The unbeaten Edmonton Elks head to the coast to face a desperate, winless BC Lions club in the week’s only game.
This Week’s CFL Schedule
WhenSaturday, July 4 at 7:00 PM ET
WhereApple Bowl, Vancouver
TVTSN
StreamWatch live on CFL+
LineEdmonton Elks -1 | O/U 57
Edmonton rolls into town at 3-0, the only unbeaten team in the league, while BC sits at the bottom of the West at 0-3 and losers of three straight. The Elks have found a way to win close ones, including last week’s 23-18 grind over Winnipeg, and they’ll lean on that same formula against a Lions defense that’s leaking 113 points through three games. BC has been in every game but can’t finish — they’ve dropped decisions to Saskatchewan, Hamilton and Calgary by a combined 17 points.
Players to Watch:
Justin Rankin (Edmonton Elks, RB) — Leads the CFL with 387 rushing yards and 4 touchdowns, and he’s the engine behind Edmonton’s 3-0 start.
Nathan Rourke (BC Lions, QB) — Has thrown for 1,083 yards but the Lions need him to turn it loose if they’re going to keep pace with an over/under sitting at 57.
Silas Hubert (Edmonton Elks, DL) — Back off the six-game injury list this week, giving Edmonton’s front seven a boost against a BC offense searching for answers.
Injury Watch:
Brett Boyko (Edmonton Elks, OL) — Out with a hand injury, a blow to the Elks’ protection up front.
Royce Metchie (Edmonton Elks, DB) — Out with an Achilles injury.
Joe Robustelli (Edmonton Elks, WR) — Questionable with a hamstring issue.
Kieran Poissant (BC Lions, WR) — Out with a hip injury, thinning out BC’s receiving corps further.
Maxime Rouyer (BC Lions, LB) — Out with a foot injury.
T.J. Lee (BC Lions, DB) and Ben Hladik (BC Lions, LB) — Both questionable, banged up in the secondary and at linebacker.
Pick: Edmonton Elks 27-24. The Elks are 2-0 against the spread this season and haven’t lost yet, while BC is 0-3 ATS and can’t seem to shut anybody down — take Edmonton to survive a shootout, with the over in play given BC’s perfect 3-0 mark on overs this year.
CFL Standings
TeamWLPFPA
Edmonton Elks308468
Montreal Alouettes31133124
Saskatchewan Roughriders31132126
Hamilton Tiger-Cats2110584
Calgary Stampeders22164139
Toronto Argonauts22150153
Winnipeg Blue Bombers127588
BC Lions0387113
Ottawa Redblacks04102137
Quick Hits
BC shuffled its roster hard this week, activating Jaden Williams, Colby Taylor, Dawson Pierre and Chase Henning off the practice roster while sending Joshua Donovan and Levi Bell to reserve — a sign the Lions are searching for anything to spark a turnaround.
Edmonton got a huge boost getting Silas Hubert back off injured reserve, but they’ll be without O-lineman Brett Boyko and linebacker Brock Mogensen (now on six-game injury) as they try to protect a 3-0 start.
Fantasy angle: Justin Rankin against a BC run defense that’s given up 113 points through three games — expect another heavy workload and a shot at a fifth touchdown.
The Lions are 0-3 ATS with the over hitting in every game this season, so anyone leaning on BC covering will want to see the offense find some rhythm behind Nathan Rourke early.
Standings | Full Schedule | League Leaders
Who wins this week? Drop your picks in the comments.