The reigning Grey Cup Champions finally return home after playing their last 4 games on the road. The Montreal Alouettes will host the Ottawa RedBlacks on Thursday who are coming off a win in their own home opener against the Winnipeg Blue Bombers.

CFL Power Rankings Week 2: A Key Strength and Weakness From Every Team

Predictions: CFL News Hub Writers’ Week 3 Picks

s="wp-block-heading">Game Details:

Date/Location: Thursday, June 19 /Percival Molson Memorial Stadium, Montreal, QC

Kickoff Time: 7:30 PM ET, 4:30 PM PT

Channel: TSN (Canada), CFL+ (USA, Global)

Odds: 

Spread: Montreal -6.5 (-115), Edmonton +6.5 (-105)

Moneyline: Montreal +245, Edmonton -310

Over/Under: 47.5 (Over -115, Under -105)

Last week Cody Fajardo completed 20 of his 30 passes for 269 yards and 2 touchdowns and added 27 rushing yards.

Ottawa RedBlacks (1-0): The Ottawa RedBlacks handed the Winnipeg Blue Bombers a loss last week in their home opener. The RedBlacks pass rush was highly effective, especially in key moments as defensive end Lorenzo Maulin IV had a sack and 8 total pressures by my count. Damon Webb, Michael Wakefield, and Adarius Pickett all had a sack as well. Defensive backs Alonzo Addae and Adarius Pickett both had an interception last week.

s="wp-block-heading">Alouettes Keys to the Game

Keep Running the Ball

Last week Walter Fletcher rushed 12 times for 82 yards for a successful 6.8 yards per carry and a touchdown. Last season Montreal had most of their offensive struggles when they went away from the run game and at times sacks followed. I believe it will be important to maintain a good balance of run plays.

Stop the Run

Ottawa and Winnipeg were the 2 teams to run the ball the most last season. Ottawa had great success in their home opener running the ball as Ryquell Armstead rushed 16 times for 95 yards (5.9 yards per carry). To stop Ottawa from having success on the ground would deny a crucial facet of who they are as an offense.

More Good Pass Coverage

I’m going to be a broken record and keep saying this again and again. I feel I can confidently say Montreal has the best pass defense. It’s a big reason they are the Grey Cup Champions. It is particularly important in this game as Ottawa looks to build on last week. If Montreal can give Ottawa a bad game in passing early on into Dru Brown’s season it could have an impact on their divisional opponent’s confidence and momentum.

s="wp-block-heading">Quick Passing Plays

Ottawa’s pass rush is DANGEROUS. Get rid of the ball quickly.

5 Alouettes to Watch

#11 WR Kaion Julien-Grant

Julien-Grant led the team in receiving last week with 6 receptions fro 89 yards.

#25 RW Walter Fletcher

Last week Fletcher had a receiving touchdown and a rushing touchdown. He had 82 rushing yards and 61 receiving yards.

s="wp-block-heading">#17 WR Cole Spieker

Spieker made a great catch to pull in a touchdown last week. He caught 4 passes for 42 yards last week.

#84 WR Reggie White Jr.

White had 722 receiving yards and 2 touchdowns over 15 games in 2022. He missed the entire season in 2023 due to injury. He is back in the lineup for his first regular season game since 2022.

#0 DE Shawn Lemon

Lemon has the most total pressures on the team so far by my count with 11 including 1 sack which came in week 1.

s="wp-block-heading">#31 LB Titus Wall

Wall was signed by Montreal on Tuesday and will dress on Thursday as a second string Sam linebacker.

5 RedBlacks to Watch

#3 QB Dru Brown

Brown completed 20 of his 33 passes for 238 yards and a touchdown in his debut as a RedBlack last week.

#30 RB Ryquell Armstead

Armstead rushed 16 times for 95 yards last week, 5.9 yards per carry.

s="wp-block-heading">#2 WR Justin Hardy

Hardy caught 7 passes last week for 111 yards and a touchdown.

#15 Dominique Rhymes

Rhymes caught 5 passes for 60 yards in his debut as a RedBlack last week.

#94 Lorenzo Mauldin IV

Mauldin had 8 total pressures and a sack last week.

s="wp-block-heading">Injury Report:

Depth Charts:

Score Prediction:

I am predicting Montreal to win a decisive victory in their home opener. 27-14 Montreal.

@JonathanClink on Twitter