CFL Week 2 Picks – Eskimos vs. Alouettes

Edmonton Eskimos vs. Montreal Alouettes 7:30 ET

The Canadian Football League season kicks off its second week of football betting action on Thursday night with a great intra-conference duel. BetOnline Sportsbook customers can sink their teeth into all of the action when the Montreal Alouettes (1-0, 1-0 ATS) do battle with the Edmonton Eskimos (1-0, 0-1 ATS) from Molson Stadium. Both teams got off to solid starts last week with victories, but Montreal’s 40-27 victory in Calgary was far more impressive than Edmonton’s 19-17 win at home against Winnipeg.

The oddsmakers are looking for the hosts to move to 2-0 tonight, as they are 7-point favorites, while the ‘total’ has been set at 52.5.

Mother Nature did a number on the Eskies’ offence last week, as QB Ricky Ray and the gang were held to just 322 total yards. Ray had a respectable game, throwing for 318 yards and a touchdown, but the biggest story came when RB Jesse Lumsden left the game with a shoulder injury after just two carries. The injury-prone Lumsden is out indefinitely, which will leave the running game in the hands of RB Calvin McCarty. Defensively, DE Kai Ellis got off to a nice start to the 2009 season, as he recorded a pair of sacks on Bombers’ quarterbacks. The defence was particularly good against the Winnipeg passing attack, as QB Stefan LeFors, the former Eskimo, was held to just 174 yards on 14-of-31 passing. With Lumsden sidelined for an undetermined amount of time, it’s going to be all about Ray and the passing offence in this spot. If the veteran QB isn’t on the top of his game, Edmonton is going to struggle.

Meanwhile, no team was more impressive last week in the CFL than the Alouettes. Montreal exorcized the demons of a disappointing Grey Cup defeat by beating the Stampeders 40-27 in Calgary. After jumping out to a quick 20-0 lead, the team was in a lull for two quarters, but K David Duval booted his fifth and sixth field goals in the game to start the scoring in the fourth quarter to give the Als a lead they’d never relinquish. QB Anthony Calvillo had an efficient game, completing 24-of-32 passes for 255 yards and a touchdown. RB Avon Cobourne had another fantastic game for Montreal, as he ran for 107 yards on 19 carries. The defence held the potent Calgary offence to just 272 yards. Any time you can limit QB Henry Burris and the Stampeders passing attack and RB Joffrey Reynolds to 19 rushing yards, you’ve done something special, especially when the game is at McMahon Stadium.

Both of these teams have offences that can be unstoppable. Expect both Ray and Calvillo to put up a ton of yards. Edmonton won’t be held under 20 points again this week assuming the weather holds up. With both Cobourne and Calvillo rolling, it’s going to be hard to see Montreal being held down in this one either. Back the ‘over’ with confidence.

Rose’s Recommendation: 5* Edmonton/Montreal Over 52.5

(Rating Scale 1* – 5*)