Free CFL Week 5 Picks from Expert Canadian Football Handicapper

by Raphael Esparza - 7/21/2016

The underdogs dominated the first three weeks of the 2016 CFL regular season, but it was the road teams that lined bettors' pockets last week. All four road teams won their game both straight up and against the spread in Week 4, and on the year road teams are now 12-3-1 SU with a highly-profitable record of 14-2 ATS.

I went with the "over 55" in last week's Edmonton at Winnipeg game as my free CFL play for Doc's Sports, but the game turned into a 20-16 grinder in favor of the Eskimos. Turning to this week's action, I am using the Blue Bombers again as part of my top pick in a home game against Calgary this Thursday night.

CFL Week 5 Betting Overview

The second game on Week 5's slate in the CFL is a Friday night clash between the Ottawa RedBlacks and the Saskatchewan Roughriders. Ottawa has the early lead in the East Division at 3-0-1 SU (3-1 ATS), and it will be going for its fourth straight win on the road (SU and ATS) this season as a 5.5-point favorite with the total set at 55. Behind Trevor Harris at quarterback, the RedBlacks have averaged 531.3 yards a game in total offense and 32.3 points a game.

The Roughriders are off to a 0-3 SU start (1-2 ATS), and they have averaged 26.7 points a game while allowing 36.3 points on the other side of the ball.

This Saturday night in the CFL, the Hamilton Tiger-Cats will go on the road as 4.5-point underdogs against Edmonton, with the total line in that interdivision clash set at 55. Hamilton is 2-2 both SU and ATS with both previous wins coming on the road. The total has stayed under in its last three games.

The Eskimos are 2-1 SU (1-2 ATS) following last week's tight win against Winnipeg in which they covered as 3.5-point road favorites. They now return home with a 2-5 record ATS in their last seven games played at Commonwealth Stadium.

There is a special Monday night matchup on the Week 5 CFL slate with Montreal taking on Toronto in an East Division clash. The Argonauts (2-2 SU and ATS) have been listed as six-point home favorites against the rival Alouettes (1-2 SU and ATS), and the total line for this game has been set at 44.5.

The road team in this division rivalry has won nine of the last 10 meetings SU, and the total has stayed under in 13 of the last 16 meetings.

CFL Free Pick of the Week: Calgary Stampeders at Winnipeg Blue Bombers

Calgary is coming off a bye following its rare 26-26 tie against Ottawa in Week 3 as a slight 1.5-point road underdog. This time around it comes into Thursday night's matchup as a five-point favorite on the road with the total set at 50. Going back to last season, the Stampeders are 6-2 ATS in their last eight games.

Bo Levi Mitchell threw for 368 yards and two touchdowns in that game against the RedBlacks while completing 29 of 43 attempts. The Stampeders are averaging more than 300 yards a game through the air, and their rushing attack has also been effective with 98.3 yards a game. This has helped this offense average 26.7 points over its first three games.

Winnipeg hung tough in last week's loss to Edmonton, but over the course of its first four games it has allowed an average of 25.5 points to its opponents. The Blue Bombers have also been able to move the ball through the air behind Drew Willy's 1,239 total passing yards. However, they have averaged only 67.8 rushing yards a game as part of a 1-3 start both SU and ATS.

The Stampeders should be able to score quickly against a Winnipeg defense that has dug some early holes in the team's current five-game home losing streak. I also like the fact that Calgary has won nine of the last 10 meetings SU and it has a 3-1-1 record ATS in its last five road games against the Blue Bombers. Lay the five points on the road and take Calgary in this one.

Click here to visit Raphael Esparza's Insider's Page at Doc's Sports for more information on his amazingly-profitable sports handicapping picks. Also, get $60 worth of Esparza's member's picks absolutely free - no obligation, no sales people - you don't even have to enter credit card information. You can use this $60 credit for any sport Esparza handicaps. Click here for $60 worth of free picks from Raphael Esparza .

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