Free CFL Week 3 Picks from Expert Canadian Football Handicapper

Through the first two weeks of the new CFL season, the favorites have won six of the eight games played straight up with a slight 5-3 edge against the spread. I covered with Winnipeg in Week 1 as a home underdog ahead of last week's winner on Calgary as a road favorite for a solid 2-0 start with my free CFL picks for Doc's Sports.

While I have cashed in on two picks on a side the first two weeks, I am going with a play on the totals line as my top pick for Week 3.

CFL Week 3 Betting Overview

Week 3's action north of the border gets underway on Thursday with an inter-division clash between the Ottawa RedBlacks and the Calgary Stampeders at 9 p.m. (ET). The Stampeders have been opened as 7.5-point home favorites with the total set at 56.5 points. The home team is 3-1 SU in the last four meetings with a perfect 4-0 edge ATS.

In the first of two Friday games in the CFL, the Winnipeg Blue Bombers go on the road as four-point underdogs against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. The total for this 7 p.m. start has been set at 56 points. Winnipeg has a 3-1 edge both SU and ATS in the last four meetings with the total staying "under" in the last five matchups.

Saturday's lone CFL game pits the Montreal Alouettes against the Saskatchewan Roughriders in a 9 p.m. kickoff. Saskatchewan has been listed as a 10-point home favorite in this inter-division tilt with the total set at 45.5 points. Montreal has been able to cover in five of its last seven road games against the Roughriders.

CFL Free Pick of the Week: British Columbia at Edmonton

Friday's nightcap at Commonwealth Stadium is scheduled to get underway at 10 p.m. with Edmonton sitting as a 6.5-point home favorite. The total line for this West Division clash has been set at 54 points.

British Columbia opened its season with a 22-10 victory against Montreal as a 8.5-point home favorite with the total staying "under" 49 points. Jonathon Jennings looked sharp right out of the gate throwing the ball with a gaudy 83.4 completion percentage on his 24 attempts for 183 yards and two scores. He also led the Lions in rushing with 57 yards on nine carries. BC had an early bye in Week 2.

Racking up yard and points against Montreal is one thing given that the Alouettes have allowed 78 points in two games, but BC should also have success against a very porous Edmonton defense that has allowed 30 points or more in each of its first two contests. The total went "over" in the last two meetings between the two last season.

The Eskimos have been a tough team to figure out so far starting with a tight three-point win against Winnipeg in Week 1 as seven-point road favorite against a rookie quarterback. They were stunned by Hamilton at home last week in a sloppy 38-21 loss as 6.5-point favorites. This is still one of the better CFL teams behind Mike Reilly at quarterback. He led the CFL in passing yards last season, and he is at the top of the list again with 694 yards throwing the ball in his first two games. The main issue has been on the other side of the ball, and that could lead to some big numbers for each team on Friday night. The total has now gone over in Edmonton's last four games.

The Lions come into this matchup well-rested and prepared for another tough test against a division foe. Edmonton received a wake-up call at home last week and I expect a much better effort this time around.

It all adds up to a final score higher than a combined 54 points to set up a perfect play on the over.

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