Winless Ottawa hits the road looking to avoid history, but Winnipeg’s own quarterback questions make this one messier than the six-point spread suggests.

This Week’s CFL Schedule

Ottawa Redblacks at Winnipeg Blue Bombers

WhenFriday, August 14 at 8:30 PM ET
WherePrincess Auto Stadium, Winnipeg
TVTSN
StreamWatch live on CFL+
LineWinnipeg Blue Bombers -6 | O/U 57

Ottawa is 0-8 and coming off a 20-42 beatdown at the hands of Saskatchewan, dropping five straight and looking every bit like a team searching for answers. Winnipeg is only 4-4 and stumbling too — losers of two straight, including a 30-52 clunker to Calgary — but this series has been all Bombers lately. Winnipeg has won four consecutive meetings with the Redblacks, though it needed overtime to get there back in Week 7, edging Ottawa 36-34 in the first game ever decided under the league’s new OT format.

Jake Maier has actually been the bright spot for Ottawa despite the losing streak, averaging 322 passing yards over his last four starts and dropping a season-high 344 on Winnipeg in that Week 7 shootout. The problem is nobody around him can finish drives, and Winnipeg’s defense is banking on a repeat performance against a Redblacks team that’s given up 289 points through eight games — worst in the league by a mile.

Players to Watch:

Jake Maier (Ottawa Redblacks, QB) — Averaging 322 yards a game over his last four starts, he’s the one Redblack capable of hanging points on the board.
Brady Oliveira (Winnipeg Blue Bombers, RB) — Needs 97 rushing yards to pass Willie Burden for 20th all-time and sits 35 receiving yards shy of 2,000 for his career, but he’s questionable with an ankle issue.
Willie Jefferson (Winnipeg Blue Bombers, DL) — Has a sack in four straight games; his next gets him to 84 for his career, tying Willie Pless for 20th all-time.

Injury Watch:

Zach Collaros (Winnipeg Blue Bombers, QB) — Questionable, neck.
Dru Brown (Winnipeg Blue Bombers, QB) — Questionable, back.
Brady Oliveira (Winnipeg Blue Bombers, RB) — Questionable, ankle.
Michael Griffin (Winnipeg Blue Bombers, DB) — Doubtful, ankle.
Aaron Casey (Ottawa Redblacks, LB) — Out, groin.
Julian Pearl (Ottawa Redblacks, OL) — Out, groin.

Pick: Winnipeg Blue Bombers 33-24. Ottawa keeps it interesting through Maier’s arm but the Bombers’ defense — allowing a league-best one big-play return all season — smothers a Redblacks team still hunting its first win, even with question marks swirling around both Winnipeg quarterbacks. Both clubs have been shaky against the number this year (Winnipeg 2-5-1 ATS, Ottawa 2-4-1 ATS), so don’t be shocked if this stays inside the spread late.

CFL Standings

TeamWLPFPA

Montreal Alouettes81321247
Saskatchewan Roughriders62274215
Edmonton Elks63259248
Winnipeg Blue Bombers44204243
Toronto Argonauts44253249
BC Lions45244251
Calgary Stampeders46378327
Hamilton Tiger-Cats36211261
Ottawa Redblacks08186289

Quick Hits

Ottawa cut Jalen Jones (DB) this week and shuffled Josh Connors and Binjimen Victor to the practice roster while activating Habakkuk Baldonado (DL) off six-game injury.
Winnipeg’s quarterback room is a mess heading into Friday — both Zach Collaros and Dru Brown carry questionable tags, which could push more of the offensive burden onto Brady Oliveira if he’s able to go.
If you’re chasing fantasy points, Oliveira’s chase of Willie Burden on the all-time rushing list makes him worth a look even banged up, assuming he clears his ankle issue.
Ottawa is still searching for its first win of the season, and this trip to Princess Auto Stadium against a Bombers team it’s lost four straight to isn’t the easiest spot to find one.

Standings | Full Schedule | League Leaders

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