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CFL Rivalries are part of what makes sports great. They bring intensity to matchups, and both fans and players alike revel in the excitement. Within the world of sports betting, rivalries add intrigue because the intangibles of these matchups make it more difficult to predict how two teams will play once they take the field.
The Canadian Football League (CFL) flies way under the radar, especially in contrast with its southern neighbor, the NFL, but that doesn’t mean that the rivalries in the Canadian game are not fierce. Some of these showdowns date back decades, and they have their basis in pride and tradition.
As the 2025 CFL regular season approaches, let’s take a look at the league, how to bet on futures props, and how you can add some of these key matchups to your wagering calendar.
CFL Odds: Top 5 Must-Watch Rivalry Games for 2025
What is the CFL? What are the CFL teams?
The Canadian Football League isn’t just a different organization where American football is played. There are some key differences between the two games. The first difference is in the size of the field. A Canadian football field is 110 by 65 yards while the American field is 100 by 53 ⅓ yards. End zones are not uniform in the CFL; they were originally 25 yards, but then they were shortened to 20 yards by Vancouver in 1983, and the league made the size uniform three years later. The home of the Toronto Argonauts only has an 18-yard-deep end zone, and there are some stadiums that have the end zone corners shortened so that the field can sit inside a running track.
American football teams have 11 players a side during play while Canadian football allows 12. This generally takes the form of an extra backfield player on offense and an extra member of the secondary on defense. Canadian football allows just three downs to move the ball 10 yards forward instead of four; Canadian rules allow multiple players to be in motion at the snap, and they allow players to be moving toward the line of scrimmage at the snap. In the American game, only one player can be in motion, and that motion must be parallel to the line of scrimmage.
Scoring in both leagues are similar, but the CFL also allows for singles, or “rouges.” This happens when a punt or missed field goal either travels out of the end zone or when a return team player fails to return the ball out of the end zone.
Currently, the CFL has nine teams, five in the West Division and four in the East.
West Division
- Winnipeg Blue
- Saskatchewan Roughriders
- British Columbia Lions
- Edmonton Elks
- Calgary Stampeders
East Division
- Bombers Montreal Alouettes
- Toronto Argonauts
- Ottawa Redblacks
- Hamilton Tiger-Cats
What are the top CFL futures bets? How can I find them?
The CFL’s answer for the Vince Lombardi Trophy, handed out to the winner of the Super Bowl each year, is the Grey Cup. Since 2022, this game has been played on the third Sunday of November, but the exact date has varied since the first Grey Cup was played back in 1909. While the Toronto Maple Leafs might have the NHL’s longest title drought, Toronto is Titletown in the CFL. The old Toronto Varsity Blues won the very first Grey Cup, and the Toronto Argonauts not only won the last title but lead all-time with 19 championships. No television event in Canada draws more viewers than the Grey Cup, and two individual awards are given out: the Most Valuable Player and the Dick Suderman Trophy, given to the most valuable Canadian player.
So the starting point for CFL futures bets is the Grey Cup. Let’s take a quick look at the odds for all nine teams to hoist the trophy this November:
- Toronto +280
- Montreal +425
- Saskatchewan +500
- Winnipeg +550
- British Columbia +650
- Ottawa +700
- Edmonton, Hamilton +1000
- Calgary +3000
You can also find props on odds to reach the Grey Cup (in other words, to emerge from the playoffs as West Division and East Division champions):
- Toronto +140
- Montreal +180
- Saskatchewan +220
- Winnipeg +250
- British Columbia +300
- Ottawa +325
- Edmonton, Hamilton +450
- Calgary +1500
The CFL also awards its Most Outstanding Player, giving him the George Reed Trophy, taking a nominee from the East Division (the Terry Evanshen Trophy) and one from the West Division (the Jeff Nicklin Memorial Trophy). You can find props on those two nominees and the eventual winner as well.
What are the most important CFL player stats?
Much like sports betting on college football and the NFL in the United States, Canadian football amasses similar statistics. For individual games, you will find props on which player will score the first touchdown, whether a player will score a touchdown at all, whether a quarterback will throw for more or less than a particular number of passing yards (or throw for more or less than a particular number of touchdowns). You can find similar statistical props for tailbacks. Given the way the CFL rules work, passing yardage and passing touchdowns are going to be more numerous.
Kicking soared in 2024 as the league-wide average for kickoffs surpassed 65 yards for the first time, reaching 65.1.
