The 2024 Canadian Football League (CFL) season begins on June 6 and culminates with the playing of the 111th Grey Cup on November 17 at BC Place in Vancouver, British Columbia. Despite losing 28-24 to the Montreal Alouettes in the 110th Grey Cup last season, the Winnipeg Blue Bombers are the betting favourites to win the coveted championship this year. Those interested in placing bets might find the BetMGM betting code useful, it lists the Bombers at +250 to win it all.

Winnipeg finished the 2023 regular season with a 14-4 record and has been to four consecutive Grey Cups. The Alouettes, meanwhile, were surprise Grey Cup champions last year, winning five consecutive games to close out the regular season before outscoring its opponents 93-53 in three playoff games.

Here’s a look at the odds and outlook for top teams in the 2024 CFL season.

2024 Grey Cup Odds

Winnipeg Blue Bombers +250 Toronto Argonauts +300 BC Lions +550 Montreal Alouettes +550 Calgary Stampeders +800 Hamilton Tiger-Cats +800 Edmonton Elks +1200 Saskatchewan Roughriders +1200 Ottawa Redblacks +2500

QBs are Key to Winnipeg and Toronto’s Chances

The Blue Bombers won the Grey Cup in back-to-back years in 2019 and 2021 (there was no season in 2020 due to the pandemic) and were runners-up in 2022 and 2023. Quarterback Zach Collaros, a 35-year-old alumnus of the University of Cincinnati has been under center for Winnipeg in three of those four seasons and has had two of his best years in the last two seasons, throwing for a combined 60 touchdowns and more than 8,400 yards.

Collaros, however, also had a career-high 15 interceptions in 2023 and one has to wonder if age is catching up to the two-time CFL Most Outstanding Player. The Blue Bombers also brought back QB Chris Streveler for the upcoming season. Streveler, who spent the last three seasons in the NFL with the New York Jets and Arizona Cardinals, had 19 passing and 22 rushing touchdowns in two seasons with Winnipeg in 2018 and 2019. He’ll likely play behind Collaros, but provide the offense with plenty of options in short-yardage situations.

Chad Kelly, despite an off-season controversy involving allegations of harassment with an Argos employee, is likely to remain under centre for Toronto in 2024. He’s the highest-paid quarterback in the CFL and will be expected to lead Toronto back to the Grey Cup. The Argos beat the Blue Bombers 24-23 in the 109th Grey Cup. The Argos also bolstered their defensive line, acquiring Jake Ceresna, who had 12 sacks and a career-best 48 tackles with the Edmonton Elks in 2023.

Can the Alouettes Sustain Momentum from Last Year’s Playoffs?

Few people are expecting the Montreal Alouettes to repeat as Grey Cup champions, as evidenced by the fact they only have the fourth-shortest odds. Montreal shocked everyone by winning the Grey Cup last year, going on a run of eight consecutive victories to close out the season in style after starting with a 6-7 record.

Cody Fajardo, who had a standout performance for the Als in the 2023 Grey Cup, returns under centre for Montreal in 2024. The MVP of the 110th Grey Cup is coming into the season with a chip on his shoulder, knowing that few people expect to Alouettes to replicate last season’s performance: “We don’t want to be a one-hit wonder,” Fajardo said during a media conference call in March. “We don’t want to be a team that people think got lucky and hot at the right time. This is a very talented team that knows how to win and play together and that’s a force.”

Montreal is returning 19 of its 24 starters from last season, so they shouldn’t be counted out in Grey Cup 2024 odds.

Outlook for Other Teams

The BC Lions are tied with the Als in Grey Cup odds, although they haven’t played in the season-ending game since the 99th Grey Cup in 2011. They lost 24-13 to the Blue Bombers in the Division Finals last season and will return with Vernon Adams Jr. as starting quarterback in 2024. The team had the best passing offense last season, but have plenty of question marks at wide receiver. Keon Hatcher is returning, but recovering from an Achilles injury.

The outlook isn’t as bright for the Edmonton Elks or Ottawa Redblacks, both of which are likely poised to finish at the bottom of their respective divisions for the second consecutive season.