We’re not well versed in Canadian football betting lore. We know there is the Super Bowl hangover, but is there a Grey Cup hangover? Or a curse in which the city hosting the Grey Cup never makes it to it? Because that would explain the Ottawa RedBlacks erosion-like slow start.
Montreal Alouettes vs. Ottawa Redblacks
Date: Wednesday, 19th July
Time: 7:30 PM
Offshore sportsbook odds for fans who bet on football:
Montreal Alouettes +4½ (-110) 50½ (-110) +160
Ottawa Redblacks -4½ (-110) 50½ (-110) -185
Montreal Alouettes (2-2)
Offense: QB Darian Durant threw a modest 296 yards – and two interceptions – on Friday against the Stampeders, but Ernest Jackson made the most if his four catches and finished with 118 receiving yards in a 30-23 home win. Jackson had not previously broken the 50-yard mark in any of the three previous games.
Defense: The Als’ defensive line put the screws on Bo Mitchell in the opening half and John Bowman recorded his 114th career sack in the second quarter, dragging the Calgary QB down in the backfield. Later on linebacker Chris Ackie stripped the ball from Jerome Messam and defensive back Branden Dozier picked up the fumble and took it 20 yards for a TD.
Trends for fans who bet on football: The gentle Alouettes have won five of their last seven games and gone 1-5-1 ATS against the spread in their last seven meetings with the RedBlacks. The football betting total has gone under in six of Montreal’s last eight games and under in 80% of their last five road games.
Ottawa Redblacks (0-3-1)
Offense: Trevor Harris fell short of 300 passing yards for the first time this season and the Rouge et Noir fell a two-point attempt with 30 seconds to go short of forcing the Eskimos into OT on Friday. This is starting to become a pattern for Ottawa, who has not lost by more than four points this season, but has lost three straight games and has yet to pick up its first win of the year when at this point of their 2016 Grey Cup-winning season they were 3-0-1.
Defense: The RedBlacks had four sacks on Mike Reilly but were at a loss to stop either Brandon Zylstra – who recorded a game-best 108 receiving yards on 10 receptions – or Travon Van, who amassed 103 rushing yards on 18 carries.
Trends for fans who bet on football: Ottawa has covered in five of the last six games overall as well as in the last six games against Montreal. Additionally, the RedBlacks have defeated the Als in five of their last six encounters. On the other hand, Ottawa is 2-3-1 against the spread and 2-4 straight-up in the last six games hosting Montreal. The football betting total has gone over in nine of the RedBlacks’ last 12 games, over in six of their last seven at home, under in six of their last nine against Montreal, and over in five of their last seven home games against the Als.