Alouettes vs. Stampeders in Canada Day Classic

CANADIAN FOOTBALL BETTING – Game Match-Up 7/1

Montreal Alouettes vs. Calgary Stampeders 10:00 ET

The CFL’s Canada Day double-header concludes with a rematch of last year’s Grey Cup that could also serve as a preview of this year’s Grey Cup. On Wednesday night, the Montreal Alouettes (11-7, 10-8 ATS in 2008) will look to avenge their 22-14 defeat in last year’s title game when they travel to McMahon Stadium to do battle with the Calgary Stampeders (13-5, 13-5 ATS in 2008). For sports betting fanatics, tonight represents the first chance to sink their teeth into some football betting since the end of the NFL season, so you’re not going to want to miss out on this one!

The champs opened up as 3.5-point favorites but have now ballooned to lofty 7.5-point choices; BetUS Sportsbook currently has the ‘total’ posted at 52.

Much like last season, the success of the Alouettes will rest solely on the right arm of QB Anthony Calvillo. Calvillo arguably had the greatest season of his illustrious CFL career in 2008, as he finished the year with 5,633 passing yards and a career-high and league-leading 43 touchdown passes. He unanimously earned Most Outstanding Player of the Year honors and led the Alouettes to the Grey Cup after starting the season as hefty underdogs to win the East. Without a doubt, this team boasts the best receiving corps in the CFL as well with WRs Kerry Watkins, Ben Cahoon, and Jamel Richardson combining to catch 289 balls for 3,691 yards and an astonishing 33 touchdowns last season. All the cogs are back in place in ’09, and it should be another great year of offensive fireworks for a team that led the league in scoring at 32.4 points per game in ‘08.

Don’t count out QB Henry Burris and the Stamps, though. Burris is as solid of a QB as it gets in this league, as he finished third in the league in passing yards (5,093) and second behind Calvillo in touchdown passes (39) in ‘08. Calgary’s signal caller also ran for 595 yards, proving that he is a duel-threat to any defense. The Montreal receivers form the best trio in the league, but WR Ken-Yon Rambo led the CFL in receiving yards last season (1,473) and was third in catches (100). The best weapon of the bunch though, may come in the form of RB Joffrey Reynolds. Without a doubt, Reynolds is the best running back in the league, and is probably the best threat to bust the long one against any defense. He has also been very durable, as he toted the rock a league-high 227 times last season. Reynolds led the league in rushing yards (1,310) and finished second behind Saskatchewan’s Wes Cates for the most rushing TDs (10). It was the fourth straight season that he ran for at least 1,200 yards. Barring injury, there’s no reason to believe that Reynolds won’t top the 1,200-yard barrier for a fifth year in a row.

These two offenses combined to average just over 64 points per game last season. Yes, both defenses are solid, but there’s an extra rule added to the CFL that will discourage teams taking safeties. That means better field position for the offenses and more chances to put majors on the board instead of having to settle for two points. This should easily be the highest scoring affair in the first week of the CFL betting season.

Rose’s Recommendation: 3* MON/CALG Over 52

(Rating Scale 1* - 5*)