The Montreal Alouettes (1-0) and the Edmonton Elks (0-1) meet Friday in a Week 2 battle at The Brick Field at Commonwealth Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 9 p.m. ET (TSN/CFL+). Below, we analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s lines around the Alouettes vs. Elks odds, and make our expert CFL picks and predictions.
The defending champ Alouettes went on the road to earn a 27-12 win against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in Week 1, cashing as a 7.5-point underdog as the Under (47.5) cashed in a rematch of the 110th Grey Cup.
Montreal racked up 327 total yards, including 254 yards through the air. The key to the victory was in the turnover department, as the Alouettes were plus-2. QB Cody Fajardo threw for 254 yards and 2 TD, while WR Tyson Philpot tore it up with 10 catches for 141 yards and 2 scores.
The Elks lost 29-21 at home against the Saskatchewan Roughriders in Week 1, falling as a 1-point underdog for the 2nd-straight season opener to the Riders. The Over (47.5) cashed, too.
Edmonton had 19 1st downs to 18 for Saskatchewan. The Elks outgained the Riders 375-345 in total yards while both teams turned it over 3 times. Edmonton had 336 passing yards as QB Bethel McLeod Thompson completed 33-of-42 passes with 2 TDs and 1 INT, while he also lost a fumble. The Elks allowed 305 yards through the air, too.
These teams met once last season, as Montreal picked up a 35-21 win on Oct. 14 as a 1-point underdog while the Over (46.5) connected. Montreal has won 4 of the past 6 meetings, with the Alouettes going 6-2 against the spread (ATS) in the past 8 in the series, with the Over holding a 7-3 edge in the past 10 meetings.
Alouettes at Elks odds
Provided by BetMGM Sportsbook; access USA TODAY Sports Scores and Sports Betting Odds hub for a full list. Lines last updated at 1:29 a.m. ET.
- Moneyline (ML): Alouettes -225 (bet $225 to win $100) | Elks +180 (bet $100 to win $180)
- Against the spread (ATS): Alouettes -4.5 (-105) | Elks +4.5 (-115)
- Over/Under (O/U): 47.5 (O: -110 | U: -110)
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Alouettes at Elks key injuries
Alouettes
- LB Tyrell Richards (leg) out
- WR Tyler Snead (foot) out
- DB Reggie Stubblefield (knee) out
- WR Reggie White Jr. (ribs) out
Elks
- OL Brett Boyko (head) out
- LB Josiah Schakel (ankle) out
Alouettes at Elks picks and predictions
Prediction
Alouettes 29, Elks 20
Moneyline
The Alouettes (-225) will cost you more than 2 times your potential return, and that’s risky in a road game. It’s just Week 2, and we don’t have much of a sample size, although Montreal certainly looked good in Winnipeg as a big underdog. Now, the shoe is on the other foot.
PASS.
Against the spread
The ALOUETTES -4.5 (-105) are a solid play on the road, as they look to fire out to a 2-0 SU/ATS mark.
The Elks +4.5 (-115) were sloppy, and unable to run the ball last weekend, and Edmonton had trouble stopping the pass, too. That’s not a good recipe for success with the defending champions coming to town.
Montreal came away from Commonwealth Stadium with a double-digit victory last season, and it should be able to get the job done against an Edmonton team which is a bit disjointed at the moment, although McLeod Thompson should help it hang around for a while.
Over/Under
OVER 47.5 (-110) is worth playing lightly in this Week 2 matchup, but go with a half-unit play at most.
The Over has cashed in 7 of the past 10 meetings in this series, and the total went high last season with a total of 56 points in a Week 19 matchup.
The Elks had trouble stopping the pass last week against a so-so Saskatchewan team, so look for Fajardo and the Als to rack up plenty of offense in this battle.
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