Ottawa Redblacks vs Edmonton Elks
August 7, 2021 10:00 pm EDT
The Line: Edmonton Elks -7.5
(Get latest betting odds)
The Ottawa Redblacks and Edmonton Elks meet Saturday in CFL action at Commonwealth Stadium. The Ottawa Redblacks are coming off a 3-15 season and make their debut with Paul LaPolice as head coach. The Edmonton Elks are coming off an 8-10 season and make their debut under coach Jaime Elizondo.
The Ottawa Redblacks struggled mightily in 2019 due to poor quarterback play and there’s still questions around the position. However, the addition of Matt Nichols could pay off in a big way if he returns to solid form. Nichols has thrown for over 18,000 yards and 94 touchdowns in his career and has 13 rushing touchdowns. Unfortunately, there’s not a lot of proven weapons on this Ottawa offense, but R.J. Harris and Daniel Petermann have potential at the wide receiver position. Defensively, linebacker Avery Williams returns after being named the Redblacks Most Outstanding Player and cornerback Randall Evans is coming off his best season yet. The Redblacks have the ability to be good defensively and they have a respectable quarterback, but depth is an issue and they’re in a brutal division. The Redblacks certainly have their work cut out for them this season.
The Edmonton Elks have a chance to be special offensively, as Trevor Harris returns at quarterback and has topped 4,000 passing yards each of his last three seasons. James Wilder is now 29 years old, but he has the potential be a quality running back. Armanti Edwards, Greg Ellingson and Derel Walker is probably the best trio of wide receivers in the CFL and should produce silly numbers. Defensively, Edmonton lost a lot of its production from a year ago, but Brian Walker is back in the secondary, while Mike Moore and Kwaku Boateng can put consistent pressure on opposing quarterbacks. The Edmonton Elks have the ability to be the best offense in the CFL this season and if that happens, they’ll be in the running for the Grey Cup. Win or lose, the Elks are going to be exciting.
The RedBlacks are 0-5 ATS in their last 5 road games and 0-4 ATS in their last 4 games overall. The Elks are 1-5 ATS in their last 6 home games and 2-8-1 ATS in their last 11 games overall. The under is 5-2 in RedBlacks last 7 games overall. The over is 4-1 in Elks last 5 home games. The RedBlacks are 4-1 ATS in their last 5 meetings in Edmonton and 5-2 ATS in their last 7 meetings.
The Ottawa Redblacks should be better than they were in 2019, but this is a rough spot to open up the season. I’m high on the Elks this season and their offensive firepower, and I have a future bet already locked in. The Elks are going to be one of the more improved teams in the league this season.
Give me the Elks and whatever the line is…
