A clear difference can be seen between the Calgary Stampeders and the rest of the teams on the CFL Betting Board. Not only are the Stampeders the defending Grey Cup champions but they have played in the Grey Cup championship game three consecutive seasons. In fact, since 2012 Calgary has played in five of the seven Grey Cup title matchups. This has served to make them something close to the New England Patriots of the CFL. But the Ottawa Redblacks have figured prominently in recent years. The Redblacks have played in two of the last three Grey Cup title games.
Opening Futures Odds for CFL Betting Championship
Account of their three consecutive Grey Cup game appearances is Calgary the CFL Betting favorite at price of 11/4 to win the 2019 CFL championship. The British Columbia Lions are at 5/1, Winnipeg Blue Bombers at 13/2, with the Hamilton Tiger Cats and Ottawa Redblacks at 7/1. Following that are the Edmonton Eskimos at 15/2, Saskatchewan Roughriders at 8/1, Toronto Argonauts at 9/1, and the Montreal Alouettes at 14/1.
Calgary Built for Success
At the beginning of Calgary’s success is head coach Dave Dickenson, who played for the Stampeders as well as the NFL. Dickenson has been in the Calgary organization as a coach since 2009. He served as offensive coordinator and quarterback coach before taking the head coaching gig in 2016. Concurrently Dickenson proved to be an immediate online wagering success. In three years as head coach the Stampeders have three straight berths in the Grey Cup Championship game. Dickenson was named CFL coach of the year in 2016. He was a quarterback on Calgary’s 2008 title team.
Expansion Success
Starting with their return as a CFL Betting expansion team in 2014 have the Ottawa Redblacks been a great success story. To be exact the Redblacks have had a quick rise that followed their 2-16 record as a brand-new team in 2014. Since that time Ottawa has made the playoffs four consecutive seasons with two Grey Cup appearances. Last year saw the Redblacks win the championship of the East. Head coach Rick Campbell has served from day one for this franchise. Campbell won the 2015 Annis Stukus Trophy as CFL coach of the year.
New Look Lions to Roar?
Now there is a breath of fresh air for the British Columbia Lions entering the 2019 season. DeVone Claybrooks will begin his head coaching career after the retirement of legendary Wally Bruno. More emphatically Claybrooks will have huge shoes to fill as Bruno won five Grey Cups for his career including two with BC. Claybrooks arrives from Calgary where he was the defensive coordinator from 2016 through 2018. Also arriving from the Edmonton Eskimos is new quarterback Mike Reilly. In 2017 Reilly was named the CFL’s Outstanding Player Award. He is a two-time Grey Cup Champion.
Montreal Woes
By contrast to Ottawa and Calgary the Montreal Alouettes have fallen upon hard times. This once proud franchise has posted four consecutive losing seasons and fan interest has fallen like a rock. Former Green Bay Packers head coach Mike Sherman was hired in 2018 to try and jump start things for the Als. Of great concern is the fact that he has not had much success as a head coach or coordinator since being fired by the Pack in 2005.