WEEK 3 CFL PICKS 2024
By the Canadian Press:
OTTAWA AT MONTREAL, Thursday
At Montreal, the Alouettes (2-0) will raise their championship banner in their home opener. Starter Cody Fajardo is 6-1 versus Ottawa (1-0) and has won seven straight regular-season games. He’s supported by a defence that’s tops in fewest offensive points (15 per game) and turnovers (six). Dru Brown threw for 238 yards and a TD to help the Redblacks beat Winnipeg — Brown’s former team — last week.
Pick: Montreal.
BC AT WINNIPEG, Friday
It’s only the third game of the season but it is an important one for Zach Collaros and the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.
Winnipeg (0-2) hosts the B.C. Lions (1-1) on Friday night following an uncharacteristic slow start to the 2024 campaign. Not since 2016 have the Blue Bombers — who’ve reached the Grey Cup four straight years — been two games below .500.
Again, it’s early, but what’s been very surprising has been the lack of production from a Winnipeg offence that last season averaged a CFL-high 31.7 points per game. Through two games, the unit is last in both offensive scoring (13.5 points per game) and net offence (296.5 yards, compared to a league-high 414.7 last year).
The contest is also an important one for B.C., which has lost to Winnipeg in the West Division final the last two years. The Lions have been picked by some to play in the Grey Cup, which will be held at B.C. Place Stadium in November.
The Bombers have won eight of the last 10 matchups although B.C. was victorious in Winnipeg last year.
Collaros is 6-1 as a Bomber versus B.C. and Winnipeg hasn’t started 0-3 since 2012.
Pick: Winnipeg.
EDMONTON AT TORONTO, Saturday
At Toronto, McLeod Bethel-Thompson returns to BMO Field for the first time since helping the Double Blue win the 2022 Grey Cup. Edmonton (0-2) heads on the road following two home defeats. The Argos (1-0) were off last week after downing B.C. 35-27 in their opener. They’ve won 10 straight regular-season home games but the Elks do have solid tape on starter Cameron Dukes and Co.
Pick: Edmonton.
HAMILTON AT SASKATCHEWAN, Sunday
At Regina, Saskatchewan (2-0) outscored Hamilton (0-2) 16-3 in the fourth quarter for a wild 33-30 road win Sunday night. Quarterback Trevor Harris was again a key figure, passing for 390 yards and two TDs. The loss tarnished another solid outing by Ticats’ starter Bo Levi Mitchell (27-of-38 attempts, 380 yards, three TDs, one interception) despite his receivers having key drops.
Pick: Hamilton.
Last week: 3-1.
Overall: 4-4.
(Canadian Press)
