The CFL opens the 2025 season on Thursday, June 5, with Ottawa (+3.5) at Saskatchewan (9 p.m. ET).
>>Estimated Week 1 scores from Steve Makinen.
>>Makinen’s CFL Power Ratings.
Brian Floyd, property manager for Circa Sports in Illinois, has the role of resident CFL expert for the sportsbook, so I asked him for his insights heading into the Canadian Football League season.
Here is what he wrote:
I believe Calgary did not improve the rest of their roster enough to get to where it wanted to be despite making a big QB splash in the offseason. Edmonton is not as sound at the QB position as a lot of folks are giving them credit for. The TiCats are a potential sleeper in the East should the defense improve from 2024. Toronto should regress slightly from its Grey Cup form last season. Winnipeg will fail to make its sixth straight Grey Cup. The Lions could be a team to watch, but it all comes down to which version of Rourke they get.
Below is a little deeper dive into these opinions with odds to win the Grey Cup from Circa:
Calgary Stampeders (+1800)
They traded BC for QB Vernon Adams Jr. in the offseason to pair up with veteran WR Reggie Begelton and former BC teammate Dominique Rhymes. There was a lot of offseason excitement surrounding this offense, however, the rest of the team still has a lot of holes to fill, and I see them making a West semi at best.
Edmonton Elks (+1550)
The Elks are giving Canadian dual-threat QB, Tre Ford, the ball to start the season. He has battled for the QB spot over the last two seasons in Edmonton. Contrary to most, I do not believe Tre Ford is a starting QB in this league. He appeared in 16 games last year, but only made 4 starts and with a middle of the road roster around him, I still believe Edmonton has a sizable gap between them and the top contenders in the West (BC, SSK, and WPG). On the opposite side of the ball, Tre Ford’s twin brother — DB Tyrel —, signed with the Elks in the offseason and is coming off a career year with Toronto (7 INTs). If this Elks team does sneak into the playoffs, I believe it is because of the defense not because of the offense like many project.
Hamilton TigerCats (+1350)
QB Bo Levi Mitchell was a 5,000-yard passer last year while starting all 18 games. The issue for Mitchell: Although he threw for 32 touchdowns, he also had 18 interceptions. If he can duplicate his 2024 numbers while limiting the picks, the TiCats could be a dark horse team to watch in the East. The addition of WR Kenny Lawler from Winnipeg and the re-signing of WR Tim White makes this a dangerous team through the air. If the defense can improve from a lackluster 2024, this team could make some noise in the East.
Toronto Argonauts (+310)
The player to watch on Toronto’s offense is former Broncos and Ole Miss QB Chad Kelly. Kelly will miss at least Week 1 after fracturing his leg in the East final last year. If Kelly can return to his normal self and minimize his off-the-field issues (9-game suspension in 2024), Toronto will easily return to the playoffs and compete for back-to-back Grey Cups. However, I think the rest of the roster regressed and I prefer Montreal to win the East.
Winnipeg Blue Bombers (+435)
The Bombers have been to the last five Grey Cups, but have lost three in a row. They have been the kings of the West for a long time now. Every year, the question is: When will Father Time catch up with this roster? They lost OC Buck Pierce to the BC head coaching job in the offseason as well as standout WR Kenny Lawler to the TiCats. Last year, Lawler was suspended for the first six games due to immigration issues related to an off-the-field incident. This was a contributing factor to WPG starting 2-6 last season before finishing 11-7 and winning the West. It will be interesting to see this roster without Lawler and who becomes QB Zach Collaros’ new WR1. If RB Brady Oliveira can maintain his 2023 and 2024 form. I believe this is the year the Bombers finally regress enough where either BC or SSK may represent the West in the Grey Cup instead of the Bombers.
BC Lions (+640)
The Lions boast an elite WR core led by Justin McInnis, the CFL’s leading WR in 2024. McInnis re-signed in the offseason to stay with 2022 MOC Nathan Rourke. Nathan Rouke, brother of former Indiana QB Kurtis, returned to the CFL midseason last year for the Lions after stints with the Jaguars, Giants, Patriots and Falcons. The readjustment to the Canadian game did not treat Rourke well last year as he was benched for Week 18 and the West semi in favor of Vernon Adams Jr., now Stamp’s QB. Given a full training camp and improved offensive line, I believe it is more likely that Rourke returns to 2022 form than what we saw in 2024. For this reason, I have the Leos priced a little aggressively compared to other operators in the futures market.
