CFL Football Betting - Will Argos hold off Bombers in CFL East
Posted on 6/25/2008 12:16:28 AM
By Guy Lapierre
It's time to make your football picks as CFL betting season begins! The Canadian Football League kicks off tomorrow when Montreal visits Hamilton and Calgary hosts British Columbia. Here's our Eastern Conference preview to help you make the best predictions:
HAMILTON TIGER-CATS
Hamilton (+1600 Grey Cup odds) struggled again last year, going 3-15 on its way to a last-place finish in the Eastern Division. Both coordinators were fired and there has been some personnel turnover as the team tries to restore respectability. Receivers Tony Miles and Pat Woodcock will try to boost an offense that ranked dead last in points, touchdowns and passing yards. Casey Printers was a huge disappointment. Jesse Lumsden gives the team a chance to run the ball, but he's injury prone. The Tiger-Cats are a good bet to finish in the cellar again, making it four years without a playoff appearance.
MONTREAL ALOUETTES
A new coaching staff is in place as the Alouettes (+1600 Grey Cup odds) finished 8-10, not good enough for the perennial championship contenders. Defensive end Dario Romero is gone and will be missed, as Montreal's run defence wasn't exactly lighting the world on fire last year. Free agent linebacker Reggie Hunt could offset that loss, however. Quarterback Anthony Calvillo could be the biggest difference maker in '08. He missed five games with an injury last year and the team suffered. The defence finished third in touchdowns allowed a year ago and should be just as solid this year, thanks mostly to the pass “D”, but it will be on the offence's shoulders to turn the Alouettes from underdogs to title contenders.
TORONTO ARGONAUTS
The Toronto Argonauts (+250 Grey Cup odds) have to be the favorites in the East. After winning the East last season, they've beefed up their offence to match their first-place “D”. Kerry Joseph, who quarterback the Saskatchewan to a Grey Cup last year, was brought in via free agency. He'll be complimented by free agency receivers David Boston and Bethel Johnson. Toronto finished last in yards per game in '07, but those additions give the offense a lot more juice; now, the team should be able to spread the field. Pinball Clemons has moved to the front off, but Rich Stubler is more than capable as a head coach. Last year ended in disappointment for Toronto. It should be different this time around.
WINNIPEG BLUE BOMBERS
The Blue Bombers (+450 Grey Cup odds) had a nice '07, winning 10 games and finishing second in the East. The team was carried by both a solid offense and defense, though the latter lost a couple of players in the secondary in Juran Bolden and Kyries Hebert. Quarterback Kevin Glenn was having a wonderful season before injuring his shoulder, which potentially cost Winnipeg a Grey Cup. He's back at full strength now and will lead a passing game that nearly average 300 yards per outing. After a heartbreaking end to last season, the Bombers will be working overtime to bring a title to Winnipeg.
Don't miss out on a wild CFL betting season. Make your football picks now with the world's best Sportsbook, BetOnline.com.
A Laval, Quebec native, Guy LaPierre grew up rooting
for the Montreal Alouettes. Now he gets to handicap them for a living as our
resident CFL expert. Guy enjoys the game South of the Border, but three-down
football is his specialty. Thoughts or
questions? Email Comments@BetOnline.com.
