL season kicks off with an exciting lineup of opening-week games. The highlight is the Grey Cup rematch between Montreal and Winnipeg on Thursday. Additionally, there are several other intriguing matchups, including the British Columbia versus Toronto game that wraps up the week.
This preview of Week 1 in the 2024 CFL season will examine all four scheduled games and suggest a few potential bets.
- What? 2024 Canadian Football League Week 1
- When? June 6-9
- Schedule? Alouettes vs Blue Bombers, Tiger-Cats vs Stampeders, Roughriders vs Elks, Lions vs Argonauts
Below are the odds for the CFL week one fixtures from three of the best sports betting sites.
| Football - CFL |  |  |  |
|---|---|---|---|
| Montreal Alouettes | +285 | +280 | +280 |
| Winnipeg Blue Bombers | -370 | -350 | -350 |
| Hamilton Tiger-Cats | -110 | -110 | -110 |
| Calgary Stampeders | -110 | -110 | -110 |
| Saskatchewan Roughriders | +110 | +105 | +120 |
| Edmonton Elks | -130 | -125 | -140 |
| British Columbia Lions | -270 | -260 | -260 |
| Toronto Argonauts | +220 | +220 | +210 |
Montreal Alouettes (+285) vs Winnipeg Blue Bombers (-350)
- Princess Auto Stadium, Winnipeg, MB
- Thursday, June 6, 8:30 pm ET
The highlight of the week kicks off the 2024 season with a highly anticipated rematch of last year's Grey Cup, where Montreal triumphed. The Alouettes claimed victory with a 28-24 win as 7.5-point underdogs, while the Blue Bombers aim to even the score.
Montreal's defense, which ranked fourth in fewest yards allowed per game (356.7 YPG) in 2023, is largely intact and has even strengthened its defensive line. However, QB Cody Fajardo will be missing key players, as WR Austin Mack has moved to the NFL and RB William Stanback has joined the Lions. Conversely, Winnipeg's defense has suffered losses with the departures of Jackson Jeffcoat and Ricky Walker, but QB Zach Collaros still has dependable options in WR Dalton Schoen and RB Brady Oliveira.
Bovada's range of markets make them the go to betting site for CFL betting. You can read our Bovada sportsbook review for all the information you need to know about this betting site.
Hamilton Tiger-Cats (-110) vs Calgary Stampeders (-110)
- McMahon Stadium, Calgary, AB
- Friday, June 7, 9:00 pm ET
The sole game on Friday features Hamilton traveling to Calgary. Both teams made it to the playoffs last year despite having lower rankings in the CFL standings. The Tiger-Cats finished with an 8-10 record, while the Stampeders ended at 6-12.
Both teams had a point differential of -3.6 last season, including postseason games, but Hamilton performed better on the road. The point spread is fairly close to what you'd expect, making this a challenging game to bet on.
Saskatchewan Roughriders (+120) vs Edmonton Elks (-125)
- Commonwealth Stadium, Edmonton, AB
- Saturday, June 8, 4:00 pm ET
Last season, these teams combined for a 10-26 record, with the Roughriders at 6-12 and the Elks at 4-14. Edmonton struggled against the spread, ranking second-worst in the league at 7-11 ATS, while only Ottawa fared worse. Saskatchewan had a slightly better record at 8-10 ATS.
Both teams were among the worst defensively in the CFL last year, suggesting the total might be set a bit low. Neither team boasts a potent offense, but facing a weak defense can make scoring easier. The Roughriders had a 14-4 record on totals last season, and the Elks went 10-8.
British Columbia Lions (-260) vs Toronto Argonauts (+220)
- BMO Field, Toronto, ON
- Sunday, June 9, 7:00 pm ET
The final game of the week features British Columbia visiting Toronto. Despite having the best regular season record in the CFL last year, the Argonauts are 6-point underdogs at home with a total set at 47 points.
Toronto kicks off the year with a new quarterback, Cameron Dukes, who impressed in the preseason by completing 10 of 12 passes for 129 yards and scoring a rushing touchdown. The Argonauts have also signed ex-Redblack Nick Arbuckle for the season, highlighting their quarterback issues following Chad Kelly's suspension. A new asset for Toronto is Ka'Deem Carey, one of the league's top running backs, expected to make a significant impact.
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