The winless Ottawa Redblacks head into Commonwealth Stadium looking for their first win, but the Edmonton Elks are a well-rested seven-point favorite this week.
This Week's CFL Schedule
Ottawa Redblacks at Edmonton Elks
| When | Thursday, July 9 at 9:00 PM ET |
| Where | Commonwealth Stadium, Edmonton |
| TV | TSN, CBS Sports Network |
| Stream | Watch live on CFL+ |
| Line | Edmonton Elks -7 | O/U 58 |
Ottawa is 0-4 and dropping games in every way imaginable, the latest a 22-27 heartbreaker against Saskatchewan where the Redblacks couldn't close it out. Edmonton beat this same Ottawa team 29-21 back in Week 1, and while the Elks stumbled last week in a 24-36 loss to BC, they're still sitting at 3-1 and looking like the class of the West. This is a get-right spot for Edmonton against a team that hasn't found a way to win yet.
The Elks are 2-1 against the spread this season and have split their four games evenly between overs and unders, so this number feels fair with Ottawa banged up on defense. Ottawa is 1-1-1 ATS, which tells you they've kept a couple of these close even while losing, but a defense this depleted going up against Edmonton's offense at home is a tough ask.
Players to Watch:
- Justin Rankin (Edmonton Elks, RB) — Leads the CFL with 406 rushing yards on just 53 carries and has scored four touchdowns; Ottawa's banged-up front seven has to find an answer.
- Cody Fajardo (Edmonton Elks, QB) — Has thrown for 1,159 yards and 6 TDs and gets a defense that's allowed 137 points through four games, tied for the league's worst mark.
- Alonzo Addae (Ottawa Redblacks, DB) — Back on the active roster after coming off single-game injury and one of Ottawa's few healthy playmakers in the secondary.
Injury Watch:
- Nick Mardner (Ottawa Redblacks, WR) — Out with an Achilles injury, another hit to a receiving corps already down bodies.
- Bennett Williams (Ottawa Redblacks, DB) — Out, moved to six-game injury this week, thinning out an already thin secondary.
- Scott Hutter (Ottawa Redblacks, DB) — Out with ribs, also on six-game injury, removing one of Ottawa's interception leaders from the lineup.
- Keelan White (Ottawa Redblacks, WR) — Questionable with an ankle injury after being shifted to single-game injury designation.
- Justin Pace (Edmonton Elks, LB) — Out with a foot injury, extended to single-game injury this week.
- Joe Robustelli (Edmonton Elks, WR) — Questionable with a hamstring, but was extended on single-game injury rather than ruled out.
Pick: Edmonton Elks 33-20. Ottawa is 0-4 and missing too many pieces on defense, especially with Hutter and Williams both out of the secondary, and Rankin should have a big night on the ground.
CFL Standings
| Team | W | L | PF | PA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Edmonton Elks | 3 | 1 | 108 | 104 |
| Montreal Alouettes | 3 | 1 | 133 | 124 |
| Saskatchewan Roughriders | 3 | 1 | 132 | 126 |
| Winnipeg Blue Bombers | 2 | 2 | 89 | 101 |
| Calgary Stampeders | 2 | 2 | 164 | 139 |
| Hamilton Tiger-Cats | 2 | 2 | 118 | 98 |
| Toronto Argonauts | 2 | 2 | 150 | 153 |
| BC Lions | 1 | 3 | 123 | 137 |
| Ottawa Redblacks | 0 | 4 | 102 | 137 |
Quick Hits
- Ottawa made a flurry of roster moves this week, adding linebacker Josh Connors and receiver Binjimen Victor off the practice roster while shuffling multiple players onto six-game injury, a sign of just how thin the Redblacks are up front.
- With Scott Hutter and Bennett Williams both sidelined, Ottawa's secondary is banged up heading into a matchup with an Edmonton offense that's found a groove running the ball.
- Fantasy players should lean on Justin Rankin this week — he's the league's leading rusher and gets a defense that's given up 137 points already this season.
- Edmonton has now lost consecutive tough spots against BC after a three-game win streak, so expect a motivated Elks squad looking to reset at home.
Standings | Full Schedule | League Leaders
Who wins this week? Drop your picks in the comments.