Two teams set club records for highest kickoff avg.; Winnipeg with 67.6 yards, while Saskatchewan hit 66.5. René Paredes, Boris Bede, and Lirim Hajrullahu each… pic.twitter.com/i8P6jFO7Gy
— CFL Stats (@CFLStats) February 26, 2025
The rules allowing forward motion at the line of scrimmage give wide receivers more of an advantage as far as gaining separation. Having only three downs to get a first down makes teams less likely to spend a down pounding the ball up the middle, and the one-yard neutral zone between the line of scrimmage and the closest point a defender can line up on the ball does make plays like the “Tush Push” more likely to succeed, but that’s not really how the CFL operates. Also, the deeper end zones make it easier for receivers to get open down the field in goal-line situations.
Where are the top rivalry games on the 2025 CFL schedule?
The Battle of Alberta (Edmonton vs Calgary)
The Edmonton Elks and Calgary Stampeders have been fighting for domination in Alberta for decades. The two cities have strong cultural identities, and so this matchup brings to the surface all of those emotions that go along with battling identities. This has been one of the more unpredictable rivalries in professional sports, with upsets almost becoming the norm. Whether the game is played in Edmonton or Calgary, the atmosphere tends to be raucous, and the outcomes have featured highlight-reel overtime finishes and physical play that rivals some of the big-hit montages we see from NFL Films.
Hamilton vs Toronto
The Labor Day Classic is one of the most popular dates on the CFL calendar, featuring provincial rivalries as well. The showdown between the Argonauts and the Tiger-Cats is part of a rivalry more than 1000 years old. Hamilton is more of a blue-collar town, and its teams tend to play more of a grinding style. Toronto has more of a sophisticated and metropolitan reputation, and their teams tend to play more of a free-flowing style. These games are generally sold out, and the matchup between the lunchpail Tiger-Cats and the high-toned Argonauts is almost always entertaining.
The Prairie Clash (Winnipeg vs Saskatchewan)
Winnipeg hails from the province of Manitoba, and the rivalry between that Canadian region and Saskatchewan is also passionate. Both of these teams have fan bases that will travel across the hundreds of miles that separate CFL cities. Once it’s time to start making game picks, you’ll notice how tight the point spread on this matchup tends to be. Winnipeg made it to the Grey Cup last year, where they fell to Toronto, so you shouldn’t be surprised to see Saskatchewan working hard to unseat Winnipeg in the West this time around.
Montreal vs Ottawa
This is one of the newer rivalries because of the difficulties that Ottawa has had maintaining a CFL franchise. The Redblacks brought the nation’s capital back into the CFL in 2014, and since then, this battle between the seat of the nation’s government and the French-speaking Quebec region has built a healthy rivalry. As with many of the other rivalry games in this list, the Montreal-Ottawa showdowns tend to be close and physical.
The Western Showdown (British Columbia vs Calgary)
The Stampeders may not be the top team in the CFL these days, but they are a part of two of the league’s biggest rivalries. Over the years, both BC and Calgary have been at or near the top of the West Division. They’ve regressed a bti the past two seasons, but their head-to-head matchups remain just as spirited. The star players for both sides tend to come out and play better when these teams face one another. Also, BC has moved out of the odds basement the last two seasons and has shown signs of moving back into division contender status.
When does the 2025 CFL season begin?
The preseason begins on Monday, May 19, Victoria Day, with Calgary vs. BC. Each team plays two warm-up games prior to the regular season opener on Thursday, June 5, when Ottawa visits Saskatchewan in primetime. The games are generally played on Thursday and Friday nights, while two others are played on Saturday. In this nine-team league, one team is on bye each week. All teams play 18 games in the regular season and have three weeks off. The playoffs include six teams, with the top teams in each division getting a bye in the finals.
Betting on rivalry games requires considering various factors, including heightened external pressure on teams. Increased media coverage and fan attention can elevate player performance, but also lead to unexpected mistakes. The intense atmospheres in stadiums during these games further contribute to the psychological pressure athletes face.
In addition to focusing on recent performance alone, it is important to consider how the teams fared in their last meeting. In the CFL, where there are only nine teams that play at least twice in the regular season, they know each other well. They understand the specific advantages of each matchup, which can create imbalances that other teams can exploit.
Injury and roster changes impact rivalry games profoundly. The absence of a star player can diminish a team’s chances, while an unexpected player may excel. Understanding these elements can enhance your betting success on such matchups.
it’s time for the first edition of the Way Too Early Power Rankings, presented by @AMSOILINC#CFL pic.twitter.com/L4K7e47I0H
— CFL (@CFL) February 28, 2025
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