2013 CFL Season Kicks Off in Fine Style
Canadian football fans who have been champing at the bit for the start of the 2013 CFL season need champ no more, because last night (Thursday, June 28) the new season kicked off in fine style with a CFL Week 1 match-up between the Montreal Alouettes and the Winnipeg Blue Bombers, both East Division teams.
In what was ultimately a tightly contested and nail-biting showdown, the Alouettes just managed to pip the Blue Bombers 38-33, in a game that had its fair share of chances and exciting plays. Tonight (Friday, June 28), CFL betting fans can look forward to two more big games.
Hamilton Tiger-Cats vs Toronto Argonauts
In the first, the Hamilton Tiger-Cats will take on defending CFL champs the Toronto Argonauts at Rogers Centre in Toronto at 7pm (ET). What will make this game interesting is the fact the Argonauts will be showcasing the skills of talented running back Chad Kackert, who if he delivers this season as expected, will no doubt soon grow tired of the phrase "Kack Attack" being thrown his way.
That said, the Tiger-Cats are not without some heavy duty weapons themselves this season, particularly in the form of safety James Patrick, who is touted to be a major stopping force for his team. And what better chance to prove this then this very evening against Toronto quarterback Ricky Ray, who is no slouch himself.
But no matter how well the Hamilton Tiger-Cats play against their hosts tonight, I believe the Toronto Argonauts will come off best and chalk up their first win of the new CFL Season. According to the following CFL Week 1 odds, the oddsmakers at leading online sportsbook Bodog seem to agree with me:
| Team | Point Spread | Total |
| Hamilton Tiger-Cats | +3 | 55 (1.91)o |
| Toronto Argonauts | -3 | 55 (1.91)u |
BC Lions vs Calgary Stampeders
The other CFL Week 1 game scheduled for tonight is the matchup between the BC Lions and their hosts the Calgary Stampeders at McMahon Stadium at 10pm (ET). The latter, of course, have plenty to prove this season after they fell at the last hurdle in the previous season by allowing the Toronto Argonauts to snag the coveted Grey Cup.
As such, I expect them to start off this year's campaign with a ruthless determination, which bodes very well for CFL spectators and betting fans alike. Plus, who can forget how the Lions ended last season with an impressive 13-5 record and world at their feet? That is until their Grey Cup chances were smashed, when they lost 34-29 to Calgary in the West Division Finals. And to make matters even worse, they started that game as the -6.5-point home favorites.
So I expect revenge and plenty of it will be on the menu this evening. Even though the Stampeders have been laid as the betting favorites at most bookmakers - including Bodog - I believe the Lions will show their claws early on and set the pace tonight to rack up a well-deserved win. You can thank me later, but in the meantime here are the odds:
Team Point Spread Total
| Team | Point Spread | Total |
| B.C. Lions | +3 | 51.5 (1.91)o |
| Calgary Stampeders | -3 | 51.5 (1.91)u |
In terms of who has the best chance to win this year's Grey Cup, Bodog has posted the following CFL betting line:
2013 CFL Grey Cup Winner Odds
B.C. Lions - 7/2
Calgary Stampeders - 4/1
Montreal Alouettes - 4/1
Toronto Argonauts - 11/2
Saskatchewan Roughriders - 13/2
Hamilton Tiger-Cats - 7/1
Edmonton Eskimos - 9/1
Winnipeg Blue Bombers - 12/1
