The 6-1 Montreal Alouettes roll into TD Place looking to keep Ottawa winless with a season sweep on the line.

This Week’s CFL Schedule

Montreal Alouettes at Ottawa Redblacks

WhenFriday, July 31 at 7:30 PM ET
WhereTD Place Stadium, Ottawa
TVTSN
StreamWatch live on CFL+
LineMontreal Alouettes -7 | O/U 60

Montreal has won four of its last five and just dropped 31 on Hamilton last week, while Ottawa is still searching for its first win six games into the season. These two already met in Week 4, and Montreal survived a shootout 37-35 — Ottawa hung around all night before the Als pulled it out late. That game finished well over this week’s total, and Ottawa’s offense has shown it can move the ball even in a 0-6 hole.

The number says blowout, but the betting trends say otherwise. Montreal is 5-2 against the spread with six overs in seven games, and Ottawa has actually covered in three of its last five as a heavy underdog. Don’t be shocked if this one stays tighter than the seven-point line suggests, at least for a half.

Players to Watch:

Davis Alexander (Montreal Alouettes, QB) — Leads the league with 2,368 passing yards and just one interception, and he’s carved up defenses all year.
Tyson Philpot (Montreal Alouettes, WR) — Tops the CFL with 839 receiving yards on 55 catches, the clear top target in this offense.
Scott Hutter (Ottawa Redblacks, DB) — Ottawa needs takeaways to have a chance, and Hutter’s been the ballhawk for a defense that’s allowed 213 points this year.

Injury Watch:

Stevie Scott III (Montreal Alouettes, RB) — Out with a hamstring injury, thinning Montreal’s backfield behind Travis Theis.
Jerreth Sterns (Montreal Alouettes, WR) — Out with a hand injury, one less weapon for Davis Alexander to work with.
Nick Mardner (Ottawa Redblacks, WR) — Back off the six-game injury list and active, a real boost for an Ottawa passing game that’s been starving for playmakers.
Brett Lauther (Ottawa Redblacks, K) — Out with a quad injury, with Lewis Ward now up from the practice roster to handle kicking duties.

Pick: Montreal Alouettes 34-24. Ottawa gets some bodies back and won’t go away quietly at home, but the Als have too much firepower and the Redblacks’ defense has bled 213 points through six games.

CFL Standings

TeamWLPFPA

Edmonton Elks61203172
Montreal Alouettes61239204
Saskatchewan Roughriders42204169
Winnipeg Blue Bombers44204243
Hamilton Tiger-Cats34167190
Calgary Stampeders34278244
Toronto Argonauts34220219
BC Lions25187201
Ottawa Redblacks06153213

Quick Hits

Ottawa activated three players off the six-game injured list this week — King Ambers, Daniel Okpoko and Nick Mardner — while shipping Brett Lauther to injured reserve and turning to Lewis Ward at kicker.
Montreal is also banged up in the trenches and secondary, with Justin Lawrence extended on the six-game list and Faion Hicks moved to reserve, testing the Als’ depth even amid their hot streak.
With Stevie Scott III out, expect Travis Theis (538 rushing yards, 5 TDs) to carry a heavier workload for Montreal on the ground.
Ottawa is 0-6 but hasn’t been blown out every week — last week’s 34-36 loss to Winnipeg shows this group can hang if the defense tightens up.

Standings | Full Schedule | League Leaders

Who wins this week? Drop your picks in the comments.