Free CFL Week 7 Picks from Expert Canadian Football Handicapper

Underdogs against the spread were the best bet in Week 6 of the CFL season, with three of four teams getting points covering the closing number. The closing line in last Saturday's interdivision matchup between Montreal and Calgary was 19.5 points, with the undefeated Stampeders favored at home. I thought Calgary could cover a big number at home, but it came up just short in a 17-point win.

This week I have turned my attention to another favorite covering a double-digit spread at home as my free CFL pick of the week for Doc's Sports.

CFL Week 7 Betting Overview

Week 7 gets underway with Thursday's matchup between the Edmonton Eskimos and the Montreal Alouettes at 7:30 p.m. The betting lines are still 'off the board' with the arrival of Johnny Manziel as the Alouettes new starting quarterback via last Sunday's trade with Hamilton.

Moving to the first of two games on Saturday, the Ottawa RedBlacks go on the road to face the Hamilton Tiger-Cats at 4 p.m. The Tiger-Cats have been opened as 6.5-point favorites , with the total set at 55.5 points. Ottawa has failed to cover in three of its first five games to match Hamilton's early record ATS. The total has stayed "under" in three of each team's first five contests.

Later Saturday night in Saskatchewan, the Roughriders will play host to 5-0 Calgary as 6.5-point underdogs with the total set at 47 points. The Stampeders are 4-1 ATS with the total staying under in all five games.

CFL Free Pick of the Week: Toronto at Winnipeg

Kickoff for this inter-division clash from Investors Group Field is set for 8:30 p.m. this Friday night. Toronto comes into the backend of this home-and-home series as a heavy 11-point road underdog, with the betting line for the total set at 53.5 points.

The Argonauts closed as 3.5-point home underdogs last Saturday in the series opener against Winnipeg, and they came up well short of covering in a 38-20 loss. The total went over the 52-point closing line in that game. This was the defending champs fourth SU loss in their first five games with the total staying under in their first four contests. They are 2-3 ATS.

James Franklin remained the starting quarterback for Toronto last week, and he ended the game with 151 yards passing and zero touchdown throws against one interception. He took over the reins for the injured Ricky Ray in Week 2, and, on the year, he has thrown for 731 yards and two scores with three picks. The Argonauts are averaging 16.2 points a game on offense while allowing an average of 27.8 points on defense.

The Blue Bombers are an even 3-3 on the year SU with a 4-2 record ATS. This will be their third home game of the season after losing the Edmonton in Week 1 and beating British Columbia in Week 4. They were able to cover in both games, with the total going over each time. Winnipeg has gone 3-1 ATS when closing as a favorite.

Matt Nichols continues to work his way back into form after missing some playing time early in the season due to a knee injury. Last Saturday against Toronto, he put the ball up 27 times and he completed 19 of those passes for 245 yards and two touchdowns. As an added dimension, Andrew Harris carried the ball 27 times for 161 yards and a score. The Bombers may be 3-3 in the standings, but they have scored 199 points while allowing 133 in those six games.

Winnipeg has now won four of the last five meetings in this inter-division tilt by eight points or more, and I have it covering the 11-point spread on Friday night.

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