The Edmonton Elks fell short in a hard-fought game at home last week vs. Saskatchewan. At the end of the day, they played a great game with one of the most aggressive teams in the CFL. More importantly, they obtained a season series split for the time being, as they will play once more vs. Saskatchewan in Week 21 to complete their season.
Barring any separation they can create in the win column, it will come down to the final game, which would be a season-series clincher, provided that they are tied with the same win–loss record.
That is the big picture. Now the Elks will have a date on the road in Montreal, as they have another difficult game on their agenda with a Montreal Alouettes team that is firing on all cylinders.
Edmonton will welcome back Nick Anderson at middle linebacker after coming off the 6-game injured list. He will re-join Joel Dublanko at the linebacker unit. However, for Dublanko, it will be a game-time decision, as will be the case with Kordell Jackson on the Edmonton defence.
Game Details
Date: Saturday, August 8th, 2026
Location: Percival Molson Memorial Stadium / Montreal, Quebec
Kickoff time: 3:00 pm EST
Channel: TSN / RDS / CTV
Stream: CFL +
Weather forecast at kickoff: 27°C. Cloudy with a risk of thunderstorms. It will feel like 36 °C with a wind gust of 21 km/h from the south. P.O.P will be 40%.
Odds
Spread: Montreal Alouettes (- 3.5) – 110 / Edmonton Elks (+3.5) – 110
Moneyline: Montreal Alouettes – 210 / Edmonton Elks + 172
Over / Under: Over 59.5 – 105 / Under 59.5 – 115
Via FanDuel Sportsbook
Injury Reports
Players to watch: Edmonton Elks
WR – TJ Luther
He has made some big strides for Edmonton as a key figure in the passing game. He is reliable in clutch situations. He currently has 479 receiving yards and 3 touchdowns.
QB – Cody Fajardo
The two elements that Cody Fajardo brings to the Edmonton offence are ball security and consistency. He has been a big reason why the Edmonton offence has been balanced. With 2,577 passing yards and 14 touchdown passes, he will be a pain for the Montreal defence.
LB – Joel Dublanko
What to get with Joel Dublanko is a consistent and intelligent linebacker for your defence. Joel Dublanko rarely misses an assignment that will cost you a big moment in the game. His football IQ, along with his anticipation when reading a play, go hand in hand.
K – Vincent Blanchard
He has come up with big field goals that resulted in wins for Edmonton. There will be times in this game where Coach Mark Kilam will be aggressive and gamble on 3rd down to extend a drive. It is tempting, and it is not a bad choice. However, you have one of the most consistent kickers in the CFL. Do not leave with no points on the scoreboard.
The Edmonton Secondary
This will be no different than last week vs. Saskatchewan. Davis Alexander will test a secondary from the mid-to-long passing game. Tyrell Ford, Leonard Johnson, Chelan Garnes, Kordell Jackson, and JJ Ross will be busy again as they face another team with a wide receiver room of depth.
Players to watch: Montreal Alouettes
QB – Davis Alexander
All you have to do is look at the game film. He plays with a high tempo and rarely makes mistakes. Along with playing a high tempo, he will wear down your defence from your level of conditioning. 2,788 passing yards and 14 touchdown passes; a lone interception seems like a precision passer.
WR – Tyson Philpot
He is the fastest Canadian receiver to achieve the 1,000-yard mark with 1,023 yards and 4 touchdowns this season. He is one of the most difficult receivers to cover, as many in the CFL are fully aware of Tyson Philpot’s natural talent.
WR – Tyler Snead
For a small player at 5’-7”, Tyler Snead plays well above his size. His play on the field speaks for itself with 5 touchdowns and 794 receiving yards. He will make big plays at the right time for Montreal in this game vs. Edmonton.
RB – Travis Theis
He is a good problem to have for your ground attack. With 6 touchdowns and 600 rushing yards, he runs with power and can control the clock for Montreal’s advantage.
LB – Micah Awe
He is one of the most feared linebackers in the CFL. When Micah Awe is on your roster, it’s a good problem to have. He is smart and agile, unleashing heavy hits on his opponents. Since entering the CFL in 2017, he has 584 lifetime tackles. He covers a lot of real estate on a football field. He is also a momentum changer.
LB / DB – Tyrice Beverette
Tyrice Beverette has been a cornerstone of the Montreal defence. He has a good eye for the ball, or attacks areas of the field where a big play could develop. Many receivers know when he is covering a passing zone. He is a master of big hits and causing turnovers.
Keys to an Edmonton victory:
Do not be forced to be a one-dimensional offence.
Montreal is great at putting a wrench in a team's game plan. If they cannot play a balanced offence, it could get ugly very early in the game. The Elks will need to make adjustments on what will work to counter the pressure of the Montreal defence. With the running game sub-par in the last three weeks, the Elks need to find a way to bring it back in their game plan.
Match the intensity.
Edmonton has done a great job in matching the flow of the game for long periods. This will be no different. If Montreal sees a weakness that Edmonton is presenting consistently, they will make you pay.
Put pressure on the Montreal offensive line.
This will be the most difficult assignment from the Edmonton front seven, along with the game plan as a whole. Montreal has the most textbook offensive line, and rarely makes mistakes. If they can throw different looks that Montreal has not seen this season, at least you have the upper hand in making them think too much and quite possibly be caught flatfooted.
Be good on special teams.
This goes on both sides of special teams. The Elks have to minimize big returns by Montreal by obtaining decent to great field position.
Keep the Montreal defence on the field.
This will be the X-factor 2.0. Edmonton will be playing one of the most suffocating defences in the CFL. Their offensive playbook will need to be expanded. The Alouettes line up and attack their assignments with the utmost precision. If they can keep them on the field longer in the game, it would be uncharted territory for Montreal.
Prediction
Final Score
Edmonton will give a Montreal team a run for their money. Montreal will show signs that they are human after all. One element to the game will be the time of possession. Montreal has been outstanding at using the clock to their advantage when experiencing a high degree of adversity that might derail Edmonton from a victory.
Montreal Alouettes: 29
Edmonton Elks: 28
Edmonton loses a close one on the road. There will be times that they will take a penalty or two at the wrong time in the 2nd half that could cost them the game. Montreal will capitalize on Edmonton’s mistakes, which will be one of the reasons for the predicted loss. It could also be an element where Edmonton has to come back in the 2nd half with little to no time left on the clock to take the lead.